Rex's Reviews > Boom! Voices of the Sixties Personal Reflections on the '60s and Today

As one born in the 80’s, I welcomed this opportunity to gain a broad perspective of the 60’s. I listened to the audiobook, which is skillfully narrated by Brokaw himself.

Brokaw guides the narrative by introducing many individuals who lived during the period. Brokaw’s extensive interviews and connections make for intriguing listening.

At times, Brokaw recounts the events as they occurred in the 60’s. Other times, he inserts interviews from people who provide a retroactive perspective of the time period.

His interviews include numerous rock and roll icons, environmentalists, politicians, activists, television personalities and more.

The topics addressed include:

Rock and roll icons, Motown music
Woodstock
Drug culture
Civil Rights
MLK “I have a dream speech”
MLK assassination
Black Panthers
Civil Rights bill
Jackie Robinson
Watts riots
Vietnam
Working class fight a war they don’t understand
Upper class/college protests
The draft
Jim Webb and John McCain
NASA
Assassination of JFK and RFK
Feminist Movement
Betty Friedan
Gloria Steinem
Females in the workplace
Television
Late-night comedy
Women anchors

I walked away with a better understanding of the complexity and culture of the 60’s. Several questions from the 60’s seem pertinent today: To what extent does having the elite class largely immune from combat affect national policy and foreign relations? What effect would a mandatory draft have on this debate? What motivates our generation like the space race? What will be the effect of the youth culture of today?