Generation X

If you're one of the half dozen or so people left who hasn't read Generation X you should absolutely just go and read it now.

Generation X is probably one of the intelligent and observant books of our times. I've read it maybe 10 times, and re-read it whenever I need to make sense of everything around me.

Douglas Coupland has through some kind of genius or fortune manged to see exactly what an entire Generation is thinking and has successfully summarized it 183 pages of fiction.

Here are some quotes from Coupland (not from Generation X):

Sometimes the best lighting of all is a power failure.

Before machines the only form of entertainment people really had was relationships.

Feeling unique is no indication of uniqueness.

Once you see someone lose it, you can never look at them the same way again.

Workshops and seminars are basically financial speed dating for clueless people.

Lottery tickets are a surtax on desperation.

Good-looking people with strong, fluoridated teeth get things handed to them on platters.

If a building looks better under construction than it does when finished, then it’s a failure.

Earth was not built for six billion people all running around and being passionate about things. The world was built for about two million people foraging for roots and grubs.

When you crop the photo, you tell a lie.

It’s difficult to speak with beautiful people. No matter how hard you try to pretend otherwise, you still want them to like you.

And another thing: if you like Generation X, try Life After God. Along with Bukowski, Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits its probably the best modern poetry I've read.

Douglas Coupland has a website too.