The Aftermath

Praise

“A fascinating account of demographic change and future possibilities” —The Guardian

“[A] highly detailed, data-driven, definitive story of how baby boomers changed America and a little forecasting of what might come next…Bump is a reliable, honest narrator who leans into complexity and refuses simple or singular explanations.” –The Washington Post

“Bump leaves no stone unturned as he takes a detailed look at the rise of the baby boom generation, its impact on the United States and the implications of its final days.” –AP News

“Draws on a tsunami of data in an immensely informative assessment of the last days of the baby boom generation and its impact on politics, education, religion and the economy of the United States.” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“The Aftermath is stuffed with enough charts and graphs to make any data-driven wonk swoon…In between, in clear and lively prose, Bump delves into the changes the baby boom wrought on America and looks ahead at the effects they still might have, on the economy, politics and more.” –Tampa Bay Times

“Insightful…intriguing survey…More than 100 graphs visualize issues of race, political beliefs, education, and socioeconomic levels in novel ways.”—Publishers Weekly

“Rewarding, provocative reading for students of demographic trends.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Smart, insightful and elegantly written, The Aftermath is a powerful and provocative account of the generational shift that lies at the heart of our current national malaise. The Baby Boomers are not going away quietly. The question is, will American democracy survive this tumultuous transition? Marshalling the voices of a wide range of Americans, Philip Bump helps us understand that no matter the troubles of our days, the future of this nation rests with what we do now. And that means all of us—not just Baby Boomers.” —Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor, Princeton University
 
“Whether we’re talking about politics, the economy, culture or generational shifts in America, who doesn’t want to know ‘what’s going to happen next?’ Amidst so much change and disruption, it’s almost impossible to see the future clearly, but Philip Bump manages to do just that. A lively, engaging, and provocative read, The Aftermath covers the contours of the Baby Boomers’ many contributions and failures, while laying out the stakes for the future of equity, power, and everything that matters in American life.” —CNN Political Commentator, S.E. Cupp

“Baby boomers are a generation so huge — and so contradictory — as to be almost a mystery to itself and to others, at least until Philip Bump came along. With charts (and more charts), Bump combs out the tangles and tells a story about power, and influence, and the passage of time. What will happen when the most educated and wealthy generation that the world has ever seen is gone? No one knows for sure. But Bump seems to know better than most. This is essential reading.”—Katy Tur, Anchor of Katy Tur Reports, MSNBC


“As one of the very first Gen Xers (b. January 1965), it was a pleasure to read this impeccably researched, data-driven survey of modern America and see it finally proved, with charts no less, that none of our troubles are in any way my fault.” —Peter Sagal, Host, NPR’s “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!”