OK Boomer! - Diverse Reflections From Five Aging Baby Boomers, a thought-provoking new book co-authored by five distinguished professionals from a wide range of fields, is now available for readers seeking insight into the complexities of aging, life’s unexpected twists, and what lies ahead in retirement.
Written by Bernard Mansheim, MD, Phil Haworth, PhD, Douglas Smith, PhD, Jeffrey L. Harrison, JD, PhD, and Tom Peterson, MS, this collaboration offers readers a candid look at the experiences of five aging Baby Boomers who have collectively navigated the worlds of medicine, science, law, business, and academia. Through their personal essays, they offer reflections not only on their careers but on their observations of the world they have lived through—and how the generations that follow them might learn from their experiences.
The Baby Boomers, a generation that witnessed seismic societal shifts from the post-WWII economic boom to the tumultuous upheavals of the 1960s and beyond, are now entering retirement. In OK Boomer!, each co-author shares unique life lessons drawn from their personal journeys. Their essays touch on a wide range of themes, from the unpredictability of life’s course, our somewhat tenuous relationship with Planet Earth, to the frailty of the legal system, the challenges of health care, and the realities of retirement.
The first essay, written by Phil Haworth, explores the unpredictable nature of life, reflecting on the unexpected turns his own life has taken. The second essay, penned by Douglas Smith, focuses on Planet Earth—from its ancient beginnings to the current climate crisis. Jeffrey Harrison follows with an examination of the law, discussing its importance as the societal glue that holds democracies together and exposing emerging threats to its disruption. Bernard Mansheim’s contribution delves into the complexities of health care, a topic that remains central to our personal and collective well-being. The final essay, by Tom Peterson, offers a wake-up call to those who will eventually face the reality of retirement—an inevitable life phase that many fail to plan for adequately.
Motivated by a desire to offer thoughtful perspectives to younger generations in a spirit of humility, OK Boomer! aims to serve as a series of reflections for Millennials, Gen Z, and those to come—and even for our fellow boomers. While the authors acknowledge that their musings are based on personal experience, they believe their insights, gained through decades of hard work, successes and mistakes, are worth sharing with those who will one day follow in their footsteps.
The book is a blend of personal reflection, professional wisdom, and urgent commentary on the challenges that will shape the future. It offers readers, especially younger generations, an opportunity to learn from the collective experience of five successful retirees who have lived through significant historical, cultural, and technological changes.
