This book is a compilation of 78 weekly columns, which focused on issues of concern to those who are termed "baby boomers." It will be by, for, and about boomers and their issues. In other words, it means it is specifically for those who were born between 1946 and 1964. Current population estimates are that there are nearly 75 million boomers. The author is one of this illustrious number being born in 1946!! Although boomers are the target of this series, it should be interesting and possibly informative for anyone who knows or loves a boomer.Have boomers already begun turning "old" at 65? According to published reports, there are more than a thousand turning that magic 65 every day and this aging will go on until 2029. Why is 65 considered the age of "oldness"? Even the oldest boomers didn't qualify for Social Security at that age. The oldest boomers had to be 66 to qualify for full benefits and the youngest will need to be 67 for full benefits. Currently boomers qualify for Medicare at 65 and they can still take early retirement at 62. Maybe the Medicare is the trigger for the magic 65.During the years since their birth, boomers have had a profound impact on any number of things because of the large population numbers. Many boomers have been witness to some pretty spectacular things and some of those might best be forgotten. Some of the technology that was being developed was instrumental in boomer power. Television began to make a strong penetration into the entertainment scene and along with it the advertising that was targeted towards boomers.Boomers were the first generation to really embrace differences in all forms. They were pretty much responsible for a different type music and our more open attitudes have led to more relaxed attitudes on race, sex, drugs, etc. They were often more open in seeing and accepting differences than their parents and have instilled that attitude into their children and grandchildren. Each generation had its war and Viet Nam was the one for boomers. It was not pretty and there were many different attitudes about the conflict. Some were willing to go and fight to defend a country that was loved so much or because they believed in obeying authority, even if not in support of the war; others loved the country just as much but were willing to leave the country to avoid doing something that was antithetical to what was believed. Schools saw boomers crowded into large classes or sometimes, if lucky, even new school buildings. Classes were always larger than the classes which had been ahead of the boomers, at least for those in the early years of the boom. New teachers, new school classrooms, and lots of other things because of large numbers were needed. Boomers changed education, just as they changed almost everything else. As a group boomers were pretty egalitarian and believed that everyone should be judged by their merits. The leaders who were respected covered a broad range from Martin Luther King, Jr. to John Kennedy to Billy Graham. These role models have led to boomer leaders including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush - almost a paradox. But then boomers never were easy to pigeonhole as a group and remain that way.