Growing Up X

Squeezed between the Boomers who snagged the good jobs and the Millennials who got the participation trophies, Generation X has always been the "forgotten" middle child of history.

In this authentic and unpolished memoir, David R. Broadie takes you back to the heart of the 1970s and 80s-an era defined by latchkey independence, the smell of mixtapes, and the quiet understanding that the world wasn't going to hand you anything. From a small-town Iowa playground where pickup basketball teams were divided by "intact" vs. "divorced" families, Broadie explores the grit and sarcasm forged in a generation that grew up mostly analog.

• The Defining Moments: Relive the high-stakes tension of the Cold War, the national euphoria of the "Miracle on Ice," and the shattering tragedy of the Challenger disaster.
• The Cultural Revolution: From the neon explosion of MTV and the synth-heavy riffs of Van Halen to the raw, flannel-clad angst of Nirvana, see how the soundtrack of a generation evolved.
• Political Shifts: Witness the rise of Reagan's "Morning in America," the "giant sucking sound" of Ross Perot's warnings, and the digital transition from dial-up screeches to the dot-com bubble.
• A Personal Journey: Follow one man's path through sports triumphs with the Redskins, the heartbreak of the farm crisis, and the profound realization that family-and grandparents-are the glue that holds the map together.

We are the generation that bridged the gap between the rotary phone and the smartphone. Growing Up X isn't just about "back in my day" nostalgia; it's about remembering the independence, self-reliance, and resilience that shaped us-so we don't lose those values in an increasingly digital, polarized world.

Pull up a chair, grab a cold one, and go back to the arcades and the Friday night lights. This is the real story of Gen X. No turning back now.