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10 Essential Boomer Books

Have you read these influential books? In the comments below, share other books that made an impact

by Erica Jong, AARP The Magazine

  • Boomer essential books jong whole earth couples updike james baldwin fire next time portnoy complaint philip roth greer female eunuch sisterhood powerful small planet diet the group mary mccarthy catcher rye catch 22 heller fear of flying (Ted Morrison)
    Ted Morrison

    'The Catcher in the Rye' (1951)

    By J .D. Salinger Our adolescent angst defined. (See also: Franny and Zooey.)

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  • Boomer essential books jong whole earth couples updike james baldwin fire next time portnoy complaint philip roth greer female eunuch sisterhood powerful small planet diet the group mary mccarthy catcher rye catch 22 heller fear of flying (Ted Morrison)
    Ted Morrison

    'Catch-22' (1961)

    By Joseph Heller
    The antiwar novel to end all antiwar novels.

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  • Boomer essential books jong whole earth couples updike james baldwin fire next time portnoy complaint philip roth greer female eunuch sisterhood powerful small planet diet the group mary mccarthy catcher rye catch 22 heller fear of flying (Ted Morrison)
    Ted Morrison

    'The Fire Next Time' (1963)

    By James Baldwin The book that awakened New Yorker readers to the souls of black Americans.

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  • Boomer essential books jong whole earth couples updike james baldwin fire next time portnoy complaint philip roth greer female eunuch sisterhood powerful small planet diet the group mary mccarthy catcher rye catch 22 heller fear of flying (Ted Morrison)
    Ted Morrison

    'The Group' (1963)

    By Mary McCarthy The book that told us about our mothers' lives.

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  • Boomer essential books jong whole earth couples updike james baldwin fire next time portnoy complaint philip roth greer female eunuch sisterhood powerful small planet diet the group mary mccarthy catcher rye catch 22 heller fear of flying (Ted Morrison)
    Ted Morrison

    'Couples' (1968)

    By John Updike "Welcome to the post-pill paradise," as one liberated character says.

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  • Boomer essential books jong whole earth couples updike james baldwin fire next time portnoy complaint philip roth greer female eunuch sisterhood powerful small planet diet the group mary mccarthy catcher rye catch 22 heller fear of flying (Ted Morrison)
    Ted Morrison

    'Whole Earth Catalog' (1968)

    By Stewart Brand How to be green and save the globe.

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  • Boomer essential books jong whole earth couples updike james baldwin fire next time portnoy complaint philip roth greer female eunuch sisterhood powerful small planet diet the group mary mccarthy catcher rye catch 22 heller fear of flying (Ted Morrison)
    Ted Morrison

    'Portnoy's Complaint' (1969)

    By Philip Roth The penis as an instrument of men's liberation.

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  • Boomer essential books jong whole earth couples updike james baldwin fire next time portnoy complaint philip roth greer female eunuch sisterhood powerful small planet diet the group mary mccarthy catcher rye catch 22 heller fear of flying (Ted Morrison)
    Ted Morrison

    'Sisterhood Is Powerful' (1970)

    By Robin Morgan The book that told us how not to relive our mothers' lives.

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  • Boomer essential books jong whole earth couples updike james baldwin fire next time portnoy complaint philip roth greer female eunuch sisterhood powerful small planet diet the group mary mccarthy catcher rye catch 22 heller fear of flying (Ted Morrison)
    Ted Morrison

    'The Female Eunuch' (1970)

    By Germaine Greer Sexuality is power. Renouncing it only makes us powerless.

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  • Boomer essential books jong whole earth couples updike james baldwin fire next time portnoy complaint philip roth greer female eunuch sisterhood powerful small planet diet the group mary mccarthy catcher rye catch 22 heller fear of flying (Ted Morrison)
    Ted Morrison

    'Diet for a Small Planet' (1971)

    By Frances Moore Lappé The first book to make us aware that Earth's resources are far from infinite.

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  • Boomer essential books jong whole earth couples updike james baldwin fire next time portnoy complaint philip roth greer female eunuch sisterhood powerful small planet diet the group mary mccarthy catcher rye catch 22 heller fear of flying (Ted Morrison)
    Ted Morrison

    Honorable Mention: 'Fear of Flying' (1973)

    By Erica Jong Welcome to winged women. The novel just celebrated its 40th anniversary.

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