Free Republic

In 1991, Douglas Coupland wrote the best-selling novel Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, popularizing the term, well, Generation X. Gen Xers are roughly defined as those born between 1965 and 1980. At the time of Mr. Coupland’s breakthrough, they were in their early 20’s, fresh out of college, hanging onto the bottom rung of the company ladder. Now, 15 years later, they are in their late 30’s or early 40’s, more likely to be buying up market share than using dad’s gas card at the mini-mart.... ...Generation X” has come to mean more than just a specific group...

<p>Once upon a time, a fellow was considered a mature man at 20 — a guy with a steady job, wife and baby, a little house somewhere.</p> <p>Time and attitude march on, however. Today's twenty-somethings have become reluctant to surrender to the traditional grown-up world, according to a University of Pennsylvania study released Tuesday.</p>