XYZ: One Man, Two Kids, Ten Devices and an Internet-Sized Generation Gap

by William Knight

From a former Guardian and BBC writer, and author of The Donated, comes a hilarious story of mid-life crisis, family, technology, and coping with the modern workplace.

Jack Cooper is a depressed, analogue throwback; a cynical, alcoholic Gen-Xer whose glory days are behind him. He’s unemployed, his marriage has broken down, he’s addicted to internet hook-ups, and is deeply ashamed of his son Geronimo, who lives life dressed as a bear.

When Jack’s daughter engineers a job for him at totally-lit tech firm Sweet, he’s confronted by a Millennial and Zoomer culture he can’t relate to. He loathes every detail – every IM, gif and emoji – apart from Freya, twenty years his junior and addicted to broadcasting her life on social media.

Can Jack evolve to fit in at Sweet, or will he remain a dinosaur stuck in the 1980s? And will he halt his slide into loneliness and repair his family relationships?

XYZ is for every Gen-Xer who ever struggled with a device, and for everyone else who loves emojis ... said no one ever.

‘Essential reading for anyone in the workplace over 40, and a handbook for those cocky bastards who are not.’
Paula (Boomer, wannabe GenX)

216 pages, Paperback

Published July 13, 2019

About the author

I'm a British born journalist and technologist currently living and working in Wellington, New Zealand. I've chased a varying career. I began in acting, progressed to music, enjoyed a brief flirtation with handbag manufacturing and was eventually wired into technology in 1989.

I had my first feature published in 2003 in Computing magazine and have since written about the many successes and failings of high-tech for the Guardian, Fianancial Times and the BBC among many others publications. I also work as a computer consultant in Wellington.

The Donated (Generation), my debut novel first conceived from a New Scientist article in 2001 and has been ten years in development. I love concepts at the edge of reality. Not so fantastic they are impossible, only improbable; better still, shocking.

Reviews

[Dash fan]

4☆ A Quirky, Fun, Entertaining Read.

XYZ certainly is a quirky, humorous read that will get you thinking. I definitely haven't read anything quiet like it before!

Jack's life is on a downward spiral, you could say he is on the path of self destruction.
So when he lands himself a job at a new IT company, he is overwhelmed by how much the younger generation rely on technology and media for literally everything.

He is out of his depth and had enough of the lack of structure and work ethic. No one communicates unless it's through messenger or status updates. Let alone the use of emojis.
But will Jack Sink or Swim in a world overrun with Millennials?
Can he repair his fraught relationship with his family?

Jack is a brilliant character, he is witty, grumpy, sarcastic, and simply perfect for the story.

XYZ is a very witty, quirky, laugh out loud and entertaining read.
I'm not even sure where I would place myself in regards to Gen-X as I'm a little bit of both a Gen-X / Millennial.
This is definitely a book that will be so relatable to many people. It certainly got me thinking about technology and how much we rely on it and the use of social media.
It's scary how much we rely on predictive text, or how it's easier to text or message rather than have a face to face conversation.... oops sorry yes you can do that over video chat/face time 🙈

So if you are looking for a book with a satire edge, that's quirky, fun and relatable then give XYZ a read.... and discover whether you are a Gen-X, Gen - Y (Millennial) or a Gen - Z (Zoomers)..... Enjoy!!


Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.




My Review is also on my Blog Website :-

https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/1...

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gen Y approved! Hillarious, witty and good-natured sarcasm! I am not an avid reader of books in this genre but I'm glad I picked this one up. It gave me a healthy dose of laughter and also got me thinking.

Jack Cooper's life is a mess. His marriage to his soulmate Caroline has broken down, he's addicted to internet hook-ups and he's extremely embarrassed his smart son Oscar chose to ditch the career he thought he was destined for and live life as a bear - Geronimo. Following a lot of friction at home, Jack moves out to an apartment and finds excuses to drown his sorrows in a glass of bitter at the local bar very often. When Jack starts at the new "millennial-infested" company Sweet, he finds it increasingly difficult to fit in and make sense of the company culture all his young team members are into. He finds fault with everything in the company and is not keen on continuing. Jack risks disappointing his daughter - the only one he's closest to, by losing his job. Will he adapt and improve with Sweet? Or will he remain a dinosaur stuck in the 1980s? And will he halt his slide into loneliness and repair his family relationships?

Jack is incredibly cynical and so damn witty. He often has conversations with himself in his head and it's highly entertaining to see his thought process. I'm very happy with the way the story shaped up. I liked the way all the characters interacted and it was very interesting to see the way Jack navigates through his relationships with various characters of the book! I am a fan of wit and this book is filled with so many quips and banter- courtesy Jack, I could not stop myself from ROFLing! I'm very glad I picked up this book and gave it a go! Yay! Jazz Hands!

Thank You, NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and William Knight for an arc!

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a funny story about Jack Cooper, who is a 50 something, alcoholic, cynical Gen-Xer, with a broken marriage and two challenging kids, and definitely someone who is way passed his prime. His daughter helps him get back into the workforce with a more than stellar LinkedIn profile that lands him an awesome job at a fabulous tech firm called SWEET. Coming into work with a suit certainly did not impress, amongst the Gen Z's whose attire consist of hoodies and old band shirts.

William Knight did a fantastic job writing Jack Cooper. I certainly could relate and understand the situation he is in, and the frustrations of this high tech world. Knight wrote about real issues and digs deep into this generation and the difference in the work ethic between the generations. I enjoyed this read very much and had my laugh out loud moments and at times shaking my head in the funny moments these characters find themselves in. I recommend this book for a lighthearted look at this generational gap with deeper meaning into one man's life and his family.

[Misfits farm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Cooper is 55 and feels as if he could be a century more. He is divorced and hence trying to keep his head above water for his two children and two households. He has just started a new job. His field is IT however this is where the extra century fits as everyone around him appears to be young and carefree with a language of their own. Gender neutral is not something he has come across before which makes him feel, well, old and odd. 'XYZ is for every Gen-Xer who ever struggled with a device, and for everyone else who loves emojis ... said no one ever". Generation X are born 1964-1980, Generation Y 1981-1996 and Generation Z “Zoomers” 19965-present day. ' This is a short easy read with lots of smiles along the way. A tongue in cheek look at modern culture and how we adapt or not to it. I think perhaps best appreciated by those of a certain generation - maybe X or Y who have seen the changes and remember pre technology. An almost nostalgic read of a potential grumpy “old” man who can laugh at himself. a very entertaining read.

[Hobart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m one of the original computer geeks...

I was in the first intake for Computer Science O Level at my local college, and I signed up for a computer programming degree when the rest of the world was still using slide rules and copying documents in purple ink...

I was part of a small wave of silicon-brained cool kids that was destined to become a tsunami. My generation was going to make the world a better place and in record time. We had ideas of perfect information, total transparency, evidence-based-government and university for all. We were the builders of Utopia and the founders of global prosperity...

I hadn’t then realised the destiny for which I was headed. It was nothing more than fun. Fun to spend 10p on a video game and bash the console into submission. Fun to program pretty patterns on a screen and load games from a floppy disk, and fun to be part of the BBC’s Micro Live phenomenon, when the broadcaster sponsored its own computer as part of its remit to educate the masses.

And it remained fun until it became a trap, when computers ceased to be the promise of progress and instead became the terrorists of truth. Somewhere along the way, I turned from God of Silicon to an anorak-wearing dweeb, and from dweeb to a lonely fifty-five-year-old bastard. One at the end of his career, hopelessly out of touch, and unable to operate his own phone.

WTF happened?

What becomes of someone who saw himself as one of those who'd bring in a technological utopia and finds themselves trying to survive in the era of smart phone-ubiquity and social media dumpster fire? Well, judging by our protagonist, Jack Cooper—you get (at best) a curmudgeon who feels alienated in the industry he helped establish, estranged from your family, and hoping to remain relevant and productive (and employed!) long enough to retire.

We meet Jack on his first day at a new employer—a personal finance app corporation. He's had a number of first days at various corporations lately, and his daughter is concerned that if he's not careful this could be the last one. Despite his wide-ranging experience lately, he's still in for a giant dose of culture shock and unclear expectations when he gets to work. Even after a period of acclimation, he's still feeling like a fish out of water amidst these young people more focused on the internal chat program, employee fulfillment/empowerment, and lack of accountability than they are on actually producing something useful and on-time.

In other words, things aren't going well for him. But at least he can go home and drink to excess at the pub across the street, right?

Meanwhile, he and his wife are separated (he's still paying the mortgage on their home, in addition to the rent on his flat), he's not speaking to his son (Jack can't accept his life as a furry), and his relationship with his daughter is on the precipice of disaster. Which makes that drinking to excess a lot more tantalizing.

Then, while in a meeting with his superior about his job performance, he finds himself telling her how attracted to her he is. Jack's last chance is looking pretty slim indeed.

This is a novel clearly in the vein of Professor Chandra Follows His Bliss/A Man Called Ove, where a grumpy older man clashes with a world that's changing faster than he's ready for it. Yes, that's right, Gen Xers are now old enough to get our own books like this, which is depressing enough to suck the fun out of this book. Typically, these books are written from a Third-Person POV, but XYZ is a First-Person Narrator. This puts the reader firmly in his cantankerous, drunken, obstinate, and angry head. Honestly, it's a little easier to have any sympathy for these types of characters when you're not drowning in their anger (or at least steeping in it), but seeing it from the outside.

Still, there is plenty of fun to be had in this book. A lot of it is fun at Jack's expense—laughter is the best way to react to his cringe-worthy behavior, otherwise, you'd end up being pretty censorious. Although you won't be able to avoid judging Jack a little bit. There are times (the Prologue is a great example) when Jack's loathing of the cultural moment (particularly in tech corporations) comes through stronger than the humor and it's hard to take (and I agree with Jack in almost every bit of his counter-cultural thinking).

But, as with Ove/Chandra and the rest of the type, Jack manages to find a measure of acceptance for those around him, and is even able to do some work on repairing familial relationships (I don't think it's a spoiler to say either of those things, that's sort of how this kind of book works). As this happens, the book is at it's strongest and easiest to enjoy/relate to. I do wonder if that portion of the novel is a bit rushed—we get plenty of time to watch Jack make a train-wreck of his professional and personal lives (which weren't in great shape before he makes it worse), it'd be nice if we could see him get his feet back under him a bit more clearly.

On the whole, it's a fun book—a great combination of humor, heart, and growth. Sure, some of the edges could be a bit smoother, but on the whole, this is an entertaining read. It can be easily read by a wide-range of readers—those of us who played Space Invaders when it was near the cutting-edge of technology, as well as those who can't get over its primitive design and game-play. It's charming, it'll make you smile, it'll give you a feel or two (to use a phrase Jack would hate). Recommended.


My thanks to Love Books Group for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the book) they provided.

[Henriette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack is cynical, really cynical. He has split everyone into 3 generations X,Y and Z. X is 1964-1980, Y is 1981-1996 and Z is 1996-present day. He is from generation X and is just starting a new job in IT as a 'Squad Master', which I think is what most of us in IT know as a Scrum Master. His work is full of people from generations Y and Z and he has a hard time getting used to how they function.

I think I really enjoyed this book because of the use of metaphors/similes that simply made me laugh, for example

"The whole thing suits me worse than a tutu in a snowstorm."

"It would be like taking the stabilisers off a three-year-old’s bike and laughing as they set off. Slowly and surely, the bike would tip over and dump the kid into a crying heap."

"The anger runs through me like shit through a sewage pipe, and it rears its head at ridiculous times by helping me to duck out of difficult situations."

For me this book was just a really quick and fun read because I can relate. My boyfriend is generation X just like Jack, I am generation Y and our kids are generation Z. I can clearly see the difference between these generations and how we think and act and use internet and devices for instance. He hit it spot on when he said:
"I’ve found the propensity to use thumbs to use a mobile instead of a finger increases the younger you are."

I had a good laugh about his whole work situation and what goes on there and how he is treated and his thought process as I also work in IT, and one of my job roles is also being a Scrum Master. So when Jack said:
"It makes me wonder what the point of my role is..."
after asking what his team was working on and when they thought it was done and he was accused of not trusting them.

Summing it up, this is the story about Jack who has basically made a mess of things. He is separated and just starting a new job, one he may not want to or be able to keep. His son is estranged and his relationship with his daughter is also not always the best. He seems to have few or no friends and drinks way too much. In XYZ we discover whether he actually succeeds in getting a grip on his life, both personal and work life and have a good laugh while doing so.

[Lynn P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Move over Victor Meldrew there's a new guy in town called Jack Cooper. If you don't know who VM is then maybe this isn't the book for you. Probably best enjoyed by those over 40, but everyone could learn something from this book.

Jack Cooper is a Gen-Xer born 1964 and this book is his take on the modern world, particularly Milennials and Zoomers. He's in IT but really anyone of a similar age who has worked in an office can certainly relate to the world he's found himself in. A world where no one gets up and talks to the person across the room. Instead they IM (instant message) and he's a Manager who doesn't manage, instead he's a Squad Master. Upsetting his staff by daring to ask them what they are working on - doesn't he trust them.

I found this laugh out loud funny and so true to life. Jack himself is a bit of a sad character at times. Bringing some of his misfortunes upon himself, especially with his inability to stay sober and get out of bed in a morning. Yet, he does seem to recover a few of them without effort, and maybe some of his dinosaur thinking is still relevant.....

His hook up with a Millennial sees him in a "relationship" on social media after only one night! He's a little bewildered as he doesn't really know her yet, he might not even like her! While he seems able to form a relationship with a Millennial and go along with their ideals in the office his own son is more of a trial for him. Why should that be though?

I found this book hilarious and yet thought provoking at the same time. I loved the ending - just brilliant.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to #LoveBooksTours for the ARC to review.

[Sedona Hutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Cooper is a complete mess. His marriage has crashed and burned and he and his ex hate each other. His son dresses and lives like a Bear and his relationship with his daughter is tanking. On top of the family dysfunction, Jack is an unemployed alcoholic.

His daughter, Em, lands him a job at a young, hip tech firm, Sweet, where Jack’s tolerance is tested to the limit. At first, he hates the lack of structure and the Millennial way of life, complete with instant messaging, emojis, updating status in folders, and constant connection to technology.

Faced with losing his job and his relationship with his daughter and yet to be born grandchild, Jack examines what is really important to him. As a part of this self-assessment, he rids himself of anything that no longer gives him joy. He quits drinking and focuses on improving all relationships in his life—personal and professional.

At times hilarious, at times dark, and at times touching, this was a great mid-life crisis read with a satisfying and hopeful ending.

[Mukesh Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a digital copy of this book via NetGalley. I loved the book, maybe because I can relate a lot with the lead character Jack and how he thinks about the culture around him. I enjoyed the book so much that I read the entire book (not really a Long one) over the weekend.

It was satirical, funny & insightful, all at the same time.. I know that a certain section of the audience will love this book and another might hate it.. isn’t that what books are supposed to do? Elicit strong emotions? So, I would think that the author had done a brilliant job at that :-)

Congratulations on a book well written!

[Awesome Indies Book Awards · Rating 5 out of 5]

AIBA Book of the Day: 17 February, 2022: 530/43867

Awesome Indies Book Awards is pleased to include XYZ by WILLIAM KNIGHT in the library of Awesome Indies Book Awards' Badge of Approval recipients.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: XYZ
Author: William Knight

Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 7/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 7/10
Of the 15 readers:
11 would read another book by this author.
10 thought the cover was good or excellent.
14 felt it was easy to follow.
12 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 8 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
11 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
12 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
‘An honest look at the world we live in from an honest sort of fellow. Very funny in parts. I even liked the cover.’ Male reader, aged 45
‘Jack is not the most cheerful of characters. He’s living in the past and very much feeling left behind by technology and, well, everything! The author is excellent at analyzing the different sorts of people in the world depending on when they were born. You will hate Jack at the start of the book but many readers will learn to appreciate his POV as the novel meanders along.’ Female reader, aged 52
‘A grumpy old man novel anybody older than 40 will love. It’s a good laugh.’ Male reader, aged 49
‘Not very politically correct which is probably why I enjoyed it. I chuckled a lot. And I agree with Jack – God! I’m a grumpy old man too!!!’ Male reader, aged 56

To Sum It Up:
‘A satirical look at modern working and family life and how dysfunctional it all can be. A RED RIBBON WINNER and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Henriette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack is cynical, really cynical. He has split everyone into 3 generations X,Y and Z. X is 1964-1980, Y is 1981-1996 and Z is 1996-present day. He is from generation X and is just starting a new job in IT as a 'Squad Master', which I think is what most of us in IT know as a Scrum Master. His work is full of people from generations Y and Z and he has a hard time getting used to how they function.

I think I really enjoyed this book because of the use of metaphors/similes that simply made me laugh, for example

"The whole thing suits me worse than a tutu in a snowstorm."

"It would be like taking the stabilisers off a three-year-old’s bike and laughing as they set off. Slowly and surely, the bike would tip over and dump the kid into a crying heap."

"The anger runs through me like shit through a sewage pipe, and it rears its head at ridiculous times by helping me to duck out of difficult situations."

For me this book was just a really quick and fun read because I can relate. My boyfriend is generation X just like Jack, I am generation Y and our kids are generation Z. I can clearly see the difference between these generations and how we think and act and use internet and devices for instance. He hit it spot on when he said:
"I’ve found the propensity to use thumbs to use a mobile instead of a finger increases the younger you are."

I had a good laugh about his whole work situation and what goes on there and how he is treated and his thought process as I also work in IT, and one of my job roles is also being a Scrum Master. So when Jack said:
"It makes me wonder what the point of my role is..."
after asking what his team was working on and when they thought it was done and he was accused of not trusting them.

Summing it up, this is the story about Jack who has basically made a mess of things. He is separated and just starting a new job, one he may not want to or be able to keep. His son is estranged and his relationship with his daughter is also not always the best. He seems to have few or no friends and drinks way too much. In XYZ we discover whether he actually succeeds in getting a grip on his life, both personal and work life and have a good laugh while doing so.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

All my reviews can be found at: http://jessicasreadingroom.com
~~~~
This review appeared on my site on November 6, 2019
~~~~
I was a part of the blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources
~~~~
XYZ covers three generations of people and the author determines the generations as these:
Generation X: ‘Gen X’ Born 1964-1980
Generation Y: ‘Millennials’ Born 1981-1996
Generation Z: ‘Zoomers” Born 1996- Present day

These years of generations vary based on who you talk to. I was born in 1980, so I am fortunately NOT a Millennial in this case! I like to define myself as Generation Confused: I don’t fit in with GenX’ers, but I am definitely NOT a Millennial! I thought Millennials were younger (IE: in their 20’s and not as old as they actually are, what a shock to me).

This being said, I am not the target reader of XYZ. I would say the target reader would be a male middle ager/GenX’er, same as our protagonist Jack. Any male reader of that age would identify with him: Reaching middle age and feeling alone and all of these younger ‘workers’ and the things they do with their phones: emojis, ‘jazz hands’, constant need for social media connection versus real life connection, etc. Jack 100% does not fit in! Besides work, Jack’s family life is in disarray. Until this book I had not heard of ‘jazz hands’, so this was a new one on me! Am I already out of touch at 39!?!?

It can be a funny novel and reading about the younger workers, I just rolled my eyes. What is the world coming to!?!? Are younger people all about the digital age, and forget about ‘real life’ where we all actually exist!?!?!? Omg…… I AM getting old! XYZ is an entertaining read that will appeal to the older Gen X’er, and maybe those younger.

Fair warning: There is foul language throughout the novel, so that might deter some readers.

But don’t give up hope for Jack: There is a satisfying and happy ending!

[L.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

From only a few pages in, I couldn't help but laugh at Jack's view of life. Being Gen X with a background in IT, I totally understood his frustration with modern times. His new role at Sweet as a squad master who was not required to 'manage' his team was hilarious, aided and abetted by glorious chunks of sarcasm. Jack came across as believable, and pretty decent, if somewhat set in his ways. But why not? When his ways were tried and tested, and generally worked (there was an element of "touché" at the end of the story that brought some much-needed reality to his life and work). Sweet was one of those workplaces where social media dictated the pace of everything. Nobody actually spoke to each other, preferring to send messages via Lazy IM ( ;) inspired naming) and employees were allowed to work on their own projects on certain days rather than get the job done for the company. There were many nods to the way in which such flexible working practices have infiltrated the workplace, the relaxed atmosphere and 'unmanageability' only emphasising the mess that Sweet as a company would soon encounter.

His relationship with his daughter, Em, was (for want of a better word) sweet, but when it came to his wife and son, things got a little dark. It was clear Jack still had feelings for his wife, and that his son's lifestyle choices were a major issue between them. The early humour in the book vanished for a while during the middle of the story, and Jack himself succumbed to a mid-life crisis that he wasn't in control of, bringing much more gloom and doom to the tale but without the sarcasm.

Readers who enjoy dry humour, with lashings of sarcasm and a hefty dose of satire will undoubtedly enjoy XYZ.

Thanks to the author, Netgalley and Rachel's Random resources for my copy of this book which I have reviewed voluntarily.

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Cooper’s life has gone to hell. He is divorced, his ex and him despise each other. He is still paying the mortgage on the house along with his apartment. He doesn’t understand his son’s choice of living like a bear and so much more about his life. So he spends his day drunk at a bar near his place. His daughter manages to find him a job at the company Sweet but it’s clear that Jack is in over his head.

Jack is now in the new world of technology being everywhere and people obsessing over emoji’s and internet statuses. If that wasn’t bad enough, he is a manager over a group of people that are not held accountable for their work and spend most of their time on their phones. But an encounter with his boss becomes a turning point for Jack. He’s either going to be able to grow with his new role or go the way of the dinosaurs.

I had to laugh about this book. I am right at the end of Generation X and can relate to most of what Jack is. His whole view of this new world filled with technology is hilarious. And the behaviors of this younger generation irk me right along with Jack. But I loved how he decides to take the leap of faith and try to straighten his messed up life out.

Jack is not the best of characters and I admit that at times I downright didn’t like him. But I could relate to his situation and found myself laughing at his different situations. I think this book will appeal to those of us that are older and feel like a dinosaur stomping around in the technology age. But there is hope in the end. At the very least to find someone that feels the same way about our world makes this book a little gem.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

[Mike Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale all too recognisable for those of us living the Dystopia that William Knight expertly exposes in XYZ. There is much hilarity at the expense of our hero but it is sadness that drives this tale.
Somewhere between innocent aspirations for the future and the ridiculous reality of a device driven youth, common sense is drowned. It is a tale of heroism seen through the eyes of a desperate man, his self abuse giving us many reasons to laugh and squirm and ultimately cheer him on.
The author pokes lovable fun at the astonishment faced by any X gens who stray into the world of Z, grimly clutching the latest device.

A philosopher cynic, William Knight speaks for a generation, at least for those left craving the simple pleasure of a physical connection to the world. I am left asking myself a question, am I being left behind, do old fashioned proximity based relationships actually matter compared to high speed internet relationships. When the person on the other end could be any one, any bear, do they care, can they?

I suspect I already know the answer and as my children suggest, I am a dinosaur, yes, a triceratops I think :)

Definitely get this book, I prefer a hard copy, they only get soggy in the bath and don't electrocute you like the digital copies do.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a copy of this via NetGalley

I loved this book, being Gen X I can sympathise with the protagonist about just wanting things to work, and not having to update, agree, opt-in or opt-out of something before you use it, technology is good, but it's a lot better when you just turn it on and it works.

The main character was believable, and more importantly likeable, you are right there every step of the way experiencing his highs and lows along side him, empathising as he despairs of the modern workplace and cheering for him when things go well.

All of the characters are well rounded, and feel real, you have more than likely met a few in real life or work with them.

One of the best books I've read so far this year.

[Rebecca L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious. I read the preview of this book on Kindle and I was so amused that I had to download the entire book. As an “elder millennial,” I can relate to many of the protagonist’s struggles at work. In a world where social media and technology have come to dominate the landscape, how do we relate to one another? When are innovations helpful and when do they cross the line to absurdity? If you’re a fan of dry humor or wry satire, you’ll find something to laugh about in XYZ. Geronimo the Bear was my favorite character. I had to find out how it ended and I read the entire book in just two days. Lots of fun and highly amusing.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This takes satire and dials it up to 11. I have to say, it's almost impossible to like Jack Cooper. I half expected to find him shaking his fist and yelling at kids to get off his lawn by the end. He's a caricature of someone who isn't able to keep up with changing times, or new generations creating their own culture and influencing pop culture. He comes dangerously close to acting like a boomer quite a few times, but he is an older gen X'er so that's not too surprising. At times, I was rolling my eyes at his self-pity and anger so hard I thought they were going to get stuck there. If this wasn't satire, it wouldn't be readable, honestly.

[Pete Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too close to the truth

Easily readable and full of " yes exactly right " from the reader. Well worth a read, especially if you are are a confused techie!

[Steph Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

XYZ follows miserable Gen X-er Jack as he sulks, moans and drinks himself out of family, work and friendships because he feels that the tide of technology which he surfed in his younger days has now swept over him and left him all washed up.

And if that was all there was to it then I wouldn’t be recommending it!

I loathed poor Jack at the beginning and was both amused and annoyed as he snottily judged all the young, enthusiastic people around him from his lofty position as an almost-unemployable sodden mess. But, as with all good anti-heroes, he grew on me as the plot progressed. The sarcasm, satire and sharp wit helped lighten the tone and keep the story from getting too maudlin.

Gradually, as Jack’s situation becomes increasingly precarious and his attitude increasingly untenable, the reader begins to see through his spiky dramatics and warm to the confused and frightened man hiding from the modern world beneath the bitter facade. I certainly think this process would have happened more quickly had the narration not been in the first person perspective; Jack’s constant acidic inner monologues were a bit distracting until I learned to hear them as a cry for help instead of an attack!

William Knight perfectly skewers all three of the generations in the title here; no one is spared, from Gen X prejudices, to Millennial PC culture, to Gen Z buzz. And it’s all done in such an even-handed, entertaining, tongue-in-cheek way that even the most delicate of snowflakes would struggle to take offence.

Of course, the main character learns and grows, and comes to a grudging acceptance that the world will continue to progress with or without his approval, and he can continue to sulk in his personal pickling jar or crack out the jazz hands (yay!) and jump on board. As it goes, he actually finds some acceptance and compromises in his favour along the way too. And throughout it all there are plenty of laughs: WITH Jack’s sharp witty observations, and AT his cringe-worthy behaviour.

By the end of the book I was a convert. Jack wasn’t perfect, but no one is, and at least he’s back in the game and giving it a good old-fashioned try. I came away with a better appreciation of ALL generations, and a peculiar longing for a t-shirt that says Sweet FA!





The world’s gone insane and I’m right in the middle of it. Too young to retire, too old to work in these fucked-up, alt-corporate millennial environments, but desperate for the money to pay for two homes, a probable divorce and grown-up kids who blame me and my generation for wrecking their lives—and the planet while we were at it.
I’m not sure when I became part of the older generation, but here I am. Somehow Gen Y became the cool Millennials and Gen X became old, technically-challenged farts? One minute I am the technical wizard, the next I can’t get my phone to work and am bamboozled by giphys and emoticons and emojis. I don’t know what they mean, when to use what, and a wrong key press gets my so-called thread bombarded with capital letters and, of course, rolling eyes.
But I’m one of the original computer geeks.

– William Knight, XYZ


Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog (Gen Y)
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...

[Jamie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is It Really Satire If It’s True?

As a Gen-Xer myself who is contemplating re-entering the workforce (even though I might be an irrelevant “old fart” as stated in the book), I found much that resonated in this novel. I had downloaded it from a book review site some time ago, and I had forgotten whether or not it was a novel or nonfiction. When I started reading the prologue, I thought it actually might be nonfiction or at least perhaps a personal memoir. The author did that good of a job making this book feel real. The situations that the main character comes up against are completely realistic and show the generational gaps personally and professionally. Certainly, some thoughts expressed in this book are ones that I have had. I think that millennial workers should read this book to have a better understanding of where Gen X is coming from. Is it really satire if it is true? 🙌 ❓

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com

[Louise Pledge · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a disgusting book! Had I not been grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity of a free read, I probably wouldn't have gone past the first page.. especially not the first chapter! The profanity started in the second sentence and just proceeded to get worse & worse & worse! I found myself speed reading to get through it and don't feel like I missed anything. At 70%, my Kindle refused to open it again, so I'm thinking it was protecting me! I hope none of those vile expressions stay imprinted on my mind. :::shudder, shudder:::

[Tomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry but it's a no for me. This book was all over the place and I felt like the writer was just trying so hard to be funny and he really wasn't. In better terms? It was a stupid book, and waste of time.

This is my honest opinion.

Rating 0