Gwinnett County Public Library discussion

2030 by Albert Brooks jumps 18 years into the future, creating an America that is at the same time familiar and unsettling in its strangeness. Brooks imagines that in eighteen years medical advances have cured cancer, which is wonderful for humanity, but less wonderful for our economy. The lengthened lifespan leaves all the Baby Boomers living well into their 90s. This puts a huge strain on the economy due to increased numbers of people tapping into Social Security. Young people, feeling bitter about the difficulties they're having making ends meet, begin thinking about revolution, which turns to violence. Meanwhile, America's first half-Jewish president is dealing with the catastrophe of the biggest earthquake ever to hit California. Los Angeles is leveled, and America can't pay to fix it. To tell his story Brooks bounces back and forth between common people and the mega-rich, the "olds" and the young, those with power and those without. It's unsettling, but interesting. While it's not the brightest future, who can say it's not the real one?

Thanks for the recommendation. I agree it's a little hard to follow at first, but I'm enjoying it so far.

Glad you're liking it!

Definitely enjoyed this one. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!