Summary Of The Bestest Generation By Rich Cohen

“The Bestest Generation” was published in Vanity Fair’s September 2017 issue. Through the course of the article the author, Rich Cohen, argued that Generation X is the greatest generation and even a source of hope for the future of society.

The majority of the article compared Generation X to the baby boomers and, to a lesser extent, to millennials. These generation are larger, and louder, then Generation X, claimed Cohen, yet he believed that Generation X is the one that is crucial to maintaining American tradition as we know it. He emphasis that Generation X is “Cynical, wised up, [and] sane.”

The article is more of an essay than a traditional news story, and it is not entirely fact based as it is spun around Cohen’s beliefs. However, the article fits the, admittedly looser, mold of a magazine article. It is evident that Cohen conducted thorough research on Generation X in order to write this piece as it is over flowing with pop-culture references and historical facts, cleverly used to back up his point. Some of the richest details he writes make up section the era in which both Generation X and the Baby Boomer’s grew up, including how their parents childhood effected their parenting style.

Cohen, who is himself a member of the self-proclaimed “Bestest Generation,” speaks in first person often through out the article. At one point he includes a list of influential figures born that are part of Generation X, then follows it up with a list of his personal favourites. This writing choice is not typical, but it is suited for a magazine article as it creates a fun and readable