America's preeminent columnist presents his penetrating and surprising reflections on everything from embryo research to entitlement reform, from Halley's Comet to border collies, from Christopher Columbus to Martin Luther King, from drone warfare to American decline. Features a special, highly autobiographical introduction.

Examines various aspects of teen life in the 1950s, a decade characterized by the emergence of rock'n'roll, looking at the music and musicians, Elvis, movie idols, hot rods, fashion, and the youth market.