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Both books, based on nostalgia, deal with the good and the bad which have come out of the sixties. However, while Collier and Horowitz describe the sixties more as a time of destruction, Gitlin places more emphasis on the spirited atmosphere which led to the destruction. This destruction they all refer to includes the diminished placement of trust in America, the rising problem of drugs, and the overall havoc created throughout the country. Therefore, the authors give two very different descriptions of the era of which they were all a part. Even in the beginnings of the works, the differences are very noticeable. Collier and Horowitz begin by trying to describe a "summary moment" (Collier and Horowitz 11) of the decade. This "moment" involves a revolutionary group known as the Black Panther Party. The authors seem to criticize this group by commenting on their appearances and their actions in certain events. For example, at a cocktail party, one Panther spit in the face of an army draftee because he brought a black friend from the army home while on leave. When the Panther returned to the party, the people present pretended not to notice that anything had happened. Later, when misunderstandings occurred between two guests at the party which resulted in one of them making a racial remark, anger was fueled in the group and among others who had heard about the event. Collier and Horowitz, when remarking on their reactions, emphasize that while in ordinary times the event would not have caused many problems, during the sixties, people considered it more of a sign that revolution was worthwhile. Perhaps the authors were suggesting that the revolution was created out of exaggerated problems or that those leading the revolution, such as the Black Panthers, did not quite understand why they were leading it. Collier and Horowitz seem imply this belief through the portrayal of the Panthers as uneducated when listening to Genet speak on their behalf: "The Panthers milled around in sullen incomprehension as he talked" (P.12). These tend to be their reasons for why the revolution caused so much destruction. On the other hand, Gitlin begins his introduction by describing his life before and during the time he became involved in the sixties movement. He tries to describe the feelings he was experiencing during the period in which he joined. "I was moved by the idea that 'people should make decisions that affect their lives'" (Gitlin 2). While Collier and Horowitz use one small event and describe it in detail as an attempt to show the problems of the sixties, Gitlin uses many different events as if to create a whirlwind of excitement and confusion to express the spirit of the sixties. The authors all feel, however, that the generation of the sixties was out to build or create a new world. They all wanted to improve what existed. While one author describes the generation as having the "modest ambition of shaking America to its roots" (Gitlin 2), the other authors described the generation as a "scouting party for a new world" (Collier and Horowitz 14). Another thing the authors appear to agree upon is their reason for writing their books. They all view the sixties as an important part of the past and want to teach others about their experiences during this time. Collier and Horowitz even stress that the sixties are, in fact, still with us today: "This book is about the sixties and also about that phenomenon... that might be termed the Sixties-within-the- Eighties" (P.15). However, Gitlin just states that he wants to express the spirit of the sixties without the dreamlike qualities affixed to it at that time (P.4). Nevertheless, despite their similar reasons for writing about the sixties, the three authors give very different viewpoints on what they saw occurring during that time. Their differences are important though, because it is through these differences that the reader is able to determine his or her own viewpoint rather than assume that everyone feels the same about the many events which occurred during the turbulent era of the sixties. Works Cited Collier, Peter and David Horowitz. Destructive Generation: Second Thoughts About the Sixties. New York: Summit Books, 1989. Gitlin, Todd. The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage. New York: Bantam Books, 1987.