Wham Bam may be one of the most powerful books ever written on NYC in the sixties—a book that shines a new light on people in changing times. In his work, Robert Issenberg describes the 1960s social changes in New York City, including feminist revolutions, business expansions, cultural change, shifting lifestyles, and minority rights. As he provides an intimate look at relationships and family dynamics, the readers are drawn toward exploring the culture, sex, religion, and politics in America during that era.
Issenberg’s words are a mere reflection of society, and the reader can find oneself deeply tangled and engrossed in exploring such transforming and revolutionary times. To begin with, Wham Bam: NYC in the Roaring Sixties is an ordinary yet autobiographical tale of a young man who has set out to make a name for himself. But living in such a time, away from family, and exploring life of one’s own, the reader experiences all the fantasy and happenings in the author’s life. He not only establishes his successful business but also gets fired from his job with no future plans ahead. Nevertheless, he is hopeful and confident that what life stores for him must have a silver lining for him. In the end, the readers can draw parallels between the clueless author, who, after all the troubles, still comes out okay and runs a successful shoe company with the love of his life.
As per the author, NYC in the sixties was the time when everyone was rethinking their boundaries, expanding their potential, and imagining what the future would look like with changes occurring at an unprecedented rate. However, as this simple yet hilarious tale continues, one can find oneself laughing with the characters or struggling with their life-long decisions. The drama of living in the sixties is as real as it can get, and one cannot ignore but to amaze at the idiosyncrasies of the people along with their sexually explicit language.
In his foreword, the author mentions all the happenings that were taking place in the background, such as the ongoing war in Vietnam, the minority’s right to vote, freedom fighting, and women’s emancipation from domestic lifestyles. But amid all the chaos, the author’s tone remains calm and relaxed; exploring relationships and testing his limits while learning about different types of Brandy, rolling up joints, and exploring bars. Apart from that, he is called ‘Fairly Famous Isenberg’ and is popular among ladies because he can cook and make women laugh while keeping them satisfied.
‘’Women love guys who feed them, almost as much as guys who make them laugh,” exclaimed Abbe Hoffman in a conversation about women and pleasures. Each chapter of the book is a new day in Issenberg’s life, and the readers are given a new insight into the characters.
One may say that there isn’t much happening in the plotline, but on a bigger picture, they can see the life of a person being unfolded in front of them. The naivety of the author is evident in each chapter, and it seems like every person he meets has to teach him a lesson, be it in the form of puffing joints, sex, ladies, brandy, or how to establish a business in real time.
In Wham Bam, the readers are also introduced to the ways of social interactions in the sixties, the female voice is represented, and consensual sex is the sets foot in the American culture. Women are rapidly adopting new ways of culture and contraceptives by choice. They are also found to be working in fields where they know that they can have an unfair advantage –enjoy dinners in fancy restaurants, go on luxurious dates, and get opportunities to get laid with business tycoons or influential persons. But between the lines, the readers can experience the dread the ladies have to encounter. It is evident from the life of Sue, Issenberg’s friend, who had to ask for help from Issenberg to avoid people running after Sue and expecting sexual activity or foreplay in return.
All in all, one can say that not everyone can be a writer; and Issenberg is said to be an exception. He spends his life in a creative manner and now leading a successful career both as a writer and a businessman. He has turned all of his life’s exciting points into a narrative that is able to garner praise from its readers be they young or old.
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