Book Review: 2030

Film director and funnyman Albert Brooks takes a fictional look at the condition our country will be in 19 years into the future in the novel 2030. Brooks draws from the headlines of today and predicts some very startling outcomes if the United States’ current path remains unchanged. Written with numerous characters introduced throughout the novel, Brooks weaves the country’s desperate economic state through a myriad of personal stories concerning the nation’s aging population, extreme healthcare costs, and a massive earthquake that levels Los Angeles in the first few chapters. The premise is very interesting and held my attention, but the payoff in the end didn’t quite hit the mark. 2030 reads more like a mediocre B-movie than an enthralling futuristic novel. However, the story will make all ages stop and think about what is happening right now in our country, and the possible future we could face. - Kathy (Downtown)