If you grew up in the late 60s and 70s, you need to read this book. 

It follows the life of a baby boomer who was raised by hard-working World War II era parents who are still not convinced he has learned to wipe himself. He has gone to college, dated, gotten jobs, gotten married, become a father, lost jobs, gotten divorced, learned how to use a computer, and tried to fulfill his civic responsibilities. 

Like many others in his generation, he followed the time-honored steps which were supposed to guarantee a successful career, a happy marriage, and a comfortable retirement. Instead, he is struggling to keep the wolf from the door. He is checking out online dating sites, and praying Walmart will have an opening for a geriatric greeter when his arthritic fingers can no longer pound a keyboard.

Looking back over his life, he is unsure where it all went wrong, or even if it did. 

His wife and kids turned him into the Ogre in the Basement, but even there he has his doubts. Was he mean like Shrek, or was he more like the whiney snot-nosed kid everybody liked to laugh at in the third grade when he threw a crying fit.

Is it any wonder Katharine Hepburn said, “Life is hard? After all, it kills you.” If you are not careful, life will kill you. Or, turn you into the Ogre in the Basement. 

Read the Ogre in the Basement. Laugh, cry, and get a new perspective on life, the Universe, and everything else.