About the Book
Can '80s pop culture really teach us valuable life lessons? Yes, it can!
Life skills. Most of us learned them the hard way and the practical way -- through painful personal trial and error or by witnessing the successes and failures of those around us. Experience and observation can teach us a lot. But what if you could learn powerful life lessons the easy, fun, rad, and totally awesome way?
What if your future mantras and bullet-proof perspectives for a happier, more balanced, and more productive life could be gleaned from the iconic characters, epic dialogue, and unlikely plot lines of your favorite '80s movies? Well, you're in luck.
On the heels of his first two acclaimed books about lessons from '80s pop culture, high-energy keynote speaker and '80s aficionado Chris Clews takes us back in time to explore the laughter and tears -- and yes, the totally unexpected life lessons -- in some of our favorite movies and music from the decade that defined a generation ... and that lives on during a resurgence of love for the '80s (think Stranger Things, Cobra Kai, Top Gun: Maverick, and more).
In Raised on the '80s, Book #3 of his hilarious and thought-provoking series, Chris delivers an entertaining and surprisingly relevant review of nine blockbuster films, one musician who loved the color purple, countless musical hits, and the fashion and lifestyle trends of the 1980s.
The timeless lessons of '80s movies (taught to some of us as tweens and teens, and just now being discovered by younger generations) still resonate and apply to our lives, our jobs, our families, and our communities. Raised on the '80s offers life lessons about confidence, individuality, judgment, legacy, decision making, "going for it," living your life on your terms, passion, encouragement, negotiating with yourself and others, personal growth, and overcoming your fears and challenges.
A few examples of the life lessons that await you:
Trading Places -- You can be good at what you do and still question yourself. Confident people question themselves. Arrogant people question others.
VisionQuest -- There are really two ways to live your life - you can mark the time or make your mark.
Can't Buy Me Love -- Doing the thing is greater than buying the thing.
Prince and Suzanne Vega - Encouragement doesn't cost a thing.
Cocktail -- The difference between dreaming the dream and living the dream is the action you're willing to take.
Die Hard -- Oftentimes, the best way to face a tough or challenging situation is with levity and humor.
Field of Dreams -- Logical equals safe. Illogical equals crazy. From crazy comes innovation, creativity, and advancement.
Road House -- Trusting the process requires trusting the person.
Dead Poets Society -- Change starts with dialogue but making a real impact requires action.
The Breakfast Club -- Be unique. Be bizarre. But most importantly, just be you.
Discover dozens more relatable, unique, and fun lessons from movies and music that you'll never look at the same way again.
So, go ahead -- put on something neon, start using words like "totally" and "rad" again, and get ready for a book that's so awesome it will make you feel guilty for having recommended it at work.
About the Author :
Chris Clews grew up in Reisterstown, MD, and is the quintessential child of the '80s. He is an author and keynote speaker on the work and life lessons we can find in '80s pop culture. A huge supporter of animal rescue, he donates a portion of the proceeds from his books and speaking gigs to WonderPaws Rescue.He's the author of three books in his "Ultimate Series on Essential Work & Life Lessons from '80s Pop Culture". The first two are titled "What '80s Pop Culture Teaches Us About Today's Workplace" while the 3rd is "Raised On The 80s: 30+ Unexpected Life Lessons from the Movies and Music That Defined Pop Culture's Most Excellent Decade". They examine the iconic movies, dialogue and characters from '80s movies and music, offering up memorable and impactful lessons for work and life.He's spoken to a diverse set of organizations including VISA, Univ of Florida, UPenn Medicine, DHL, and more. He's a frequent guest on podcasts with topics from workplace culture to 80s pop culture and has been referenced/interviewed in pubs such as Entrepreneur.com and Esquire UK. He's also moderated reunion panels for MTV VJs and The Goonies.If you are interested in having Chris speak at your event, please send an email to cclews1@gmail.com, chris@chrisclews.com or visit chrisclews.com. You can also find Chris on Twitter @80spopculture, IG @ChrisClews80s, LinkedIn at ChrisClews and Facebook at Chris.Clews.10 and ChrisClews80s.
Review :
"Never did I believe I'd learn my greatest life lessons through a man-child of the '80s, or by actually reading a real book with words. But here we are. Chris Clews's latest inspired work ― Raised on the '80s ― reminds us what a wonderful, totally awesome world we used to live in. This is a funny and unforgettable book." --Kevin Barnett, Hollywood Writer and Producer, The Heartbreak Kid, Hall Pass, The Do-Over, The Wrong Missy, The Righteous Gemstones ... and So Many Other Rotten Tomatoes-Producing Productions
"Chris Clews shows us ― once again in his third book, Raised on the '80s ― his firm but loving grip on the pulse of pop culture in our beloved decade: the '80s. The way in which he has found the life lessons in the movies we've adored for 40 years ― and related them to his own stories of growing up in that magical era ― is a priceless gift for all true nostalgia fans and those of us still hopelessly stuck in the'80s." --Steve Spears, Creator and Host, Stuck in the '80s Podcast
"Chris is the master at telling a story around '80s pop culture and making it fit life TODAY! This book is so much fun to read, especially the 'OMG' moments when like 'Wow, that's exactly how the hall-monitor kids acted, and how in the world did he spin that into an all-time one-hit-wonder Men Without Hats song?' Brilliant! This book is a must-read for all generations. It will have you researching, listening, and watching '80s TV, movies, and music with a whole new appreciation." --Robert "Bo" Brabo, Former Presidential Communications Officer for Presidents Bush & Obama, and Author of From the Battlefield to the White House to the Boardroom: Leading Organizations to Values-Based Results
