A great, fast paced memoir, Some Way Outa Here by Mark Lauden is a coming of age book about his life growing up in the late 60's and early 70's, along with two female friends. It's not only a story of them growing up, but a story of a nation growing up as well. Lauden's story is told intertwined with world changing events like stories about Vietnam and avoiding the draft, how he almost made it to Woodstock (but didn't go because of weather reports of rain), protests, and even every day events like parents arguing over hair cuts and hair styles, excitement over a new Beatles album, every day conversations between family members, and whether or not bell bottoms were acceptable attire. The story is all the more fascinating because of the little, every day details that matter.

Lauden's tale is probably much the same as any teenager or young adult growing up, in any decade - trying to make and keep friends and girlfriends, getting good grades, what college should he go to or should he even go to college at all?

Some Way Outa Here is a delightful, fun, read, one that will bring a crazy period in America's history to life for you in a way that will change you and who we are today. I recommend this book for fans of memoirs, or anyone who wants to read first hand accounts of what it was like to grow up in small town America during a crazy time in our nation's history.