[ book tip by Ann Morgan ] Every once in a while, a book comes along that captures something about the world as it is then, at that time, or at least as it seems to be. Michael Bywater's book Big Babies or: Why Can't We Just Grow Up?, which came out towards the end of 2006, is such a book and should be read by everyone with an interest in sociology, psychology or just a general fascination with the issues facing Western society today.

Witty, sharp and intellectually compelling, the book takes a broad look at the world we live in through the prism of Bywater's theory that there is an unwritten conspiracy to keep all of us, and perhaps particularly British and American citizens, thinking and acting like big kids; and that we conspire in this, encourage it and help it along. It's alarming reading for those of us who pride ourselves on being independent, free-thinking adults. Yet it's also fiercely funny, thought-provoking, and very convincing.

If you've ever felt uneasy when a CCTV camera swivels to follow you walking down the street, if you've ever bristled when your computer shows you a lovable dog wagging its tail whilst it tries to search for a file, if you've ever wondered whether disposable coffee cups really need to bear the legend, 'Warning: Contents may be hot', then Big Babies is for you. Read it: it will leave you feeling wiser and possibly older too.

[ book info ] Bywater, Michael: Big Babies. Why can't we just grow up?. Granta, London, ISBN: 1-86207-883-1.