In this discussion, Colette Shade, author of 'Y2K: How the 2000s Became Everything', reminisces about the buoyant spirit of the 1990s. She highlights the stark contrast between that optimism and today's prevalent pessimism, with a focus on cultural phenomena like the Y2K aesthetic. The conversation delves into societal shifts, such as the move from VW Beetles to SUVs and the impact of economic bubbles. Shade also reflects on the cultural contradictions of the early 2000s and the lasting influence of the tech boom on modern perspectives.
43:43
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
The Fish Tank
Tracy Alloway's neighbor invested early in Oracle and spent his money on an aquarium.
The fish died within a week due to incorrect salt levels, not Alloway's care.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Day Trading Riches
Joe Weisenthal turned $2,000 into $20,000 day trading in the 90s and briefly felt rich.
This reflects the optimistic, though unsustainable, wealth of the era.
insights INSIGHT
End of History
The 90s felt like a time of resolved societal questions, leading to a sense of complacency.
This influenced Joe Weisenthal's choice to study international relations, realizing later it was a specific moment in history.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In 'Dow 36,000', James K. Glassman and Kevin A. Hassett present a provocative argument that stock prices are undervalued and could double, triple, or even quadruple in the near future. They contend that investors have been valuing stocks incorrectly, using outdated methods such as the price/earnings ratio. The authors propose a new model for valuing stocks based on their potential to generate cash for investors. They also provide practical advice on investing strategies, emphasizing the importance of a long-term, disciplined approach and diversification. The book predicts that the Dow Jones Industrial Average could reach 36,000, although they acknowledge this could take about five years to achieve[3][4][5].
Y2K
null
Colette Shade
If you look at various surveys, Americans feel grim about the state of the economy. But even outside of the economy itself, you see negative readings for faith in various American institutions. Pessimism seems to be in right now, at least on a societal level. But it wasn't always this way. In the 1990s, we were between the Cold War and the War on Terror. The stock market boomed through much of the decade. Optimism was in. So what was that like, and then how did it come to an abrupt end in the early years of the new millennium? On this episode, we speak to Colette Shade, author of the new book Y2K: How the 2000s Became Everything, about this time period in America, what stood out, and what is relevant today.
Only Bloomberg.com subscribers can get the Odd Lots newsletter in their inbox — now delivered every weekday — plus unlimited access to the site and app. Subscribe at bloomberg.com/subscriptions/oddlots
Odd Lots 
