Rejuvenile: Kickball, Cartoons, Cupcakes, and the Reinvention of the American Grown-up
Encyclopedia
Rejuvenile: Kickball, Cartoons, Cupcakes, and the Reinvention of the American Grown-up is a non-fiction
book written by author Christopher Noxon
and published by Crown Publishing in 2006. The term "rejuvenile" refers to people who "cultivate tastes and mindsets traditionally associated with those younger than themselves."
to Tintin
to skateboarding. The book is also a collection of stories of like-minded adults who do things like play dodgeball
on the weekends, go to Walt Disney World Resort
(without kids) and collect toys.
(Colbert: You were both in eighth grade? Noxon: No, mid-twenties). He later proposed to her on the same field. He put the ring inside of a kickball and then reinflated it and gave it to her. He also gave her a knife, so that she could cut it open and get the ring out. Unfortunately, there was a Little League
team nearby, and when they saw him with the knife, they started yelling "Don't kill her!" They got married and have three children.
Later, Colbert brought out a box of cupcakes, but Noxon turned them down, joking, "I'm gonna have it after, 'cause I don't wanna muss up my visage."
Colbert also brought up the idea that Noxon was very reluctant to qualify the rejuvenile movement as specifically a good thing or a bad thing. Noxon clarified: being childlike can be good, but being childish isn't. "There's a big difference between childish and childlike. And childish is sort of impatient and silly and ridiculous and temper tantrums and brat behavior, and childlike is open and creative and flexible."
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
book written by author Christopher Noxon
Christopher Noxon
Christopher Lane Noxon is an American writer and freelance journalist.His first book was Rejuvenile. The book, which grew out of a story he wrote for The New York Times, was reviewed in BusinessWeek, The New York Sun and covered by The Today Show, Good Morning America and NPR...
and published by Crown Publishing in 2006. The term "rejuvenile" refers to people who "cultivate tastes and mindsets traditionally associated with those younger than themselves."
Plot
Rejuvenile is about adults who behave and think in childlike and childish ways, and Noxon's opinion is that this isn't necessarily a bad thing. According to the book, many rejuveniles have found ways to lead productive and responsible lives without tossing aside things they've always loved -- from Necco WafersNECCO Wafers
Necco Wafers are a candy wafer made by the United States-based New England Confectionery Company . Necco Wafers were first produced in 1847 and are considered by Necco to be its core product...
to Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin is a series of classic comic books created by Belgian artist , who wrote under the pen name of Hergé...
to skateboarding. The book is also a collection of stories of like-minded adults who do things like play dodgeball
Dodgeball
Dodgeball is any of a variety of games in which players try to hit other players on the opposing team with balls while avoiding being hit themselves. This article is about a well-known form of team sport with modified rules that is often played in physical education classes and has been featured...
on the weekends, go to Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort , is the world's most-visited entertaimental resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida ; approximately southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels Walt...
(without kids) and collect toys.
Appearance on The Colbert Report
Christopher Noxon appeared on The Colbert Report on June 29, 2006. On the show, Noxon told the story of how he met his wife. Apparently they met while playing kickballKickball
Kickball is a playground game and competitive league game, similar to baseball, invented in the United States in the first half of the 20th Century. Kickball may also be known as kick baseball, base soccer, soccer-base, or soccer-baseball...
(Colbert: You were both in eighth grade? Noxon: No, mid-twenties). He later proposed to her on the same field. He put the ring inside of a kickball and then reinflated it and gave it to her. He also gave her a knife, so that she could cut it open and get the ring out. Unfortunately, there was a Little League
Little League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
team nearby, and when they saw him with the knife, they started yelling "Don't kill her!" They got married and have three children.
Later, Colbert brought out a box of cupcakes, but Noxon turned them down, joking, "I'm gonna have it after, 'cause I don't wanna muss up my visage."
Colbert also brought up the idea that Noxon was very reluctant to qualify the rejuvenile movement as specifically a good thing or a bad thing. Noxon clarified: being childlike can be good, but being childish isn't. "There's a big difference between childish and childlike. And childish is sort of impatient and silly and ridiculous and temper tantrums and brat behavior, and childlike is open and creative and flexible."
Other media
- Noxon has conducted radio interviews with Talk of the NationTalk of the NationTalk of the Nation is a talk radio program based in the United States, produced by National Public Radio, and is broadcast nationally from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Its focus is current events and controversial issues....
, WHYY-FMWHYY-FMWHYY-FM is an NPR member station serving the Delaware Valley area, which is the metro area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The station is located in Philadelphia. Its transmitter is located in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia.-History:...
, KMOX and Money Matters Financial Network. - In print, Rejuvenile has been featured in USA TodayUSA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, Globe and Mail, CBS NewsCBS NewsCBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
and Detroit Free PressDetroit Free PressThe Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
. - Rejuvenile.com has links to all the mentioned interviews.
- Noxon also posts blogs on amazon.com.
- Rejuvenile has also been shown on the Showtime television show WeedsWeeds (TV series)Weeds is an American television comedy created by Jenji Kohan and produced by Tilted Productions in association with Lionsgate Television. The central character is Nancy Botwin , a widowed mother of two boys who begins selling marijuana to support her family after her husband dies suddenly of a...
on at least three occasions, either being read or sold in a bookstore. In the episode "A Pool and His Money", Uncle Andy remarks to an angry mob that he is "rejuvenile", and that the chocolate milk he is buying is for him not a young boy.
External links
- Rejuvenile.com features excerpts, reviews and interviews.