"Generation X" grew up with Star Wars, prepared to deal with the problems of a fantasy universe. They grew up during the longest period of economic growth in American history. When the first Star Wars movie came out the Dow Jones Industrial Average was around 900 points; when the last movie was released it was more than 10,000. Their parents' 401ks got fat and the little houses they had collected Star Wars toys in became worth ten times what mom and dad had paid for them. Now Gen Xers are in their thirties and forties and starting to run for Congress and to run major corporations. As the...

Some people always get job offers, they never get laid off during lean times and if they are self-employed they always have a full pipeline of clients. What's their secret? In his new book, In Demand: How to Get Hired, Develop a Career and Always be Successful, Bill Van Steenis offers practical advice about being a valuable player in the business world. He explores the personalities and practices of the workers and contractors that have their pick of jobs and projects. He shows how they understand and respond to the market for their work, and why they are always the most highly sought after...