not an instant success, the novel steadily increased in sales, eventually attracting a following behind its core idea of "generation x". over his own protestations, coupland was dubbed the spokesperson for a generation, stating in 2006 "i was just doing what i do and people sort of stuck that on to me. it's not like i spend my days thinking that way." terms popularized by coupland in the novel, including "generation x" and "mcjob", ultimately entered the vernacular.