The Anxious Generation
How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
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The Anxious Generation
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Narrated by:
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Sean Pratt
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By:
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Jonathan Haidt
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
An urgent and insightful investigation into the collapse in youth mental health, from the influential social psychologist and international bestselling author
After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents in many countries around the world deteriorated suddenly in the early 2010s. Why have rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide risen so sharply, more than doubling in many cases?
In this book, Social Psychologist Jonathan Haidt argues that the decline of free-play in childhood and the rise of smartphone usage among adolescents are the twin sources of increased mental distress among teenagers.
Haidt delves into the latest psychological and biological research to show how, between 2010 and 2015, childhood and adolescence got rewired. As teens traded in their flip phones for smartphones packed with social media apps, time online soared while time engaging face-to-face with friends and family plummeted, and so did mental health. This profound shift took place against a backdrop of diminishing childhood freedom, as parents over-supervised every aspect of their children’s lives offline, depriving them of the experiences they most need to become strong and self-governing adults.
The Anxious Generation reveals the fundamental ways in which this shift from free-play to smartphones disrupts development – from sleep deprivation to addiction – with separate in-depth analyses of the impact on girls and boys. Grounded in ancient wisdom and packed full of cutting-edge science, this eye-opening book is a life raft and a powerful call-to-arms, offering practical advice for parents, schools, governments, and teens themselves.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2024 Jonathan Haidt (P)2024 Penguin AudioCritic reviews
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What listeners say about The Anxious Generation
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- ms r a charles
- 01-21-25
Excellent listen - detailing our experiences in the real world
Finally a book that brings evidence to support claims I’ve been making for years now as a parent to gen z. A young parent at that!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mehmet
- 09-11-24
Eye opener for parents
Practical tips and scary facts. Must listen for every parent. Grounded arguments that flow through the book
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Daniel
- 10-27-24
Convincing
Strong arguments and clearly made, I’m very grateful for this perspective and it’s made me a more informed parent.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 09-09-24
One of the MOST IMPORTANT books of our time!
Intense. Shocking. Important.
That there’s a problem is without doubt. That it’s due to the causes presented by Haidt is near certain. That there are possible solutions is welcoming.
Thank you for writing this! 🙏🏼
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- David Wood
- 04-25-24
Marvellous. Uplifting. Packed with insight, from the first word to the last
Contrary to claims of some critics who are over-hasty (or whose own involvement with social media may prevent them from thinking clearly), Haidt provides rich data and analysis in support of the recommendations he makes.
His final two calls to action are entirely apt: speak up, and link up.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 02-19-25
Narrator is just so damn good.
Just here to give some appreciation to the very excellent narrator. This is the best reading I’ve encountered for this kind of material. Your pacing, engagement and careful emphasis really enhance my focus and uptake of info. (Coupled with Haidt’s always-excellent writing that prioritises clarity also.) Thank you for your finely honed expertise.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 08-14-24
Awakening
Lots of insights. Gave me an awakening as a parent I need to do better. Makes me wanna be an activist. Also I have a more sympathy for Gen-z.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Scott
- 09-21-24
Compulsory reading for all generations
Haidt brings together much of his previous theses as we as those from other pop science authors to construct a compelling argument for reducing and limiting access to smart phones, especially for those in the 'sensitive period' of early adolescence.
I'm grateful that I read this before my own children reach this age so that I can implement his suggested strategies and better model healthy tech usage. I am also a teacher in an SEMH provision, and most of the parents and educators I speak to regarding the apparent mental health crisis amongst young people are quick to point to COVID as the primary cause, however I tend to agree with Haidt that the problems really started about 10 years earlier when smart phones became ubiquitous. His call to action would require a significant challenge to current social norms, but the hope lies in collective change and coordination between parents, schools and government policymakers. As such, I cannot recommend this title strongly enough.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Kindle Customer
- 10-12-24
Very good read I recommend this book to anyone wanting to raise healthy children.
I agree with the author's perspective; however, in nations like South Africa, I would not permit my children to wander freely due to the prevalent dangers, including hijackings and daily incidents of violence. Regarding cell phones and social media platforms like TikTok, I firmly believe they have negatively impacted young minds, and there should be age restrictions to reduce the harmful influences children face from an early age. This text provides valuable insights, and I recommend it to parents who are concerned about these issues.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 11-25-24
Excellent topic for this age and attempt to the best advice but…
Well read written and content great but, we live in a more dangerous time. With kidnappers, killing of children and paedophiles which makes childhood independence a challenge, besides this all else is doable and appreciated advice
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