American society is going to hell and this book details it's DESCENT to this destination (loaded with a variety of statistics [directions] that lead down this path).

PLUS, it's about the same price NEW as USED. You can't beat that.

I read the book before attending a symposium with Dr Twenge. Made the symposium that much more interesting.

I was initially intrigued by the premise of this book, but after 150 pages I finally put it down. I have never heard anyone whine so much about how hard things are for their generation (get a clue, lady! My ancestors lived in tenements and before that in thatch huts with dirt floors and regular pogroms -- when exactly did you think life was easy?). On top of that, the author is confused about her own arguments. For instance, she argues, rightfully, against silly self-esteem building exercises and over-praising students, but confuses that with the idea that a person is unique and has self-worth regardless of what they do or accomplish. Similarly, she confuses narcism with the notion that such people have too much self-esteem, when in reality, such people clearly have very little self-esteem. Her snarky tone does not help her argument.

Generation Me is one of those books that finds me agreeing with its thesis and polemic, but relatively unimpressed by its argument and approach. As an educator, I very much agree with the thesis of Twenge's book - that the current generation (born in the late '80's and the '90's) is more narcissistic, expectant, and impatient than previous generations. I just wish that she would have presented a more "detached" book focusing on statstical evidence rather than islated anecdotes. (Several times, Twenge becomes so polemic that I had to remind myself that I was reading a book by a PhD in Psychology, rather than a crotchety radio talk-show host.)

Let's start with the good: Twenge has written a book highlighting a disturbing trand that deserves to be highlighted. The ever-increasing self-esteem movement of the 1980's and 1990's has led to certain excesses which have left the current generation (dubbed "generation me") to become more self-aborbed and narcissistic, and less civic-minded and modest, than ever before.

Through anecdote and statistical data (more of the former than the latter) Twenge shows not only that this is the case, but speculates as to how this trend developed and came to fruition. Like authors Maureen Stout and Polly Young-Eisendrath, Twenge lays much of the blame on the well-meaning but pushed-to-excess "self-esteem movements" in parenting and education, which raised kids to believe that the world is their oyster and that success should be expected. All of this, Twenge notes, has led to students who are unprepared and unwilling to deal with failure and delayed gratification, and easily disillusioned when the "world is your oyster" philosophy fails, as it often does, to pan out in the "real world."

The single-most disappointing feature of Twenge's book is that it fails to deliver on its promise. In the introduction, Twenge details the methodology of the research study that is to be the base of the book. She promises that the book will be a discussion of the study's findings. Despite this profession, it only takes until the middle of chapter one to realize that the book will rely much more on anecdote ("For instance, in an episode of Dawson's Creek..." is a favorite for Twenge) than stastic. Several times, in fact, I had to remind myself that this book was in fact written by a PhD in Psychology rather than a crotchety radio talk-show host (as Twenge's editorial style frequently bears resemblance of Rush Limbaugh).

I am certainly not AGAINST the use of anecdote, as some reviewers are. It is certainly allowable to make an argument with something other than statistical data. In fact, if Twenge's thesis is right - and I believe it is - one SHOULD be able to see a plathora of examples in pop culture. I think Twenge is justified in bringing in examples from television, magazine advertisements, and the world of commerce.

The problem is not THAT Twenge uses anecdote in making her argument, but that she relies so much on anecdote that one questions why she conducted (and flaunts) such a large study. Were I to guess, 85% of the book's argument relies on anecdotes from Twenge's life, pop culture, and the world of commerce, while 15% relies on her, or others', research. I was expecting more balance.

In short, Twenge makes an interesting case and, as anecdotal as it is, makes a good and strong case. I will also direct the interested reader to other interesting books on the subject: Polly Young-Eisendrath's "Self Esteem Trap" is a better argued book that is more constructive in looking not only at the problem but the solution. Maureen Stout's "Feel Good Curriculum" is a good supplement to this book for its focus on the origins of the self-esteem movement in schools.

Jean Twenge has apparently devoted a huge amount of time and energy toward an academic thesis that states, "Everyone born after me has it easier than I did." Before her book was published, such sociological insight had only come from cranky old fogies. While Jean does make an earnest effort to back up her claim with solid evidence, and a lot of points she makes are perfectly valid, these attempts are undercut by the judgmental attitude prevalent throughout the book, as she has a remarkable tendency to put down everyone who disagrees with her. In one case, she mocks a woman who coped with a breakup by redecorating her apartment: "After all, things = happiness. Not." With all of her concern about how people don't respect each other as much as they used to, Jean Twenge could certainly use some empathy for her subjects, instead of just presenting anyone under thirty as a navel-gazing freeloader.

Her whole work carries a harsh tone throughout it, so every time she describes a change in generations, it's usually presented in a negative fashion: "People used to do this. Now they do that, and that's just wrong." What the reader gets is mainly the author's own opinions, backed mostly by anecdotes and pop culture references. It is unclear if the author has made a serious study of generation differences or is just spouting her own beliefs.

Even with her chapter on "The Equality Revolution," she seems to be saying, "I'm not saying we should return to the past, even though people were a lot better behaved back then." If Jean is so upset with individualism and social change, and if she really wants children bowing to their parents without question at all times, perhaps she should move to Amish Country.

Until then, find a more scholarly sociological study. Because reading Jean Twenge's book gives you the sense of being lectured by your older sister on how easier you had it growing up than her.