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The Anxious Generation : How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
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Hardcover
The Anxious Generation : How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
3.6 (19)
Hardcover
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- About the Author
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Overview
Jonathan Haidt, noted social psychologist, explores the profound crisis in youth mental health precipitated by the digital age in his book, 'The Anxious Generation.' This insightful analysis studies the dramatic decline in mental wellness among adolescents following the ubiquity of smartphones and social media starting in the early 2010s. Depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rates have alarmingly more than doubled. Haidt scrutinizes the shifts from a play-based to a phone-based childhood, detailing over a dozen pathways through which this transition harms children's social and neurological development, including sleep issues, attention fragmentation, and social media's particularly destructive impact on girls versus boys. HIS research unfolds against a backdrop of significant recognition: a #1 spot on The New York Times bestseller list, accolades from Barack Obama, and inclusion in TIME's Top 100 must-read books of 2024. Haidt's critique extends to the role of tech platforms in exacerbating youth mental health issues and offers constructive directives toward reclaiming healthier childhoods. He proposes actionable solutions for parents, educators, and policymakers to mitigate these challenges, advocating for substantial systemic changes to foster a safer, more nurturing environment for the next generation. Haidt's compelling narrative not only diagnoses the issues but also provides a hopeful blueprint for recovery, embodying a critical read for anyone invested in the future well-being of our children.
Jonathan Haidt
Jonathan Haidt
Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist and the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University's Stern School of Business. One of the world's most influential thinkers on morality, politics, and human flourishing, Haidt has dedicated his career to understanding how and why we evolved to be moral and political creatures, and how we can bridge our deepening divisions.
Born October 19, 1963, Haidt earned his B.A. in philosophy from Yale University and his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992. After 16 years teaching at the University of Virginia, where he won multiple awards for excellence in teaching, he joined NYU Stern in 2011. His groundbreaking research focuses on moral psychology and its applications to politics, business ethics, and social institutions.
Haidt is best known for developing Moral Foundations Theory, which explains how variations in moral intuitions drive political and cultural differences. His research reveals that moral judgments arise from gut feelings rather than logical reasoning, and that liberals and conservatives prioritize different moral values—insights that have revolutionized our understanding of political psychology. This work has made him a leading voice in explaining polarization and promoting constructive dialogue across ideological divides.
His books have shaped global conversations about society's most pressing challenges. The Happiness Hypothesis (2006) explores ancient wisdom through the lens of modern science. The Righteous Mind (2012), a New York Times bestseller, illuminates why good people are divided by politics and religion. The Coddling of the American Mind (2018, with Greg Lukianoff) examines campus culture and mental health. His latest #1 bestseller, The Anxious Generation (2024), argues that the shift from play-based to phone-based childhoods is causing an epidemic of mental illness among young people, sparking an international movement to limit smartphones in schools.
A prolific institution builder, Haidt co-founded Heterodox Academy to promote viewpoint diversity in universities, Ethical Systems to apply moral psychology to business ethics, and The Constructive Dialogue Institute to teach productive disagreement. He has given four widely-viewed TED talks on topics ranging from the moral roots of political differences to religion, evolution, and the ecstasy of self-transcendence. In 2019, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and named one of the world's top thinkers by Foreign Policy and Prospect magazines.
Through his research, writing, and public engagement, Jonathan Haidt continues to help us understand our moral nature and find common ground in an increasingly fragmented world. Learn more at JonathanHaidt.com and AnxiousGeneration.com.
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Professional Reviews
"[An] important new book...The shift in kids'' energy and attention from the physical world to the virtual one, Haidt shows, has been catastrophic, especially for girls." --Michelle Goldberg, The New York Times
"Informative and compelling...Haidt wants children to spend more time appreciating nature, playing with friends, riding and falling off their bikes, and doing age-appropriate chores."-- Glenn C. Altschuler, Psychology Today
"Can be quite wonderful... beautifully grounds his critique in Buddhist, Taoist and Christian thought traditions... His common-sense recommendations for actions...are excellent." -- Judith Warner, The Washington Post
"An urgent and essential read, and it ought to become a foundational text for the growing movement to keep smartphones out of schools, and young children off social media" --Sophie McBain, The Guardian (UK)
"Compelling, readable--and incredibly chilling . . . remarkably persuasive." --Lucy Denyer, Telegraph (UK)
"A persuasive and rousing argument" --Anna Davis, Evening Standard (UK)
"If this important book rings enough alarms (wait, or is that just my phone pinging?) to make politicians impose a genuine social media ban on children, I believe most parents would be happy and most teenagers happier." --Helen Rumbelow, The Times (UK, Book of the Week)
"Haidt sets out inarguable evidence that smartphones are fuelling an anxiety epidemic among young people--and big tech must do more to reverse it...an extremely important and compelling read that is recommended not only to parents but to anyone who has felt increasingly pressurised by technology...I can''t recommend this book highly enough; everyone should read it. It is a game-changer for society." --Stella O''Malley, Irish Independent
"Jonathan Haidt is a modern-day prophet, disguised as a psychologist. In this book, he''s back to warn us of the dangers of a phone-based childhood. He points the way forward to a brighter, stronger future for us all." --Susan Cain, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Bittersweet and Quiet
"An urgent and provocative read on why so many kids are not okay--and how to course correct. Jonathan Haidt makes a powerful case that the shift from play-based to phone-based childhoods is wreaking havoc on mental health and social development. Even if you''re not ready to ban smartphones until high school, this book will challenge you to rethink how we nurture the potential in our kids and prepare them for the world." --Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential and Think Again , and host of the TED podcast Re:Thinking
"This is a crucial read for parents of children of elementary school age and beyond, who face the rapidly changing landscape of childhood. Haidt lays out problems but also solutions for making a better digital life with kids." --Emily Oster, New York Times bestselling author of Expecting Better
"Every single parent needs to stop what they are doing and read this book immediately. Jonathan Haidt is the most important psychologist in the world today, and this is the most important book on the topic that''s reshaping your child''s life right now." --Johann Hari, author of Stolen Focus
"This book poses a challenge that will determine the shape of the rest of the century. Jonathan Haidt shows us how we''ve arrived at this point of crisis with technology and the next generation. This book does not merely stand athwart the iPhone yelling ''Stop!'' Haidt provides research-tested yet practical counsel for parents, communities, houses of worship, and governments about how things could be different. I plan to give this book to as many people as I can, while praying that we all have the wisdom to ponder and then to act." --Russell Moore, editor in chief of Christianity Today
Reader Reviews for The Anxious Generation : How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
Table Of Contents
| Introduction: Growing Up on Mars | 1 |
| A Tidal Wave | |
| The Surge of Suffering | 21 |
| The Backstory: The Decline of the Play-Based Childhood | |
| What Children Need to Do in Childhood | 49 |
| Discover Mode and the Need For Risky Play | 67 |
| Puberty and the Blocked Transition to Adulthood | 95 |
| The Great Rewiring: The Rise of the Phone-Based Childhood | |
| The Four Foundational Harms: Social Deprivation, Sleep Deprivation, Attention Fragmentation, and Addiction | 113 |
| Why Social Media Harms Girls More Than Boys | 143 |
| What Is Happening to Boys? | 173 |
| Spiritual Elevation and Degradation | 199 |
| Collective Action for Healthier Childhood | |
| Preparing for Collective Action | 221 |
| What Governments and Tech Companies Can Do Now | 227 |
| What Schools Can Do Now | 247 |
| What Parents Can Do Now | 267 |
| Conclusion: Bring Childhood Back to Earth | 289 |
| Acknowledgments | 297 |
| Notes | 301 |
| References | 339 |
| Index | 369 |
| Table of Contents provided by Ingram Syndetics. All Rights Reserved. |
| Find at your local library from our friends at WorldCat | Find Libraries |
Overview
Jonathan Haidt, noted social psychologist, explores the profound crisis in youth mental health precipitated by the digital age in his book, 'The Anxious Generation.' This insightful analysis studies the dramatic decline in mental wellness among adole ...
Read full overview
Overview
Jonathan Haidt, noted social psychologist, explores the profound crisis in youth mental health precipitated by the digital age in his book, 'The Anxious Generation.' This insightful analysis studies the dramatic decline in mental wellness among adolescents following the ubiquity of smartphones and social media starting in the early 2010s. Depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rates have alarmingly more than doubled. Haidt scrutinizes the shifts from a play-based to a phone-based childhood, detailing over a dozen pathways through which this transition harms children's social and neurological development, including sleep issues, attention fragmentation, and social media's particularly destructive impact on girls versus boys. HIS research unfolds against a backdrop of significant recognition: a #1 spot on The New York Times bestseller list, accolades from Barack Obama, and inclusion in TIME's Top 100 must-read books of 2024. Haidt's critique extends to the role of tech platforms in exacerbating youth mental health issues and offers constructive directives toward reclaiming healthier childhoods. He proposes actionable solutions for parents, educators, and policymakers to mitigate these challenges, advocating for substantial systemic changes to foster a safer, more nurturing environment for the next generation. Haidt's compelling narrative not only diagnoses the issues but also provides a hopeful blueprint for recovery, embodying a critical read for anyone invested in the future well-being of our children.
Product Details
About the Author
Jonathan Haidt
Jonathan Haidt
Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist and the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University's Stern School of Business. One of the world's most influential thinkers on morality, politics, and human flourishing, Haidt has dedicated his career to understanding how and why we evolved to be moral and political creatures, and how we can bridge our deepening divisions.
Born October 19, 1963, Haidt earned his B.A. in philosophy from Yale University and his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992. After 16 years teaching at the University of Virginia, where he won multiple awards for excellence in teaching, he joined NYU Stern in 2011. His groundbreaking research focuses on moral psychology and its applications to politics, business ethics, and social institutions.
Haidt is best known for developing Moral Foundations Theory, which explains how variations in moral intuitions drive political and cultural differences. His research reveals that moral judgments arise from gut feelings rather than logical reasoning, and that liberals and conservatives prioritize different moral values—insights that have revolutionized our understanding of political psychology. This work has made him a leading voice in explaining polarization and promoting constructive dialogue across ideological divides.
His books have shaped global conversations about society's most pressing challenges. The Happiness Hypothesis (2006) explores ancient wisdom through the lens of modern science. The Righteous Mind (2012), a New York Times bestseller, illuminates why good people are divided by politics and religion. The Coddling of the American Mind (2018, with Greg Lukianoff) examines campus culture and mental health. His latest #1 bestseller, The Anxious Generation (2024), argues that the shift from play-based to phone-based childhoods is causing an epidemic of mental illness among young people, sparking an international movement to limit smartphones in schools.
A prolific institution builder, Haidt co-founded Heterodox Academy to promote viewpoint diversity in universities, Ethical Systems to apply moral psychology to business ethics, and The Constructive Dialogue Institute to teach productive disagreement. He has given four widely-viewed TED talks on topics ranging from the moral roots of political differences to religion, evolution, and the ecstasy of self-transcendence. In 2019, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and named one of the world's top thinkers by Foreign Policy and Prospect magazines.
Through his research, writing, and public engagement, Jonathan Haidt continues to help us understand our moral nature and find common ground in an increasingly fragmented world. Learn more at JonathanHaidt.com and AnxiousGeneration.com.
Reviews
Professional Reviews
"[An] important new book...The shift in kids'' energy and attention from the physical world to the virtual one, Haidt shows, has been catastrophic, especially for girls." --Michelle Goldberg, The New York Times
"Informative and compelling...Haidt wants children to spend more time appreciating nature, playing with friends, riding and falling off their bikes, and doing age-appropriate chores."-- Glenn C. Altschuler, Psychology Today
"Can be quite wonderful... beautifully grounds his critique in Buddhist, Taoist and Christian thought traditions... His common-sense recommendations for actions...are excellent." -- Judith Warner, The Washington Post
"An urgent and essential read, and it ought to become a foundational text for the growing movement to keep smartphones out of schools, and young children off social media" --Sophie McBain, The Guardian (UK)
"Compelling, readable--and incredibly chilling . . . remarkably persuasive." --Lucy Denyer, Telegraph (UK)
"A persuasive and rousing argument" --Anna Davis, Evening Standard (UK)
"If this important book rings enough alarms (wait, or is that just my phone pinging?) to make politicians impose a genuine social media ban on children, I believe most parents would be happy and most teenagers happier." --Helen Rumbelow, The Times (UK, Book of the Week)
"Haidt sets out inarguable evidence that smartphones are fuelling an anxiety epidemic among young people--and big tech must do more to reverse it...an extremely important and compelling read that is recommended not only to parents but to anyone who has felt increasingly pressurised by technology...I can''t recommend this book highly enough; everyone should read it. It is a game-changer for society." --Stella O''Malley, Irish Independent
"Jonathan Haidt is a modern-day prophet, disguised as a psychologist. In this book, he''s back to warn us of the dangers of a phone-based childhood. He points the way forward to a brighter, stronger future for us all." --Susan Cain, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Bittersweet and Quiet
"An urgent and provocative read on why so many kids are not okay--and how to course correct. Jonathan Haidt makes a powerful case that the shift from play-based to phone-based childhoods is wreaking havoc on mental health and social development. Even if you''re not ready to ban smartphones until high school, this book will challenge you to rethink how we nurture the potential in our kids and prepare them for the world." --Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential and Think Again , and host of the TED podcast Re:Thinking
"This is a crucial read for parents of children of elementary school age and beyond, who face the rapidly changing landscape of childhood. Haidt lays out problems but also solutions for making a better digital life with kids." --Emily Oster, New York Times bestselling author of Expecting Better
"Every single parent needs to stop what they are doing and read this book immediately. Jonathan Haidt is the most important psychologist in the world today, and this is the most important book on the topic that''s reshaping your child''s life right now." --Johann Hari, author of Stolen Focus
"This book poses a challenge that will determine the shape of the rest of the century. Jonathan Haidt shows us how we''ve arrived at this point of crisis with technology and the next generation. This book does not merely stand athwart the iPhone yelling ''Stop!'' Haidt provides research-tested yet practical counsel for parents, communities, houses of worship, and governments about how things could be different. I plan to give this book to as many people as I can, while praying that we all have the wisdom to ponder and then to act." --Russell Moore, editor in chief of Christianity Today
Table Of Contents
| Introduction: Growing Up on Mars | 1 |
| A Tidal Wave | |
| The Surge of Suffering | 21 |
| The Backstory: The Decline of the Play-Based Childhood | |
| What Children Need to Do in Childhood | 49 |
| Discover Mode and the Need For Risky Play | 67 |
| Puberty and the Blocked Transition to Adulthood | 95 |
| The Great Rewiring: The Rise of the Phone-Based Childhood | |
| The Four Foundational Harms: Social Deprivation, Sleep Deprivation, Attention Fragmentation, and Addiction | 113 |
| Why Social Media Harms Girls More Than Boys | 143 |
| What Is Happening to Boys? | 173 |
| Spiritual Elevation and Degradation | 199 |
| Collective Action for Healthier Childhood | |
| Preparing for Collective Action | 221 |
| What Governments and Tech Companies Can Do Now | 227 |
| What Schools Can Do Now | 247 |
| What Parents Can Do Now | 267 |
| Conclusion: Bring Childhood Back to Earth | 289 |
| Acknowledgments | 297 |
| Notes | 301 |
| References | 339 |
| Index | 369 |
| Table of Contents provided by Ingram Syndetics. All Rights Reserved. |
All Available Copies
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Used Good (1 available)
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Used Good (2 available)
Former Library Book
Former Library Book Ships from |
Ships directly from Better World Books
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$11.51 USD | Add To Cart |
|
New (911 available)
Ships Separately |
Ships separately from Better World Books suppliers | $22.78 USD | Add To Cart |
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