We Generation

We Generation: Raising Socially Responsible Kids by Michael Ungar

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


*** Possible Spoilers ***

I was prepared to hate this book on sight. I read it because I was hoping to understand the logic, or lack of it behind Millennial and, even more, Generation Z thinking. That, however, was not the author's objective. Instead he was attempting to focus on how, as a society, we might encourage 'We Generation' thinking. However, despite the book's purpose, and the fact that it didn't provide much clarification on generational thinking, there were, at least parts that made sense. Yes the author is certainly far left of center on the political spectrum and yes, the book is something of a left-wing liberal polemic but the author tempers his idealism with a healthy dose of realism in many sections. Near the end he tends to go a little over the top but presumably he wanted to build up to a big emotional finish.

He points out that parents are important to children. While that might be self-evident he goes on to point out that providing children with monster homes, the latest gadgets, ferrying them from one activity to another is, in fact, to deny parenting - to replace it with things, status and schedules. He points out that children want parents to be a part of their lives - something that may be far from self-evident when young people seem to spend 90% of their time on their phones and the other 10% completely tuned out; nevertheless, he suggests that if a child appears to be lost, appears to have entered a world that is completely distant from that of the parent's, that child still wants to be found and to be brought once more into the family and the community.

He also understands that raising a child is not formulaic - that children are individuals and, while this author is not big on individualism, he appears to acknowledge that parents cannot raise children algorithmically and still be successful. There has to be give and take and he acknowledges and, in fact encourages this. He points out that discipline is essential but is careful to point out that beating children is counter productive - however satisfying it might be. They need to be taught both responsibility and accountability because those attributes are necessary for surviving in society and in business. On the other hand he thinks it is both acceptable and laudable for children to challenge authority to the point of being obnoxious - something I disagree with but then, this isn't my book and I'm not raising children.

This author appears to prioritize social cohesion well above individuality and, while the notion is abhorrent to me, personally, in a world of over 7 billion people, he may be correct. However it seems to me that as the pendulum swings to the left and 'social justice' becomes the mantra of the media, there is, at the same time, an increasing tyranny of the herd that does not, in my opinion, bode well for the future.

Overall, think the book is sufficiently balanced to be worth reading. For parents it might provide some valuable insight as to the actual needs of their offspring and for others ... well, it's well written and not overly preachy.



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