Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation

by Neil Howe, William Strauss

By the authors of the bestselling 13th Gen , an incisive, in-depth examination of the Millennials--the generation born after 1982.

In this remarkable account, certain to stir the interest of educators, counselors, parents, and people in all types of business as well as young people themselves, Neil Howe and William Strauss provide the definitive analysis of a powerful generation: the Millennials. Having looked at oceans of data, taken their own polls, talked to hundreds of kids, parents, and teachers, and reflected on the rhythms of history, Howe and Strauss explain how Millennials have turned out to be so dramatically different from Xers and boomers. Millennials Rising  provides a fascinating narrative of America's next great generation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sociology, History, Business, Social, Politics, Cultural Studies

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I like most about Millennials Rising is its explanation of the dynamics that influence each generation, in general and with much analysis of Millennials in particular. Howe and Strauss theorize that the generations repeat each other in a cycle of four. Each generation solves the biggest problem facing its immediate predecessor, corrects for the behavioral excesses of the now midlife generation, and fills the social void being left by the current elders. To explain this cycle relative to the current Millennial generation and their Boomer and Gen X parents, the authors reference the most recent 5 generations, which they define as follows: Lost, 1883-1900; G. I., 1901-1924; Silent, 1925-1942; Boom, 1943-1960; X, 1961-1981; Millennial, 1982-2002. The Millennials reject the jaded self-reliance they see in Generation X. Instead, they consciously opt for optimism, to work in teams, and to return society back toward rules and decency. "You don't rebel against Boomers by being uber-Xers. You rebel by being G.I. redux, a youthful update of the generation against which the Boomers themselves rebelled, so famously in the 1960's and 1970's."[return][return]Since this book was published in 2000, the Millennials have grown such that the youngest are nearly teenagers and the oldest are entering the ranks of management. With ten years of history now available, many of the authors' predictions have proven true. For example, the Millennial generation still maintains a more conservative fiscal outlook and better savings rates compared to their parents. Perhaps the upcoming generation will be too risk averse. Their grandparents might even think their legacy is lost, as their heirs fail to continue challenging the Establishment (which the raucous Boomer's of the 60's have now become). Despite these concerns, it's most inspiring to see a trend toward optimism and collaboration now emerging into maturity.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

How could I not like this book? It's about how awesome my generation is. Granted, it gets a little repetitive (the Millenials are awesome! And they're also really awesome! And guess what else! They're really awesome!), but it's a message that I enjoy hearing repeated.

This book was written in 2000 and it's meant to be a profile of what the generation immediately following Generation X is going to be like. The authors' theory is that history goes in cylces and every 4th generation or so sort of repeats itself. And our generation, the Millennial Generation, is positioned to be the next Hero Generation - like the G.I. generation (the Greatest Generation). I'm more than happy to believe him. And honestly, a lot of what he said was pretty on.

I heard an NPR interview with one of the authors a couple of weeks ago, which was what made me want to read this book. Some of the points he made were to show that Millennials get along with their parents a lot better than the Boomers did. Millenials are listening to a lot of their parents' music and a lot of them still live at home after college. This is in contrast to the Boomers' need to rebel.

Another thing the book talks about is how our generation seems to be embracing old-fashioned values and morals that their parents' generation tried to tear down. This really goes along with the picture that Wendy Shalit gives in _Return to Modesty_ and _Girls Gone Mild_.

I kind of feel like the pro-establishment, get-things-done, return-to-modesty generation they describe in this book is still pretty counter-cultural at this point, but I'd like to believe that the authors are right in saying it's the beginning of a much larger trend.

[Pamela · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't get through this book. It was a lot of "rah rah the next generation is wonderful" with a lot of random quotes from a lot of varied places that didn't impress me. I totally agree that the next generation is wonderful...that's my kids, but I didn't need over 400 pages to tell me that. I didn't find any practical use for this book and so I finally gave it up.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely informative book that draws on enlightening sociological research. The authors effectively argue that the Millenial Generation (those born after 1982) is going to be America's next "great generation" because they are rebelling against the pessimism and moral inferiority of their Gen X parents. My one critique of the book is that it's too long and the author's elaborations on research findings are sometimes too lengthy and maybe a bit too speculative. Everyone worried about "today's young kids" needs to read this book. Not only will it help you see the big picture (rather than the micro-event focus of the news media), but it also allow you to see yourself in the never-ending cycle of history repeating itself.

[Phillip Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book as a light overview of the most recent 3 generations of the American people: Boomers, Generation X and Millennials, the last including all of us born between about 1982 and 2002. The book is divided into 3 parts, essentially past, present (ie, late 2000, when this was published) and future.

Part 1 is very good, especially learning of the huge shift in America's attitudes towards children that occurred in the 1980s. It made me feel quite sorry for Generation X, who missed out on countless efforts the Boomers would make to protect their children in the '90s.

Part 2 was rather hard to get through; it is full of interviews from when the oldest M's were 18 and just leaving high school, therefore everyone sounds gaggingly naive and conservative. This along with the authors' repeated mentions of how Millenials had "never known" an America where the economy wasn't growing and wars were a big deal, makes one wonder what results the same project would yield in 2010.

Finally Part 3 predicts how Millennials will shape American society in coming decades, and is the most fascinating of all. Here the authors lay out a theory of generational patterns with 3 alternating flavors, then compare prominent members and contemporaneous accounts of each generation going back to colonial times. They argue that our society has shifted back and forth in somewhat predictable ways, and that as Millennials mature they will come to fill the institution-building space left by the dying G.I. generation.

Overall the book has an optimistic tone, as the authors partially set out to counter worries over degenerate youth due to Gen-X gangs in the early '90s and the Columbine shootings. While the style of the book can be corny at times, I think they make a fair case on Millennials' good points and potential to correct some of the weak spots in society (though placing somewhat less emphasis on the youths' loss of creativity and individualism). This book turned out to be just the introduction to generational history/theory that I sought.

[Sarah Maddaford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't exactly read the whole book because I got kinda bored with the main text about halfway through. The introduction and comparison of the generations was fascinating. I did read all the quotes and they were very relevant even though some were pretty shocking to me. The idea that my generation is more civic minded than the previous three generations in addition to being the most sheltered is something I have heard before, but never really believed. This book was written and published before 9/11, which may mean that some of the observations are now inaccurate, but many of them did ring true.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good textbook to describe the beginnings of the success of my generation.

[Elizabeth_washere · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was curious about newer works by the authors of The Fourth Turning.
In my humble opinion, this did this not age well. It is interesting to see how different things are from when this written (pre 9/11). I am curious how that terrible event would impact the narrative of this text.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool to look at this decades later

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally read this book when I was in grad school for my M.Ed. and just picked it up to reread for a research project I am doing for a GSB class. It feels a little dated now that the oldest Millennials are turning 31 this year. However, Howe & Strauss are cited in every lit review on generations and are widely recognized as the top generational scholars, so it's a must-read if this is a topic that interests you.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Millennials Rising" is a follow-up book to "The Fourth Turning" and goes into depth on the up and coming generation. The book was written in 2000 so many of its predictions can be judged in light of what has already happened. It is largely an optimistic book. I was greatly encouraged by it and I discussed some of its elements with my Millennial daughter-in-law. This book describes her so well. She is a real hero... and so corrective at times. It makes me smile.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was somewhat interesting. Some of it comes down a little hard on Gen X, which is kind of hard to swallow as someone firmly within Gen X (which I wasn't quite sure of before I read this). However, as someone who works in university admissions and employs millennials, the insights really hit the mark in places.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was written in 2000. It's almost delightfully dated. There is speculation on Millennials based on their teenage years. Although I like the discussion of how Boomers' parenting (Zero Tolerance) and technology has shaped them, it is badly in need of an update about how this generation has responded to 9/11, the last 2 Wars, the Great Recession, and technology's futher evolution.

[John Hawkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this in light of the Occupy movement makes it more interesting. Most of them are Millennial Generation coming of age. This book not one of the best books this duo has written. I believe that the name of this generation may change to the Occupy Generation since they will Occupy the bulk of this generation.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's much more to learn by watching generations than there is watching age groups. Anyone interested in creating solutions will do better to create for what's coming down the road, rather than what's been, and this book helps provide "what's coming" information.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is our future. In the hearts, minds, and capacities of the children of helicopter parents. Not expertly written, but well enough to put the fear of god in you about where these babies of latch-key kids will take us.

[Anna B · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading multiple books on generations in the workplace this book felt shallow and out of date. Might be a good read for a younger crowd who is just learning about gen-gaps. Definitely not a good book for gen-gap thesis research.

[Dave Peticolas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Howe and Strauss profile the Millenial Generation, those people born after 1982, and predict their lives will be more similar to those of the Greatest Generation than those of the immediately preceding generations (13th, Boomer, and Silent).

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Further explorations of the authors' thesis in "Generations."

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gave me greater hope for the rising Hero Generation. I can see it happening. If you were born around 1982 and on, you might want to read this book about yourself!

[Beka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Insight on this generation

[Lori Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A should-read book for knowledge workers and entrepreneurs on concepts and social trends.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 1 out of 5]

This scared me, though it held truth.

I decided not to look at contemporary trends any more, since they make me feel uncomfortable.

The research seems at least semi-valid.

[J Diego]

OK