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The Millennial Mentality: More Than Memes, Cats & Mishaps
This is an alternate title/cover edition for 9780991314621
Millennials have heard all of the cultural criticisms and backlash; we are bemoaned a generation of entitlement and nicknamed monikers such as Gen Why?, Internet Generation, MyPod Generation, and the Boomerang Generation.
As a Millennial, I can tell you that yes, our value systems have changed, our beliefs have expanded to be more inclusive, and our career goals have shifted to prioritize happiness and self-fulfillment over workplace cubicles in gray-scale offices.
We may not be homeowners with 2.5 children grasping mid-rung on a corporate ladder, but we are cat owners and we are adaptable to change, creatively crowdfunding ways to support our projects and goals.
In this book learn about the mentality of Millennials and where we stand when it comes to racism, LGBT+ rights, body image, and other divisive issues all while surviving as delayed adults.
Millennials have heard all of the cultural criticisms and backlash; we are bemoaned a generation of entitlement and nicknamed monikers such as Gen Why?, Internet Generation, MyPod Generation, and the Boomerang Generation.
As a Millennial, I can tell you that yes, our value systems have changed, our beliefs have expanded to be more inclusive, and our career goals have shifted to prioritize happiness and self-fulfillment over workplace cubicles in gray-scale offices.
We may not be homeowners with 2.5 children grasping mid-rung on a corporate ladder, but we are cat owners and we are adaptable to change, creatively crowdfunding ways to support our projects and goals.
In this book learn about the mentality of Millennials and where we stand when it comes to racism, LGBT+ rights, body image, and other divisive issues all while surviving as delayed adults.
312 pages, Paperback
First published March 24, 2016
2 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Elan Carson
3 books16 followersElan Carson is a TED Talk speaker, mental health advocate, and author of The Willow Tree and The Millennial Mentality: More Than Memes, Cats, & Social Mishaps.
Her second book, The Millennial Mentality: More Than Memes, Cats, & Social Mishaps discusses where Millennials stand when it comes to racism, LGBT+ rights, body image, and other divisive issues all while surviving as delayed adults.
A millennial who was tired of being labeled as entitled after graduating with an unreal-yet-all-too-real amount of student loan debt, she wants to give voice to the generation of thought leaders, activists, and entrepreneurs who’s figuring out their way through adulthood just like she is.
Her second book, The Millennial Mentality: More Than Memes, Cats, & Social Mishaps discusses where Millennials stand when it comes to racism, LGBT+ rights, body image, and other divisive issues all while surviving as delayed adults.
A millennial who was tired of being labeled as entitled after graduating with an unreal-yet-all-too-real amount of student loan debt, she wants to give voice to the generation of thought leaders, activists, and entrepreneurs who’s figuring out their way through adulthood just like she is.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 1, 2016
I loved this book - Millennials are the first digital native generation in the history of humanity. Being a Millennial myself, I know first hand how misunderstood this generation is. And no wonder since spending so much time online makes one forget about national boundaries, bureaucratic inefficiencies and a common lack of transparency. And we want the real world to be just the same: democratic, open-minded, efficient and transparent.
The book is written from a US perspective. One thing that I'd add here is that most non-US, non-English native Millennials have adopted not only the Internet, but the English language as well. This language is fluently spoken by most Millennials all over the world - compared to their elderly generations at least. You can't separate digital nativity from English language skills. They go together.
I especially agreed with us being the most socially-conscious generation and the poorest of the overachievers. But I also think Millennials are the most entrepreneurial generation ever because of our ubiquitous connectivity. And that's why we demand intellectual stimulation and flexibility from our careers. This book was the first time I heard the word 'holacracy' and I love the concept. In my country at least, Millennials are the least formal of all generations.
Because Millennials are mostly socially-conscious, they have it the worst in theocratic countries, but if change is going to spread there, it's going to come from this generation.
I will have to give this book 4 stars out of 5. It started very well and the topic was much needed. There are two reasons for which this is 4 star and not a 5star book:
- it ended so abruptly, like I was suddenly reading the Millennial slang chapter and bang, the notes section started. There was no previous sign that the book was about to end, no conclusion or something related.
- I didn't relate to all the Millennial stereotypes - I have never read Harry Potter and I don't plan to, so I had to skip that chapter. I think making the decisions on which stereotypes to tackle and which not was a tough decision for the author to take as Millennials are the most diverse people ever. We made customization mainstream.
I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.
The book is written from a US perspective. One thing that I'd add here is that most non-US, non-English native Millennials have adopted not only the Internet, but the English language as well. This language is fluently spoken by most Millennials all over the world - compared to their elderly generations at least. You can't separate digital nativity from English language skills. They go together.
I especially agreed with us being the most socially-conscious generation and the poorest of the overachievers. But I also think Millennials are the most entrepreneurial generation ever because of our ubiquitous connectivity. And that's why we demand intellectual stimulation and flexibility from our careers. This book was the first time I heard the word 'holacracy' and I love the concept. In my country at least, Millennials are the least formal of all generations.
Because Millennials are mostly socially-conscious, they have it the worst in theocratic countries, but if change is going to spread there, it's going to come from this generation.
I will have to give this book 4 stars out of 5. It started very well and the topic was much needed. There are two reasons for which this is 4 star and not a 5star book:
- it ended so abruptly, like I was suddenly reading the Millennial slang chapter and bang, the notes section started. There was no previous sign that the book was about to end, no conclusion or something related.
- I didn't relate to all the Millennial stereotypes - I have never read Harry Potter and I don't plan to, so I had to skip that chapter. I think making the decisions on which stereotypes to tackle and which not was a tough decision for the author to take as Millennials are the most diverse people ever. We made customization mainstream.
I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 10, 2016
This book is offered to the first 15 persons interested. I was, as millennials are a bit of a mystery for me. Well, they are more today than yesterday!
The book is well written, pleasant and interesting to read, but what do 90% of it have to do with millennials? It speaks about racism in America, about the problems of being a woman, worse, being a black woman. It tells you that workplaces should be more flexible and many employees don't perform well because no one ever explained to them what was expected from them. It reminds college students they will probably have students loans to pat back. It insists on the terrible sides of rape culture and how easy and irresponsible it is to claim "boys will be boys". It reminds you it is not easy to find a partner, the person you want to live with and shames almost everyone by talking about the (very early) quarter life crisis.
So far, except for the crisis that I would set in your thirties, what is specifically related to millennials? I would say nothing. Those problems have been asked by most people during the past century. Read John Kennedy's speech "The new frontier", about p[overty in the mines and mills of America
"Amongst the legislation passed by Congress during the Kennedy Administration, unemployment benefits were expanded, aid was provided to cities to improve housing and transportation, funds were allocated to continue the construction of a national highway system started under Eisenhower, a water pollution control act was passed to protect the country’s rivers and streams, and an agricultural act to raise farmers’ incomes was made law.[4] A significant amount of anti-poverty legislation was passed by Congress, including increases in social security benefits and in the minimum wage, several housing bills, and aid to economically distressed areas. A few antirecession public works packages,[3] together with a number of measures designed to assist farmers,[5] were introduced. Major expansions and improvements were made in Social Security (including retirement at 62 for men), hospital construction, library services, family farm assistance and reclamation.[6] Food stamps for low-income Americans were reintroduced, food distribution to the poor was increased, and there was an expansion in school milk and school lunch distribution. The most comprehensive farm legislation since 1938 was carried out, with expansions in rural electrification, soil conservation, crop insurance, farm credit, and marketing orders. In September 1961, the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency was established as the focal point in government for the “planning, negotiation, and execution of international disarmament and arm control agreements". Kennedy began black and white integration by opening jobs to black people in civil or military service; he took many social measures and launched the spatial program.
What is missing, because it happened later is the equality between men and women, as well as the idea that "no means no". But, all of you, young women, should have moved long ago. All the magazines, internet series, movies and books describe the American woman as unable to leave her house without make-up, perfume and after trying 10 outfits if she must meet a guy. Then, if the young man for whom you got dressed and looking nice tries something, how many will claim it assault?
I'm not talking about the girls who get raped or badly assaulted. I'm talking about the lack of coherence in young women's attitudes. In Europe, you know a guy will try to get a kiss. You may agree or not. But he won't go any further unless you tell him you want to, because the girl will stop him. We do not have college culture where drinking is the main event. So, you take booze out of the equation and suddenly, everything is much simpler. But we don't expect the guy to pay for two, nor to open your door, nor to bring you flowers. Yes, every once in a while, you may get a kiss you did not really want. Not enough to feel assaulted, though.
And even if we grew up before computers, we caught up quite well. I can repair most of the usual problems (not the day my hard disk let me down, true. I had to change it.). I'm able to use a smartphone, I update my drivers regularly, etc.
What is left for you are the selfies, because I don't see the interest. Part of the slang, as I don't see what it brings. Your desire to put everything in a public place. I use facebook, but more for petitions or to say hi than to post pictures. Never to tell my life to the world. I've read "So, you've been publicly shamed" and am even much more cautious after that.
You created words like "ghosted" to describe abnormal actions. If someone is your friend, you don't disappear from their lives. Except that you have 10,000 friends, which is impossible. So, you must lay off many of them.
Don't worry, you are not the first ones to notice life is not fair. But you don't know how to make it better. Never do I.
Well, I'm still trying to understand the differences between you and us, the others. We used bad words, according to our parents, we were promiscuous as we were not virgins when we got married, we demanded equal salaries for equal work -and in Europe, it worked. We have trained guys to help with dishes, changing babies, sharing a car. We have changed commercials. Here, in the states, you see a woman scrubbing the floor but happy because Superstuff is much faster. In Europe, you see the guy using Superstuff.
What is better?
My cats approve.
After thinking it over for a while, I must add a comment about burkas or niqabs. I've only seen two women wearing them, living in them. It was in Egypt. One was dressed in colourful clothes, covering her completely for a snorkeling excursion. She was on the verge of tears for 4 hours, while looking at the other women in bathing suits, able to move easily. She needed her husband's assistance to climb the ladder to get back on the boat, her clothes were preventing her from going under the surface, taking all the enjoyment away. The other one stayed at the same hotel as we did. She came from Saudi Arabia. Black from the top of her head to her shoes, with just a slit enabling her to see, she must have been cooking under those thick layers. I've seen her eating; it was quite complicated to move the veil away for her fork to find her mouth. The temperature was over 30C, or 80F. She decided one day to get in the swimming pool. Took off her shoes, and entered the pool. Everyone was watching, aghast and -let's be honest, disgusted. She stayed in the water a few minutes, got out and of course, had to go to her room to change. No one wanted to go in the pool after her. You knew she must have been sweating for hours and it did not sound appealing.
I am totally in favor of the European Court banning the use of such costumes. Nothing in the Koran says women should be covered like that and those who do are brainwashed by the patriarchal culture they live in.
Maybe my biggest difference with millennials would be that most of my opinions come from some reality, not from theoretical ideas about what freedom should mean. Of course, girls can dress like our great-grandmothers did, but it would be too hot, too uncomfortable, too restraining.
If we have choosed to wear less clothes now, it is mostly because it feels better that way!
The book is well written, pleasant and interesting to read, but what do 90% of it have to do with millennials? It speaks about racism in America, about the problems of being a woman, worse, being a black woman. It tells you that workplaces should be more flexible and many employees don't perform well because no one ever explained to them what was expected from them. It reminds college students they will probably have students loans to pat back. It insists on the terrible sides of rape culture and how easy and irresponsible it is to claim "boys will be boys". It reminds you it is not easy to find a partner, the person you want to live with and shames almost everyone by talking about the (very early) quarter life crisis.
So far, except for the crisis that I would set in your thirties, what is specifically related to millennials? I would say nothing. Those problems have been asked by most people during the past century. Read John Kennedy's speech "The new frontier", about p[overty in the mines and mills of America
"Amongst the legislation passed by Congress during the Kennedy Administration, unemployment benefits were expanded, aid was provided to cities to improve housing and transportation, funds were allocated to continue the construction of a national highway system started under Eisenhower, a water pollution control act was passed to protect the country’s rivers and streams, and an agricultural act to raise farmers’ incomes was made law.[4] A significant amount of anti-poverty legislation was passed by Congress, including increases in social security benefits and in the minimum wage, several housing bills, and aid to economically distressed areas. A few antirecession public works packages,[3] together with a number of measures designed to assist farmers,[5] were introduced. Major expansions and improvements were made in Social Security (including retirement at 62 for men), hospital construction, library services, family farm assistance and reclamation.[6] Food stamps for low-income Americans were reintroduced, food distribution to the poor was increased, and there was an expansion in school milk and school lunch distribution. The most comprehensive farm legislation since 1938 was carried out, with expansions in rural electrification, soil conservation, crop insurance, farm credit, and marketing orders. In September 1961, the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency was established as the focal point in government for the “planning, negotiation, and execution of international disarmament and arm control agreements". Kennedy began black and white integration by opening jobs to black people in civil or military service; he took many social measures and launched the spatial program.
What is missing, because it happened later is the equality between men and women, as well as the idea that "no means no". But, all of you, young women, should have moved long ago. All the magazines, internet series, movies and books describe the American woman as unable to leave her house without make-up, perfume and after trying 10 outfits if she must meet a guy. Then, if the young man for whom you got dressed and looking nice tries something, how many will claim it assault?
I'm not talking about the girls who get raped or badly assaulted. I'm talking about the lack of coherence in young women's attitudes. In Europe, you know a guy will try to get a kiss. You may agree or not. But he won't go any further unless you tell him you want to, because the girl will stop him. We do not have college culture where drinking is the main event. So, you take booze out of the equation and suddenly, everything is much simpler. But we don't expect the guy to pay for two, nor to open your door, nor to bring you flowers. Yes, every once in a while, you may get a kiss you did not really want. Not enough to feel assaulted, though.
And even if we grew up before computers, we caught up quite well. I can repair most of the usual problems (not the day my hard disk let me down, true. I had to change it.). I'm able to use a smartphone, I update my drivers regularly, etc.
What is left for you are the selfies, because I don't see the interest. Part of the slang, as I don't see what it brings. Your desire to put everything in a public place. I use facebook, but more for petitions or to say hi than to post pictures. Never to tell my life to the world. I've read "So, you've been publicly shamed" and am even much more cautious after that.
You created words like "ghosted" to describe abnormal actions. If someone is your friend, you don't disappear from their lives. Except that you have 10,000 friends, which is impossible. So, you must lay off many of them.
Don't worry, you are not the first ones to notice life is not fair. But you don't know how to make it better. Never do I.
Well, I'm still trying to understand the differences between you and us, the others. We used bad words, according to our parents, we were promiscuous as we were not virgins when we got married, we demanded equal salaries for equal work -and in Europe, it worked. We have trained guys to help with dishes, changing babies, sharing a car. We have changed commercials. Here, in the states, you see a woman scrubbing the floor but happy because Superstuff is much faster. In Europe, you see the guy using Superstuff.
What is better?
My cats approve.
After thinking it over for a while, I must add a comment about burkas or niqabs. I've only seen two women wearing them, living in them. It was in Egypt. One was dressed in colourful clothes, covering her completely for a snorkeling excursion. She was on the verge of tears for 4 hours, while looking at the other women in bathing suits, able to move easily. She needed her husband's assistance to climb the ladder to get back on the boat, her clothes were preventing her from going under the surface, taking all the enjoyment away. The other one stayed at the same hotel as we did. She came from Saudi Arabia. Black from the top of her head to her shoes, with just a slit enabling her to see, she must have been cooking under those thick layers. I've seen her eating; it was quite complicated to move the veil away for her fork to find her mouth. The temperature was over 30C, or 80F. She decided one day to get in the swimming pool. Took off her shoes, and entered the pool. Everyone was watching, aghast and -let's be honest, disgusted. She stayed in the water a few minutes, got out and of course, had to go to her room to change. No one wanted to go in the pool after her. You knew she must have been sweating for hours and it did not sound appealing.
I am totally in favor of the European Court banning the use of such costumes. Nothing in the Koran says women should be covered like that and those who do are brainwashed by the patriarchal culture they live in.
Maybe my biggest difference with millennials would be that most of my opinions come from some reality, not from theoretical ideas about what freedom should mean. Of course, girls can dress like our great-grandmothers did, but it would be too hot, too uncomfortable, too restraining.
If we have choosed to wear less clothes now, it is mostly because it feels better that way!
June 17, 2016
I went into this book expecting fluff and some opinion pieces. I mean, come on - the title had 'cats' and 'social mishaps' in it. Boy, was I proven wrong!
It didn't strike until I read this book that I was actually part of the Millennial generation. Strangely enough, my path hasn't followed the majority of what Millennials in the Western world are going through, so it never struck me that we have the same base of thought and reference. In many instances, I recognized myself (responsible and ethical customer culture - I thought I was the only one who did that! Well, it looks like I'm the only one who does this here, where I live, but it's empowering to know this is just something inherent to my generation, to the way 'we' think).
If you don't know what Millennials and being a Millennial actually means, then pick up this book and read up. The topics are wide and varied, from the fluffy to the very serious and everything in between (there's actually very little fluff in here, to be honest). Still, that doesn't mean this is a heavy book, or one that is hard to read. Elan Carson has a very good, pointed, and casual style of writing that presents her points in a clear and concise manner and manages to impart the 'knowledge of the Millennials' across to the reader.
It didn't strike until I read this book that I was actually part of the Millennial generation. Strangely enough, my path hasn't followed the majority of what Millennials in the Western world are going through, so it never struck me that we have the same base of thought and reference. In many instances, I recognized myself (responsible and ethical customer culture - I thought I was the only one who did that! Well, it looks like I'm the only one who does this here, where I live, but it's empowering to know this is just something inherent to my generation, to the way 'we' think).
If you don't know what Millennials and being a Millennial actually means, then pick up this book and read up. The topics are wide and varied, from the fluffy to the very serious and everything in between (there's actually very little fluff in here, to be honest). Still, that doesn't mean this is a heavy book, or one that is hard to read. Elan Carson has a very good, pointed, and casual style of writing that presents her points in a clear and concise manner and manages to impart the 'knowledge of the Millennials' across to the reader.
September 22, 2016
I like books with impact and The Millennial Mentality by Elan Carson has that from the very beginning. The cover gave me the first impression of being global and the chapter titles gave me the second impression of a fun read with titles like "It's Complicated", "The F-Word" and "I Can't Stand the Rain". However, when I got into the Introduction I kind of felt like someone was shouting at me about something I had nothing to do with and it kind of put me on the defense since I am not a "Gen Yer". short for Generation Y.
With the commitment to read this book, I ventured on into the chapters and had a change of heart by the time I got to Chapter 3 which gave some really good info about student loans that young and old people can benefit from. Chapter 1 and 2 struck me as being silly stuff about dysfunctional relationships and cats, however it did spark my compassion for the lonely.
Now by the time I finished Chapter 4 "Quarter Life Crisis", is where the book began to bring out it's value to the reader. This chapter had the most enlightening information and heartfelt truths...
Read more: http://drakuabookreviews.blogspot.com...
With the commitment to read this book, I ventured on into the chapters and had a change of heart by the time I got to Chapter 3 which gave some really good info about student loans that young and old people can benefit from. Chapter 1 and 2 struck me as being silly stuff about dysfunctional relationships and cats, however it did spark my compassion for the lonely.
Now by the time I finished Chapter 4 "Quarter Life Crisis", is where the book began to bring out it's value to the reader. This chapter had the most enlightening information and heartfelt truths...
Read more: http://drakuabookreviews.blogspot.com...
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews