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looshi08's review against another edition
fast-paced
2.5
Really good hook. Does a great job laying out the problems of modern society in an easily digestable form. Falls apart in the second have when there is no solution offered beyond vague direction to fix the system.
blazekcurrie's review against another edition
4.0
I did not think I would like this book. I wanted to disagree with much of it - and I do with some of the author’s points. But much of it felt like I was reading a book about me. I think Petersen came pretty close to nailing it.
A point made early in the book which the reader should keep in mind before every chapter: “Of the 73 million millennials living in the US in 2018, 21 percent, over a fifth of the population, identify as Hispanic. Twenty-five percent speak a language other than English at home. Only 39 percent have a college degree.”
I suspect that most millennials that will read this book, or would even consider reading it, represent a minority demographic of actual American millennials but do represent those who likely set the “norms” for what is expected of an American millennial.
I underlined and circled too much in this book to share here, but one afternoon, I realized the book was true to me in a way I couldn’t deny. I was reading a chapter about how millennials have lost “leisure” and instead fill weekends, and even holidays, with “work” of some form or another.
While reading that chapter (during a holiday) I was interrupted by two phone calls. One friend was complaining about how their boss emailed them with a request needing to be completed during this particular holiday. On the other call, a person made the following statement: “Yes, I’m working this holiday - I mean I feel like we don’t even really have holidays anymore.”
Neither of these individuals knew I was in the middle of reading a chapter written to prove this very point. If this resonates with you, there are a number of other topics in this book that will do the same.
In short- millennials answer most challenges or problems with, “we will just work harder.” And we are realizing that attitude has left too much unresolved and millennials too burned out.
A point made early in the book which the reader should keep in mind before every chapter: “Of the 73 million millennials living in the US in 2018, 21 percent, over a fifth of the population, identify as Hispanic. Twenty-five percent speak a language other than English at home. Only 39 percent have a college degree.”
I suspect that most millennials that will read this book, or would even consider reading it, represent a minority demographic of actual American millennials but do represent those who likely set the “norms” for what is expected of an American millennial.
I underlined and circled too much in this book to share here, but one afternoon, I realized the book was true to me in a way I couldn’t deny. I was reading a chapter about how millennials have lost “leisure” and instead fill weekends, and even holidays, with “work” of some form or another.
While reading that chapter (during a holiday) I was interrupted by two phone calls. One friend was complaining about how their boss emailed them with a request needing to be completed during this particular holiday. On the other call, a person made the following statement: “Yes, I’m working this holiday - I mean I feel like we don’t even really have holidays anymore.”
Neither of these individuals knew I was in the middle of reading a chapter written to prove this very point. If this resonates with you, there are a number of other topics in this book that will do the same.
In short- millennials answer most challenges or problems with, “we will just work harder.” And we are realizing that attitude has left too much unresolved and millennials too burned out.
inamerata's review
4.0
A solid, infuriating book that reaffirmed a lot of existing knowledge and experiences. It was even more of a trip reading this in December 2020, listening to the Abigail Thorn's Philosophy Tube video on work and while stuck in an untenable job.
Petersen made a point of addressing race and class regularly, but disappoints with her overwhelmingly cishet focus. There were two mentions of bi women in f/m relationships, as part of a discussion of burnout and mixed-gender relationship dynamics. And nothing about same-sex relationships or trans people whatsoever.
Petersen made a point of addressing race and class regularly, but disappoints with her overwhelmingly cishet focus. There were two mentions of bi women in f/m relationships, as part of a discussion of burnout and mixed-gender relationship dynamics. And nothing about same-sex relationships or trans people whatsoever.
natedig96's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.25