After writing about the struggles of Gen X and Millennials in 2006's Generation Me, and the rise of society-wide obsession with self in 2009's Narcissism Epidemic, Dr. Twenge then set her sights on a new, decidedly different, group of young people.
A fitting moniker for those born from the mid-1990s to 2000s, "iGen"-- a term coined by the author, herself -- refers to a generation which has never known a world without the personal technology that has rapidly become a large part of our lives. A researcher with over two decades of experience, Twenge's work in iGen seeks to not only examine and define the characteristics of today's youth, but pinpoint explanations for the troubles it faces: the mysteries behind igen's stunted development, increased instances of depression, and its extreme emphasis on both physical and emotional safety.
Though rife with statistical data, iGen truly succeeds in its marriage of facts with accessibility. Filled with snippets of interviews she performed with teens and twenty-somethings of wide-ranging backgrounds, Twenge masterfully interweaves black and white facts with firsthand accounts. Even readers with contrary opinions -- especially readers who have children of their own -- will find great use in the personal and honest glimpses iGen provides into the lives and minds of today's youth. I highly recommend this book for parents, educators, and -- now that I think about it -- members of iGen, as well.