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The Anxious Generation

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About the book

THE NO.1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
A TIMES, FT, ECONOMIST AND INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR

'Boundlessly wise . . . important and engrossing' The New York Times

'One of the most important books I've read . . . It's absolutely brilliant' Dr Rangan Chatterjee

'Urgent and essential' Guardian

Acclaimed psychologist Jonathan Haidt reveals how the decline of free-play in childhood and the rise of smartphone use among adolescents is changing our world

From 2010, as teens traded in their flip phones for smartphones packed with social media apps, unsupervised time online soared while face-to-face conversations with friends and family plummeted, and so did mental health. This profound shift took place against a backdrop of diminishing childhood freedom and over-supervision in the real world, depriving children of the experiences they most need to become strong and self-governing adults.

The Anxious Generation delves into the latest research to show how this shift from free-play to smartphones disrupts development - from sleep deprivation to addiction - and lays the foundations of isolation and fear that define society today. Grounded in ancient wisdom and packed full of cutting-edge science and practical advice, this eye-opening book is a life-raft for anyone who wants to understand how the most rapid rewiring of human relationships and consciousness in human history has made it harder for all of us to think, focus, forget ourselves enough to care about others and build close relationships.

Editions (4)

ISBN9781802063271
PublisherPenguin Books Ltd (UK)
Publication Date01/02/25
Pages464

Reviews & Ratings

25 ratings

6 reviews

4.0

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  • lillydove
    lillydove

    58 Followers

    5.0

    Sehr wichtiges Thema!!

    Das Buch war super spannend zu lesen. Das Social Media und das Internet einen schlechten Einfluss auf die Entwicklung von Kindern und Jugendlichen haben kann, weiß man vermutlich. Doch warum ist das so? Jonathan Haidt stellt viele Studien zu diesem wichtigen Thema vor und zeigt auf wie seit dem Aufkommen von Social Media es bei vielen Kindern und Jugendlichen zu vermehrten Angststörungen, Depressionen etc. gekommen ist, der sogenannten “anxious generation”. Mir hat das Buch super viel Spaß gemacht es zu lesen und ich finde es ist heutzutage auch sehr wichtig zu wissen, wie viel Einfluss Social Media bei Jugendlichen haben kann. Haidt stellt gegen Ende seines Buches auch Maßnahmen vor, wie man seine Kinder besser schützen kann. Ich fand es sehr spannend! Kann es nur sehr empfehlen zu lesen :)

    Sehr wichtiges Thema!!

    Apr 17, 2026

  • sonia99
    sonia99

    4 Followers

    4.0

    Clear message with lots of data

    Clear thread and understandable conclusions. I especially liked the chapter summaries, advices on what to do and the additional online material provided. Especially recommended for parents and people working in education.

    Feb 8, 2026

  • lilux
    lilux

    15 Followers

    4.0

    A nice guide for all parents in the digital age!

    The challenges of parents raising Gen Alpha are hard and societal norms are not making it easier. Jonathan Haidt presents the importance of a play-based childhood with numerous studies, including evidence that early access to social media has a severe effect on underage children. It focuses mainly on the anglosphere but also mentions studies from other regions. While listening to the book, i felt more and more grateful for the child-friendly city planning that Germany executes and also the societal structures it provides to raise independent children and adolescents. (sorry mum that I was always mad at you for making me go play outside)

    Apr 7, 2025

3 of 6 reviews

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