Author Claims Gen Y is the Dumbest Generation in His New Book
Hi All,
I’ve been sick all week so my blogging came to a grinding halt. But I’m glad to say I’m on the mend!
So, here’s something bound to cause some controversy. I came across this article on BNET.com blogs. Author Mark Bauerlein, a 49-year-old professor of English at Emory University and a former director of Research and Analysis at the National Endowment for the Arts, thinks that Millennials could be the dumbest generation our world has ever seen.
Mark feels so strongly about this that he has written a book about it, aptly entitled: “The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future (Or, Don’t Trust Anyone Under 30)“.Â
His website claims: “50 million minds diverted, distracted, devoured!” According to Bauerlein, Gen Y’s insatiable media habit imperils the future as it instills a “brazen disregard of books and reading†that leads to a “neglect [of] enduring ideas.†As a result, the kids are bound to a long adolescence, a semi-permanent immaturity.
Although short attention spans and a hunger for media certainly are key traits of Gen Y, I can’t agree with him on his opinion of them being “dumb”. I actually think they are a very bright generation who will do great things for our country and businesses. Plus, I’m a GenXer and I have a short attention span and I like new media…maybe I’m a Millennial trapped inside of a GenX body? He’d probably think I am stupid, too, just because I like “them”.
Perhaps he has a couple of teenage children whom he doesn’t like?? Hmmm. Maybe they don’t like him??
I don’t know the answer, but I found the topic of his book amusing. And I found the fact that he felt so passionately about this to write a book even more amusing.
If you read his book, or check out his website, I’m curious to know your thoughts about this!
I wonder what his Gen Y students think about this??
His website url is even: www.DumbestGeneration.com
Bye for now,
Lisa
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Lisa Orrell is The Generation Relations Expert, and has appeared on ABC, MSNBC and NPR (to name a few). She is a speaker, consultant, and author of the book "Millennials Incorporated" (on Amazon). Based on her expertise, Lisa is an in-demand expert who educates well-known companies (such as Cisco Systems, Paul Mitchell, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield) about effectively attracting, recruiting, managing and retaining Millennials (Generation Y). She also conducts popular seminars on how to improve generation relations within the workforce – thus improving communication, productivity and revenue. MEDIA: Contact Lisa for an interesting interview!
October 18th, 2008 at 6:14 am
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October 20th, 2008 at 2:27 am
Nice article. Thanks.
Eugene
October 20th, 2008 at 10:16 am
A strongly disagree that Gen Y is “dumb.” I think calling Gen Y “The Dumbest Generation” is more of a marketing ploy to sell books, but I’ll put that one aside.
As someone under 30 and a proud member of Gen Y, I don’t appreciate being called dumb. Advancements in technology have given us more efficient ways of finding information than reading books.
Using technology to our benefit makes us anything but dumb. Personally, I don’t think resisting development and progress makes you very smart. But, hey, that’s just one opinion from a “dumb” Gen Yer.
October 20th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Hi Marie,
I agree on all accounts. The title is great for getting attention, but I do think the book really does rant about Gen Y. I haven’t read it, but from I what I could tell from his website, and the articles I’ve read about the book, he really thinks this generation is lacking brain cells.
He’s certainly not masking his opinion with a subtle title! LOL
I just think it’s interesting he wrote it since he’s a college professor who has to be surrounded by “them”, and I’m sure the students at his college aren’t thrilled with his negativity.
Lisa