Our Coming-of-Age Crisis--and How to Rebuild a Culture of Self-Reliance

Ben Sasse argues convincingly that we are doing our kids a disservice when we ‘protect’ them from work. Sasse provides parents with practical advice to help make the shift from consumption to production—a great way to help our kids find lives filled with meaning and purpose.

While I wish I had read this book when my daughters were in pre-school, I'm still able to get some ideas for parenting my almost-adult teens.

As a parent of children ages 22, 19, and 14 this is without a doubt the best book I have read in years. Thank you, Ben Sasse. My husband and I both appreciate your logic in these chapters and we are busy changing our plans to include living abroad and some different educational plans for our 14 year old. Now we hope Mr. Sasse can help us all raise a different group of adults that can try to help us save our great country like he is doing.

The above one star rating is an idiot who obviously didn't read the book but felt compelled to do a review based on something they heard on the radio. This book is very informative especially to parents who are raising young children. Very insightful no matter how your political stance is postured. This man decided to write about something positive yet deteriorating that would enable better raising of our children and someone has the nerve to give a one star rating based on their political views. Shameless and moronic.

Wow. Just wow. I am a twenty year-old recent college graduate who has been following Ben Sasse for quite some time. I am bought this book to support him and his hard work as a Senator, and finished the entire book in less than one day! As a millennial, I have definitely seen and even experienced some of the issues that are described in this book. Ben Sasse isn't just a Republican. Or a conservative. Or even a politician. Ben Sasse is a parent, and one who strives to raise his children to be responsible adults prepared for the trials life throws at them. I don't think I will be a parent for quite some time, but I am definitely going to keep this book and re-read it when the time comes. I would recommend this book to anyone--regardless of party affiliation or familial status. There are lots of great lessons to be learned from this. Great job, Senator! (Also, if you see this please follow me back on Twitter)

At last an honest discussion about the young people who will make the decisions of tomorrow. Whether you agree with him or not, he's opened our eyes and suggested viable solutions. America's parents and educators now need to take his advice, before it's too late.

I really wanted to like this book. I agree with all of the problems that Senator Sasse outlines. In fact, I think he was rather easy on the current generation in terms of their shortcomings (as he would have it, without attributing blame). The problem is that throughout this book, there are Christian themes interwoven into the very fabric of the problem diagnoses, not to mention the possible solutions.

My own benefit to reading this book is that I am now (finally) beginning to realize what it must be like to have been raised in the Bible Belt. I have never been able to understand how people think and vote the way that they do in the Bible Belt. (To me, how they blindly vote Republican.) I now see that their sensory receptors and thinking processes are all filtered through religious lenses. The crazy part is that I don't think that they even realize it! It is such a fundamental part of their structure that they cannot seem to separate religion from everyday living. I thank Senator Sasse for giving me that perspective. I don't understand it and am even worried by it, but at least now I see it! I remember early in his book, Senator Sasse said that he would try to keep religion out of the book. He thinks he succeeded, I suppose. On that score, I think he failed, as religious concepts, ideas, references, and direct quotations are sprinkled in every chapter.

OK, on with the rest of the book. The part I liked. Yes, the current generation has been raised in an artificial environment that has shielded them from the realities, requirements, and enjoyment of life. Most of them don't even know that they don't even know it. Yes, we need to do something about the problem. Early on, we need to teach these kids and adolescents that there are consequences in life. It is this primary concept that the current generation does not understand. Instead, everyone does get a trophy. No one can handle being upset. No one wants to be hurt. No one ever dies. No one ever has to work hard. No one has to save, invest, or plan. No one has to make any effort in order to "earn" anything.

We of the older generations helped to make them this way. We let them off the hook. Indeed, we shamed those among us who wanted to expose kids to the (horrors) of daily living. It's time to toughen up. Why is it wrong to leave kids alone at the age of 11 or 12? I remember having babysitters who were that old! I remember that by the age of 7, I could be gone all day until the last streetlight came on. Why do parents drive their kids to school? We used to walk, ride bikes, or take buses. We used to be embarrassed when our parents drove us to school (usually because we were late and part of our punishment was being embarrassed for being late).

By the way, there are yards of books on my bookshelves, but not one of them is on Senator Sasse's list. Indeed, I have read only one of the books from his list, and that was as a youth. I am pleased he raised the idea of a literary cannon, but I like my list more (as we all naturally do). Incidentally, Senator Sasse was uncertain of how to make a category for his "imprisoned" books. Might I suggest broadening the category to include true crime and societal deviation? You know, what government does to persons who do not comply with the Social Contract (a major function of government is to provide for the safety and security of its citizens). To go one step further, he could broaden it to include most non-fiction by calling it "Real Life."

So, should you read this book? I suppose if you can stomach the dripping religious references that are assumed as matter of fact, then yes! Is it the book I wanted to read? No.

Sasse says that Bill Nye and Neil DeGrasse Tyson present a "caricature of science." Really? I think Tyson presents a very good explanation of science for the non-scientist. Sasse doesn't explain what he means, so it isn't obvious why he thinks this. He must have some problem with present day science, but he doesn't say what it is. Most of the book is good advice.

Almost bypassed this due to large amount of 1 Star ratings weighing down the average. Upon actually reading the reviews, almost all of the poor reviews were due to an initial shipping of books misprinted with the wrong book printed inside the correct binding. Issue appears to be corrected, and if this was only scored looking at reviews based on content, this would likely averagr at least 4.5 stars!

He has properly diagnosed the state of our society where we are allowing 18 + year olds to remain in an adolescent "Neverland" well into their 20's and beyond (boomerang adults living in your basement playing video games, not looking for a job, let alone a "career") because we aren't preparing them for traditional adulthood in the way previous generations did, and given the monumental challenges facing American citizens, it is of utmost importance that kids today achieve true adulthood by 18 to prepare them for tough, real world challenges for which we are not preparing them today.
Most of his prescriptive solutions have value: (1) making sure they are acquainted with hard work as teenagers/teaching them the value of hard work (I know so many teenagers who never worked a summer job, let alone during the school year- I was mowing lawns and babysitting for money at age 13), (2) making sure they are not unduly influenced by hanging out solely with their own peer group- more interaction with older relatives, (3) consuming less- particularly much less of phone, tablet and Netflix screen time, (4) focusing them on great literature and several other solutions.

My criticisms of this book:
(1) He and his family are raising kids in rural Nebraska and his book in no way recognizes the unique challenges of urban. commuting, got to have two-parent incomes to get by parents. For example, how can they home school like they are doing? Most folks in this country now live in cities and his solutions are certainly more workable when living in a rural area. That said, there are still some things here urban parents can do.
(2) The book is heavily theological, which will cause some to put down the book and not finish it. Religion is highly personal.
(3) The book is written a a very high level, where some of it could fly over the heads of some of the people he is trying to - and sorely needing to reach - for them, it may be a really tough read.
(4) He said it wasn't political and it mostly is not, but some of it is - he is very clear on his views that color his suggestions.
He is right in saying American is the most exceptional country in the history of the world, but as a former history professor he does gloss over some of the stuff in America that has not been so pretty (slavery and beyond, women not being able to vote until about a century ago).

I have heard/seen this fellow on a couple shows and his civility is refreshing, and I wanted to dig more into his thought process, know more about him, as there are already rumors this book is intended to be a launching pad for a 2020 presidential campaign.
Overall, a worthwhile read, but you will find yourself skipping over parts.
In retrospect, wish I had checked this out of the library, rather than purchasing.

The thesis of this book might be summed up as follows: Young Americans are not maturing and becoming contributing citizens at the rate that is needed, and something needs to be done about it. Otherwise, the future of the American republic doesn’t look bright.

Here’s a recap of the supporting evidence: Kids log too much “screen time” and don ‘t spend enough time reading worthwhile books. They are brought up to be consumers, not producers, with the operative premise being that they can have pretty much whatever they want (not just what they truly need). If anything goes wrong, there is typically someone around to fix it – parents, teachers, service people, etc. Kids don’t spend much time learning to solve problems on their own or helping others as opposed to pursuing their own desires.

Most of their social interaction is with peers in the same age cohort; they spend very little quality time with older people who could share their painfully acquired experience of what life is about and how to make the most of it. Most kids aren’t physically active, and they don’t perform hard jobs like their elders did. It they travel, it is likely to take the form of touring (passive) versus exploration (active).

They progress through the school system on a standardized basis, basically being taught to pass the tests but not becoming truly proficient at anything. There isn’t a clearly defined goal, such as learning to be a productive member of society versus simply moving to the next rung of the educational ladder. Very little of the curriculum is devoted to the history of this country and the rationale of its political and economic system.

There is growing resistance to the expression of controversial or unpopular views on college campuses, lest such activity make some students feel uncomfortable. Safe spaces – trigger warnings – free speech permitted only in designated free speech zones. No wonder polls show students are increasingly open to socialism, which sounds like a well-meaning system despite ample evidence that it yields terrible results.

Young Americans stay in school longer – live at home longer – have trouble finding satisfying and rewarding work - marry later. In short, the norm of young adults being on their own by their early 20s is obsolete. The lifetime employment model is also on the way out, which adds to the uncertainty about what young Americans are being educated for. And they may not be able to count on “the golden years” at the end either, as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid (for long-term care), etc. will not be affordable in the long run.

Although many of these points are well-known, Sen. Sasse has done a fine job of tying them together in an overarching issue. How can we help young Americans come of age and become productive members of society versus mere consumers of society’s wealth? And he makes a good case that government programs aren’t likely to provide a solution. The basic need is to nurture the rising generation, and that’s not something that governments with one-size-fits-all programs are good at.

There are many suggestions for parents who may be wondering how they can help. Getting kids to read books (e.g., 100 per year) – giving them meaningful responsibilities - sending them off on real life adventures when they are ready. And many of these ideas are user-tested, including by Sen. Sasse and his wife who homeschool their children

Note, however, that future problems can’t necessarily be solved by reference to past experience. The world of 50 years ago was very different than the world today, and the pace of change is accelerating. There simply isn’t going to be as much manual labor as there once was, particularly as the effects of “artificial Intelligence” on the economy are fully realized, and it may not be easy to keep people on the move in the great outdoors or help them to acquire knowledge that will be useful for a lifetime.

As an unexpected bonus, the book ends with an imaginary speech by Teddy Roosevelt at a high school graduation.. The message makes a lot of sense, but it sure wouldn’t be what high school students have grown accustomed to hearing of late!

All things considered, I would give The Vanishing American Adult a four-star rating.

I have five kids including two daughters in high school. This book challenged me to think through some troubling questions about their future: am I really preparing them for what's to come? The challenges of this world require toughness, grit, and sharp minds that can think through deep and complex arguments. Am I succeeding? Will they be able to withstand a culture of leisure, out-of-control consumerism, and intellectual laziness? I won't lie: reading this hurt a little. Not only did it make me think through my own shortcomings as a father, it also made me more aware of how this culture is affecting me. It's not just millennials that need to make changes. It's all of us.

Senator Sasse has done us all a great service by writing a non-political book about how to improve our country. Change doesn't start with policy. It starts with our character as individual citizens. It starts with us. It starts with me.

Author/Senator Sasse believes we're living in an America of perpetual adolescence - out kids don't know anymore what an adult is or how to become one. Alternatively - excessive screen time by today's kids seems to imbue them with passivity, instead of the initiative and innovation needed to compete with today's growing list of global rivals. Sasse contends kids should be liberated from peer culture and the present by knowing others, especially older people, that they need to know that suffering is not something to be avoided but conquered, that they need the satisfaction that comes from production, experiencing other cultures to help understand the difference between 'need' and 'want,' and learn how to read and think critically.

Household collapse is a major contributor - the overall share of black births now outside marriage exceeds 70%, 66% for American Indians, 53% of Hispanics, 29% of whites.

While Ben Sasse displays (and displays) his depth of knowledge in history, classic education, and parenting, his call for rescuing our culture is lacking in breadth.
Sasse proposes that our youth could learn more self-reliance if we return (read go back) to our historical base by studying classics, returning to our historical work ethic (his over-arching example is farming culture), limiting screen time/social platforms, and embracing top-down parenting (albeit to stop coddling our youth).
As I read, I kept wondering … what about the strides we’ve made in technology --- how do we improve and safeguard its utilization? Where is a discussion of disenfranchised youth (and their parents)? Sasse discusses, at length, our weak test scores on international tests … but not a word about the impact of institutionalized poverty on culture and education. At the same time, he cautions that our younger generation is dangerously enamored by socialism. No, not a word about the growing chasm between haves and have-nots, and its impact on culture and the attitudes of our youth.
Sasse’s proposal of in-depth exposure to classics includes some token references to minority cultures, but no acknowledgement that our more privileged youth might gain from a more-than-fleeting exposure to “non-classic” cultures.
Read this book if your concern is the stumbling of privileged youth. It outlines some accurate reasons for their failure to launch. (Not much new there.) The book fails to acknowledge the growing segment of our young population who are in survival mode. Instead of going off to a cattle farm to learn “real work”, maybe our privileged youth and their parents could gain some self-reliance and insight by stepping into other economies and cultures.

This book was a pure joy to read. Sasse is genuinely good writer, and his voice--enthusiastic, a little bit folksy at times, deeply analytic at others--shines through. The mix of cultural diagnosis, historical context, and practical suggestions for how to help your kids "develop scar tissue" elevated this from the standard 'grit" fare. I have minor criticisms--i think Sasse has to acknowledge the political context in which his book is situated even as he declares it "upstream" from politics. But even though I'm not a huge fan of his conservative politics, I find him thoughtful on nearly every page. And I expect I'm not the only one who is now looking for a farm on which his kids can volunteer.

I listened to this book on audio earlier this summer and then read it again because it was so excellent and timely. I cannot express enough how unique and informative the content it. It covers variety of topics and is mostly apolitical (despite what detractors who have not read it will say). Ben Sasse is a gem of a father, husband, thinker and leader. We hope he runs for president soon.

I had so many thoughts for a long summary review, but it would be laborious to cite all the positives. His section on travel is particularly so welcome in a world where more and more folks "tour" the same cliche spots.

Senator Sasse has emerged as the successful, thinking man’s conservative hero amid the backdrop of a Trump presidency and the right's duplicitous media/talk radio supporters (Rush, Hannity, Ingraham) who've turned their backs on consistent conservatism.

While politicians and pundits write vapid personal memoirs and policy books to lay the groundwork for elections, Sasse wisely chose a different path.

If you want to raise a healthy and happy family in a rapidly changing world, this book is a must read.

But amid his practical advice, Sasse also challenges readers (What is adolescence? Why do we shun our elders (Shouldn’t young people be around old people)? Why do people delay marriage? Why you should be a traveler—not a “tourist" seeing the same sites (boring beaches, pre-approved buildings, etc.))

Most will love this book, but some will not:

Secular liberals who aren’t open to considering Sasse’s worldview will mock Sasse’s recipe for happiness (earned success), since he'll be deemed a "privileged white Christian guy." The irony is most secular liberals are sheltered upper middle white elites, far wealthier and more privileged than the senator, while Sasse grew up in rural Nebraska shucking corn and earned everything he has.

Also, faux populist Trumpians and talk radio blowhards will dislike this book since it isn't wholly partisan politics like a Coulter, Malkin or Ingraham rant. This book is not about that; instead it encompasses a wide range of topics including history, philosophy, and theology.

And it is worth a read.

Ben Sasse is a gifted writer and thinker. This book identifies a cultural crisis in America. Rather than being "preachy," this book thoughtfully walks readers through various observations and experiences and offers thoughts on the problem, why America has endured and the core principles that can guide parents, grandparents, entrepreneurs,, bosses, employees, and kids to seize upon what has worked with the hope that this experiment we call America can continue. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to spark an intellectual discussion (book club?) about what's good and right and how we, collectively, can foster a better understanding of liberty and adult responsibility. My family has chosen this book as one of our summer reads. I'd give it an A+.

There are some good ideas in this book, focused on the millennial generation (of which I'm a member) and the perils of what he terms an extended adolescence. I felt like Sasse did get some things right - our attention spans are often shortened by excessive screen time, we don't read as many classical works of literature, and though we often spend a long time getting a formal, hyper-specialized education - we sometimes emerge in our mid-twenties not really knowing how to do things like change a tire, analyze things critically, or be self-directed. Sasse also worries aloud that kids are "warehoused" (?coddled, I guess) and not exposed to hard work early enough. This certainly wasn't true of my upbringing (I routinely spent weekends helping my mother fix up our rental properties, including scrubbing tobacco residue off of the walls and picking trash up from the yard) This book didn't really smack of "get off my lawn"-ism, but the advice at times just seemed a little bit...generic. Work hard, don't play too many video games, be professional. One of the more memorable chapters at the end focused on creating a bookshelf of classic works of literature, and developing it over time. However, I felt like the book "Adulting" (written by an actual millennial, Kelly Williams Brown) was a bit more concrete and humorous. I am also a bit resistant to apply stereotypes to an entire generation, particularly my own - I am a resident physician in my mid-twenties who "adults" every day. Sasse may feel that the American adult is vanishing, but look a bit closer and you'll see that we're here.

The Vanishing American Adult: Our Coming-of-Age Crisis and How to Rebuild a Culture of Self-Reliance - Sen. Ben Sasse

The Senator from Nebraska is refreshing and definitely different from his counterparts. But other reviewers have noted that, given the principles he stands for, it seems odd that Sasse (pron.: "Sass") hasn't been more outspoken about government dysfunction and Republican betrayal of principles-- such as Jeff Flake has done. This book isn't ostensibly about politics, but one would expect to see Sasse's 9am-5pm political persona convey more of what is in this book (besides taking his kids to Washington DC every week). His Twitter feed is humorous, only occassionally critical, and in recent weeks quite silent (I'm writing this on the eve of the likely government shutdown).

Sasse makes it clear at the beginning, this is not a "get off my lawn" book. But the purpose of the book is to illustrate several problems he sees in the youngest generations, explain why they're a threat to American liberties and values as we know them, and to encourage parents to follow his lead and do something different with their child-rearing. He wants to raise "problem-solving souls" who love their neighbors and sustain themselves. Sasse's worldview is Christian, he explains how that worldview shapes his thinking about the value of individuals (made in the image of God), justice, forgiveness, and more. But he does it in a humble enough way-- he reads the audiobook himself, which makes the author a much more sympathetic character in my opinion. Other books on parenting have recently taken a similar track-- my brother-in-law wrote a book (Parent Chat) about the need to reduce screen time and increase family together time, and similar sentiments about the danger of children losing the ability to emphathize have been written by others.

One of the author's pet peeves is the "adulting" memes on social media where a 20-something files his taxes or buys car insurance and posts the achievement as "adulting." In Sasse's household, children are involved in financial decisions and responsible to think about insurance from an early age. American teenagers' screen addictions are leading them to passivity and procrastination (plenty of adults, let's just say "most Americans" at this point). Social media enlarges the feel of the present moment, leading to a "tyranny of the present." Consumerism drives decisions and consumption is sold as a false key to happiness when true happiness and meaning is found in being productive. We have also lost rites of passage-- kids hardly play outside together or wander off to the nearby forest anymore because parents believe this to be unsafe. Generations are now losing the the freedom to survive and to fail; as well as to build and achieve. The risk of something happening in the woods is much smaller statistically than what the media portrays, but the risk to the future adult's well-being by not being able to wander to the woods is immense for our society.

Likewise, writes Sasse, kids are disconnected from seeing their parents produce. In an agricultural community, for example, kids grow up on the farm and actively help their parents produce. I believe this part to be among the weakest arguments in the book. Sasse writes that the early colonies saw little commuting to work and thus there was a culture of growing up seeing production. Perhaps this was true in the rural areas, but not cities like Philadelphia and New York. There were also plenty of apprenticeships, sons leaving home to go to a faroff place to learn a trade or sail on a ship, and perhaps send back a portion of what they earned. That doesn't fit Sasse's argument, though, he would have everyone working in their home workshop or farm.

Sasse engages in some internal debates in the book, showing off how well-read he is in philosophy and history (another point of his book is to have a household canon of books). The Founders knew that literacy was essential for the endurance of democracy and freedom, and that these could be lost from one generation to the next. He pits Rousseau against Augustine in debating the nature of man and the importance of education. He pits all against Dewey, the architect of modern public education. Sasse makes a convincing case that Dewey saw public school as a church and the State as God in Orwellian Big Brother fashion. Dewey made the public school an ends rather than a mean, and Sasse invites the reader to explore Dewey's motives and consequences. The author is concerned that the increased amount of time kids spend in school takes them away from other civic engagement and further segregates them from other generations, thus making them less emphathetic and relational. Millenials, in particular, don't value these communities as much and spend more time (including more screen time) with people their own age than any other generation. Schools in many poorer areas are more about babysitting than literacy, and he cites anecdotal evidence as such.
US history and civics are not taught as much anywhere, test scores and surveys show the upcoming generation is largely ignorant of the founding of America and ideas such as liberty. How can the republic, therefore, survive? This is the question that burdens the book, and Sasse somehow is seemingly an optimist that eventually things will right themselves and the republic will endure.

The Senator proposes a few solutions on the education front. In the home, families need to develop a canon of literature that their kids read in the hope that kids, in turn, develop their own love for reading and own canons. Parents should host houseguests and have designated screen-free times, such as for dinner. He advocates more field trips as part of a more comprehensive education. He wants schools to get away from isolated institutionalization. He criticizes the fact that universal education tends to mean identical curriculum; he argues heterogenous schools under localized control are needed and useful. He writes that building schools and increasing the length of required years was the brainchild of ethnic nationlists who wanted to occupy the time of immigrants and keep them from competing with native labor. Sasse is frustrated with laws making it hard for teenagers to work, particularly in agriculture. His own kids work on farms. He imagines a modern-day Teddy Roosevelt graduation commencement speech encouraging teenagers to buck up and act boldly.

At one point in his life, Sasse bummed around Europe working odd jobs and backpacking. He spoke with distant relatives in Germany, studied Russian behavior during WWII, and developed a love for travel and cultures. The senator subscribes to social justice causes, advocating support for the International Justice Mission, Voice of the Martyrs, and others. He advocates greater respect and care for the elderly. He supports having accountability partners and striving against sin. He has a doctorate in theology and was a college president by age 37 (this particularly gave him insights into a culture of entitled teenage students that I got familiar with in my time on full-time faculty at a similar institution). He intentionally omits sex from the book because of controversy, but does point out to three specific purposes of sex and upholds the virtues of a marriage-- a community-linked institution that helps create accountability. He gives a head-nod to stoicism and activities like fasting. Yet he seems to be unaware of Reinhold Niebuhrbuhr and criticizes President Obama's views on American exceptionalism without realizing/admitting that Obama's views came from his early love of Niebuhrian philosophy (he said as such in early interviews with David Brooks).

I was really struck by the fact that Sasse never makes political observations about wrongs and fears like Rand Paul does-- Paul takes up the problem of the militarization of cops, for example. It really is largely a book on parenting, character building, and how that impacts communities and the nation as a whole. As America becomes less literate in the Western canon, it becomes detached from the roots of how and why it exists. As people become obsessed with the latest tweets, their attention span to engage in real discussion wanes. He points out that the Lincoln-Douglas debates each lasted for hours, and people no longer have that patience. Instead, the latest 140 character political soundbyte dominates the news and attention spans. Most US citizens couldn't pass the US naturalization citizenship exam, yet Sasse remains an "optimist" that America's best days are still ahead...But he doesn't tells us how we get there. So, I give the book four stars are remarkable, especially for a senator. The fact that Sasse quit tweeting abruptly at New Years tells me he probably has made that his resolution, but one suspects he is inwardly deeply pessimistic. It would be nice to know what Senator Sasse prays. I think we could rebuild the culture of self-reliance he describes only after a disaster of hitherto unknown proportions-- something that disrupts health, government, technology, and international trade beyond anything we have seen.

Freshman U.S. Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) has written a book that could well be the answer to problems plaguing the millennial generation and the efforts to form the next generation through the terribly flawed Common Core educational requirements.

Few could be better credentialed to make such recommendations. Sasse was raised on a Nebraska farm, received a wrestling scholarship to Harvard University, then went on to Oxford University, and earned a Ph.D. in history from Yale University. Sasse became one of the youngest college presidents ever, taking the helm of Midland University in Nebraska at age 37. In five years, he straightened out the school’s finances and became a serious expert on the millennial generation.

-Endless Adolescence -

Sasse offers J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan as a depiction of endless adolescence, which surely makes for good theatre but a very poor lifestyle choice. Sasse argues today’s young American adults are largely existing in a Neverland mindset.

Sasse blames much of the millennial problem on American culture placing too much emphasis on formal schooling and taking too much responsibility off the shoulders of parents, which parallels the decline of the nuclear family. The tradition of gathering at dinner tables across the country has been replaced with families playing on their separate screen devices instead.

-Nature of Public Education-

When Sasse began his doctorate studies at Yale, he and his schoolteacher wife were beginning the education of their young children and reading up on educational theory. They came upon the writings of social critic Paul Goodman, who had said, “At some point in the life of our nation we ceded too much authority to ‘professional educators.’”

Goodman envisioned alternative programs in which adolescents could be educated more diversely than in homogenized buildings filled with identical classrooms. It became obvious to Sasse that the failure of public education as he saw it was unrelated to per-student expenditures, which he carefully documents as having climbed rapidly. Worse yet, Sasse notes, government schools have evolved to replace parents instead of supporting them, taking over the grand cause of nurturing the coming generations.

-The Joys of Work-

“Schools fail to acknowledge the Socratic insight that at a certain age learning cannot be force-fed,” Sasse writes. “It needs to come in response to genuinely asked questions by genuinely curious people.”

In other words, experts can’t educate your kids unless the latter want to be educated. Sasse repeatedly emphasizes the importance of work in a young person’s upbringing. Because he was brought up that way in his youth, he mistakenly thought it was a natural phenomenon for all children, he writes.

Sasse chronicles how our ancestors’ suspicion of leisure endured until the dawn of the 20th century, when the Industrial Revolution delivered vast wealth and efficiency, along with a growing middle class that did not need to work as hard to subsist.
In his chapter on the joys of work, Sasse spares no criticism of the faults of what he sees as an entitled millennial generation. We must help kids understand the “whys of work,” he writes, offering 15 projects for kids growing up. These lessons should start early, Sasse suggests: “Send your two-year-old to fetch your socks each morning,” he writes.

-Reducing Consumption-

Sasse focuses another chapter on reducing our consumption of things we want but clearly do not need. It is a how-to lesson for parents to counter the common childish argument of, “But my friends have it.” Sasse discusses the notion of “conspicuous consumption,” a term coined by Thorstein Veblen in 1899 in his book The Theory of the Leisure Class.

In contrast with the accumulation of material goods, Sasse strongly believes in the benefits of travel, be it to a fishing hole, a country fair, a family vacation, or a cross-country car ride. Along the way, parents can help children focus more on the people and culture, wherever they go, rather than just sightseeing and entertainment. Sasse offers useful pointers on how to accomplish this.

-Appreciating Reading-

The most impressive and useful chapter on educating children is dedicated to an appreciation of reading, a lost pastime for most people today. The Bureau of Labor statistics reports the average American now reads but 19 minutes a day.
Sasse recommends creating a five-foot shelf of books to be read as a child grows up. This concept began in 1909, when Harvard President Charles W. Eliot developed the five-foot bookshelf, eventually to be called The Harvard Classics, commercially published as a set that sold 350,000 copies over the following 20 years. I was fortunate to obtain a used set in my youth. Sasse shares the 60 books he chose for his shelf, and the list alone is worth the price of his book.

Becoming truly literate is a choice, Sasse writes, and stressing again the value of hard work, he writes, “Reading is not a passive activity like sitting in front of a screen. It requires a degree of attention, engagement, and active questioning of which most of our children are currently deficient.” Children whose parents heed Sasse’s advice will benefit greatly from the lessons he provides in this book.

Jay Lehr, Ph.D. ([email protected]) is science director at The Heartland Institute.

I don’t need this book to know that the US adult has stagnated. Every day I see 20-something men and women who refuse to work, or simply don’t know how. Then I see grown men at the airport doing coloring books with adult themes. Next come the college students getting special refuge rooms and counseling, all because Donald Trump is now the president. Keep in mind that combat veterans with PTSD can’t get free psychotherapy, but a 19-year-old, with no financial obligation is given a shoulder to cry on. Speakers are barred from college campuses because they’ll traumatize the students with conservative rhetoric. Last of all, in my neighborhood, I see 40-year-old men and women with their kids, and I can’t distinguish the parents from their children.

Senator Ben Sasse, graduate of Harvard, Oxford, and Yale, PhD in History, gives many examples of the softening of the adult American. It all starts in childhood, he says, with the “Baby Einstein” syndrome. More school, less outdoor activity, less manual training, and fewer part-time jobs. Look at The Economist July 6, 2017 article on the disappearing summer job; it uses Ronald Reagan as an example of how a teenager’s job used to mold the mind. It also discusses how rising minimum wage has made it harder to hire teens.

Sasses give a funny (and at the same time disturbing) example in Talia Jane, whose meager salary at Yelp headquarters kept her hungry and poor. Kind of unfair, no? After all, Yelp’s corporate officers were raking in the cash, and they knew that rents in the Bay area are sky-high. But just when Ms. Jane was about to become the poster girl for the underpaid, another twenty-something named Stefanie Williams tore the poor serf’s platform to shreds. Out came the photos - lifted from Talia Jane’s own social media page – of Jane’s high-maintenance e partying. Yelp’s salaries are not enough? You bet they’re not, if you’re throwing away money on alcohol, expensive cakes, eating out a lot, and living without roommates!

Most of Sasse’s book blames the problem on helicopter parenting, safety paranoia, pressure to get into a top college, and parents who won’t teach the kid to get himself up in the morning. He refers to his own childhood, where he was expected to work, and how it taught him life skills. He blames helicopter parenting for the lack of financial savvy in today’s young men and women, and I’m inclined to agree. He advises giving the kids more responsibility, giving them tasks that let them prove their worth, and advises against grouping them by age.

This book should be read with other tomes on this topic. Glow Kids, by Nicholas Kardaras, tells you how too much screen time damaging the children. Rebooting the American Dream is another excellent book on this topic.

Part One of the volume lays out the problem. He surveys the sociological data, which is abundant, noting that traditional, adult responsibilities are getting pushed later and later in life. A significant contributor to this, he argues, is that society has worked hard to protect children from real citizenship responsibilities, contribution through meaningful work, and prevention of scar tissue. Much of this is well-intentioned, but it has the negative effect of forming people less likely to engage culture. Closing out this section of the book, Sasse grabs onto one of the third-rails of politics: a discussion of education. He challenges the notion that more school is the answer to our growing problem. In part, the problem with the “more school” approach is that it is built on Dewey’s flawed foundation that he intended to replace the nuclear family structure with community schooling. Dewey’s approach, Sasse argues, is exacerbating the problems we are having today.

If Sasse had stopped with his first three chapters, the book would have been interesting, but simply another “you kids get off my lawn book.” Instead, however, Sasse offers some possible solutions for parents and communities in Part Two. First, the Senator from Nebraska recommends generational integration. One of the contributors to the “failure to launch” has been our penchant for keeping people in different decades away from one another. Seeing old people be old and still human helps build compassion, it also helps memory transfer from one generation to another. Sasse also recommends finding ways for kids to work. That is increasingly difficult in our day, which due to some warranted safety concerns and sometimes exaggerated concerns about extending childhood can become a source of political and social tension. He outlines how his family sent his daughter to a ranch to experience hard work and what his daughter learned from it.

The book also recommends toughening ourselves and our kids by simply consuming less. Here Sasse commends teaching kids to value production and not simply consumption. He’s offered it as a solution to prolonged adolescence, but it also serves to benefit people’s financial stability and environmental impact. For those that are able, Sasse recommends traveling far and light with the intention of experiencing other cultures, not just seeing the famous landmarks. In the next chapter, Sasse’s penchant for classical learning comes out as he talks about building a personal library of significant books. He makes some recommendations and discusses his method for building his own list of books. It is worth noting that he intentionally includes volumes that he significantly disagrees with because they challenge and shape his thinking. Finally, the book recommends returning to the idea of America, which was imperfectly implemented, but which has a great deal of power. Mutual respect across ideologies, community built across socioeconomic lines, fervent optimism in the pursuit of happiness are more significant parts of the American dream than a big bank account. We need to remember that.

ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION

I found Sasse’s book to be refreshing. I’ve got kids that sometimes reflect the malaise of the contemporary culture, despite my best attempts to toughen them. I also see young people around me that don’t have the experiential resources to get out of the nest. Much of Sasse’s book helps deal with that and offers meaningful recommendations.

One criticism of Sasse’s book that has been floated in another review is that it is too work-centric and glorifies the individual excessively. Sasse does talk about work a lot. In part, this is because meaningful work is a key to satisfaction with life. He doesn’t believe in the projections of a workless future, though he believes that workforce disruption is coming and will remain. Helping people become resilient is part of his resistance to that growing problem. Sasse talks about work because our culture thinks improperly about work.

Sasse also talks about individuals becoming more self-reliant. I don’t believe Sasse is arguing for an atomistic individualism, which is an unfortunate ideal in many libertarian circles. The individualism Sasse is arguing for is a communitarian individualism that recognizes the necessity of individuals contributing to society and doesn’t expect the impersonal mass of “community” or “government” to solve problems. In order to have community, there have to be distinct individuals contributing to the common good and not simply living in dependence on someone else to solve the problem. In other words, there have to be people who are willing to jump in to solve the problem and take individual initiative to become part of the community solution.

It is easy to talk about community and interdependence when you are a student living in a largely age-segregated oasis removed from the mass of society. When community consists of playing board games or eating together with few friends who have basically the same needs and concerns you do, it is easy to pontificate against “rugged individualism.” When needs are diverse and resources limited, however, an individualism that consists of someone deciding they will not let the initiative fail or someone in their community starve is necessary. It’s the latter form of individualism—personal determination to make a contribution to the common good—that I believe Sasse is describing. I also think we would benefit from less atomism and more determination to contribute in our American individualism. Sasse could have been more explicit in his definition on this point, but I think his point remains.

This is a book is worth reading. It makes a contribution to the contemporary conversation that is neither shrill nor pat in its complaints and recommendations. This is also a volume that can suffer from being placed in a position of exaggerated significance. The Vanishing American Adult is a piece of the conversation, it is not an epoch defining volume. Like most books, it has a limited purpose. Sasse’s argument is not made to carry the weight of the world and will collapse if people expect it to solve all of America’s problems. It is worth reading and engaging. I think it has explanatory power and some good suggestions. It is, however, simply a tool to point us toward the necessary, deeper conversations we desperately need to have.

Note: I received a gratis copy of this volume with no expectation of a positive review. This is an abbreviation of a post at Ethics and Culture.

Want proof that SAsse is on the right track?JUst read some of the one star rrviews. ...kids whining that it is written by a gen x guy...complaining because the author is white and male...whining that he is a republican...even complants about TRump.

Obviously Sasse has a point in writing how this generation needs to grow up... one even pans the book because the writer is a Christian...others complain about capitalism and recommend Bernie Sanders books.

BAsically this is full of advice so good that if you are a leftist college kid you will get defensive as Sasse gives advice that really hits home.

I might not agree with all of Ben Sasse's politics but I really enjoyed his thoughtful book. There are so many points to be discussed that I find myself bringing it up during conversations with all different people. The Vanishing American Adult is about how we have raised and how society has formed much of the Millennial generation, and, though I may be loathe to admit it, older generations as well. But, it is about much more than that as it examines our history, our government and how the citizens of the U.S. are the core of our system of democracy. If we do not participate in it thoughtfully and enthusiastically, we leave our dreams and our fate up to others. From the youngest to the oldest, it is our responsibility to be informed, to care and to participate - no matter what your politics. That, after all, is the point of democracy. I especially enjoyed the "commencement address" by Teddy Roosevelt at the end.

Well this took me by surprise. I pick up a book not knowing that I will not be able to put it down. Who would have thought that reading about our precious little snowflakes and otherwise unmotivated kids of today could be so engrossing & interesting. I read a lot and yet I had never heard of Ben Sasse, a Congressman from Nebraska. Must be cuz it is .. Nebraska. The man (and his wife) have a lock on what it takes to raise kids and be a family today, in my opinion. Didn't come naturally. He is an extremely educated, well read man - and it shows in this book. If you are an intellect or an autodidact (like me) you will be thoroughly engrossed in this intelligent, organized, excellent book. If not, you will still like although you might need a dictionary here and there to look up some big words here and there. Today's world is full of little precious snowflakes and he makes a very compelling dissertation on why the majority of the American population better get their heads out of the sand and attend to what is going on with today's kids.

This is a strangely good read. I've been looking at books and articles lately that discuss the general lack of initiative, drive, curiosity about the world at large in the current generation and this author--though a bit long-winded--does not disappoint. It's important stuff and although I couldn't agree less on his politics (Republican Senator) , I wholeheartedly embrace the important points he makes in getting younger people energized, independent and curious about the very special country we inhabit. I bemoan, along with the author, the demise of core humanities reading and the lack of Civics classes in our schools across the board. This right here is a danger and needs to be addressed--we could lose our democracy if we continue to placate the young with constant entertainment feeds, lazy habits and lack of discussion at the dinner table--if there is any such thing as supper-time anymore.

A bit long-winded in spots, and some sections are better than others, but overall, this book has an important message for any parent or teacher wanting to bring the next generation to a full maturity that involves real engagement with great letters, books, adventures and introducing acts in helping others to bring our young into a sense of selfless service, a mainstay of our American character. Worth reading.

I am a super lefty, but I enjoyed this text. I listened to the audio book (read by the author) and found it fairly compelling.

Plenty of things I don't particularly buy, but I well argued position. Who knew I fell into the category of a "millenial"?

Right. The generation that raised the Millennials is now whining about the job they did. This old farm boy and bootstrap infantry officer thinks Millennials have and are holding up pretty damn well in 15 straight years of Iraq and Afghanistan, and from a much closer and grittier perspective than people they protect like Sasse, Rubio or Luntz can ever imagine. It also grates to hear the generations who enacted wage, safety, immigration and litigation schemes that today almost totally preclude teenagers from getting outside employment, complain about the results. Otherwise Sasse makes some good points about over protecting and over supervising, and is worth a peek.

I have not read the book yet but I published an article in 1975 that is likely highly relevant. The citation can be found at this link along with page one (of3). The article can be bought by email from there for under 5 bucks for one. You can read page one for free. I know of no other way for the reader to get this unless you live in a town with an academic library. The article as published is
JOURNAL ARTICLE
THE FICTIONAL ADULT
ROBERT L. HUDSON
ETC: A Review of General Semantics
Vol. 32, No. 3 (SEPTEMBER 1975), pp. 284-286
There was a follow up paper presented at the International Conference on General Semantics as a symposium of three papers in 1976. Moderator was Jeanne Posner. My part was entitled "The Fictional Woman." H. Lee Gershuny and Catherine Konsky were the other two authors. I have a copy of the tape that was made but it is not usable as is. I do not know if there are other tapes and have not had luck finding one. I present this material here to let Ben Sasse know of it's existence as well as readers of his book who might want to delve into the past. My basic thought is that the adults have not vanished but are more likely to openly admit that the "Adult" they were supposed to be is not to be found in them. That is a direction in which we have been moving. email me at [email protected]

I really like Ben Sasse and had great hopes for this book but I've read the first 140 pages and just lost interest. It's not at all what I thought it would be by the title and sub title. I was hoping for some research and stats but this book is more of a drama story about a couple of college kids with issues. Maybe the book got better at the end but I was too bored to keep reading past 140 pages and was disappointed by the fact that it was not at all what I hoped for. I love Ben Sasse but the book Is blah...

There is nothing common about "common sense" but Ben Sasse has just given 280 pages of great advice, and an articulated warning.

In the forty years since the end of the Vietnam War our Western societies have bathed in a peaceful and plentiful existence. However, in the passing of time two generations have grown to take our freedoms lightly, and this has impacted back into the primary relationships between parent and child.

What I like about Ben Sasse is that he has warned every reader that our quality of life is not a given right, and we have to constantly question and renew our relationships and the bases of our personal, communal and societal groups.

Importantly, when addressing education, Ben Sasse breaks the graven image of Dewey who continues to dominate American educational philosophy.

This is a great book because its message is so important.

I read (listened) to this from Audible.com and thought it was outstanding. Ben Sasse is well educated (undergrad from Harvard, multiple Masters degrees from Yale, and a PhD in American History from Yale) but was raised in Rural Nebraska and learned hard work at a young age. He manages to make the subject really compelling and interesting, referencing history, philosophy, literature, and his own personal experience.

He argues on the importance of meaningful travel (not luxury ports of call, but the actually experiencing cultures), reading important books, hard work, independence, spending time with other generations, among other topics. But somehow it is a page turner.

This is the kind of book that makes me want to parent more deliberately and I can't wait to discuss it with family and friends.

I'll preface this review by first saying that I do not subscribe to Sasse's political or religious views.
I loved this book and I share Sasse's fears that children (and young adults) are ill-equipped to handle life on their own in the changing world we live in. He discusses formative experiences that all young people should have, such as hard work, travel, experiencing deprivation and want as well as other experiences. Sasse gives practical advice as well as relating his own childhood and parenting experiences. Many people have criticized this book for the "history lessons" but I loved those sections.
I feel his advice is practical, time-consuming and not for the lazy parent. I am very impressed with Sasse and many of his views on these points.

Ben Sasse’s book The Vanishing American Adult capsulizes the challenge for the United States (and, I presume, the rest of the western world) in moving forward. Quite a few of the members of the young generations in this country have little sense of what being an adult means, and possibly less awareness about being a citizen. Sasse presents compelling examples of a lack of self-motivation and control as well as a failure to comprehend the role of responsible, adult members of our society. He also suggests how we might begin to change the situation.
Sasse’s ideas are coherent, without suggesting public policy, and without being aligned with any particular political views. While he a conservative Republican and a Christian, he does not force those positions in his arguments, but rather presents them in a non-partisan and mostly secular way. He discusses what his family is doing to try to raise their children to become successful members of the community. You may not agree with all his ideas (I didn’t) but they are a good starting point for all of us to consider.
The main flaw in this book is that several of the chapters are overly long. Sasse is an historian by education, and this shows in his tendency to draw in explanations and background which can become tedious to read. I ended up skimming through the middle of several chapters, because it felt like he was over-selling his points.
Overall, this book contains several excellent ideas for keeping America the exceptional nation we have become. The challenges confronting us in this regard are not just the province of parents or schools, but should be a concern to us all. Sasse has thought this over thoroughly, and presented some excellent ideas for discussion and action.

I mean I understand the underlying Republican ideals but could you have focused a bit more into condensing it into an enjoyable book? If you manage to finish this book, you can better understand the influences of moderate Republicans like Senator Sasse but I have to emphasize that is a very particular “if”. Granted my review is based on the audiobook, Senator Sasse’s orator skill come out in full force presenting an amiable if not long-winded speech of the changes he has noticed since his childhood in Nebraska a little more than 40 years ago.

The Vanishing American Adult is a needlessly long book that combines both his biographical and political development expressing to the reader his ideals and how he achieved them. Starting with an anecdote about how his children “needed” air conditioning and comparable one about university student decorated a tall Christmas tree only to the height they could reach, so begins Senator Sasse’s soliloquy into the sociological changes he as noticed in his life but more so the relevant idealism that made America was it is today. Spilt into two parts, the first part is composed examples of the passivity and the need for “comfort” by way anecdotes of those mentioned above and how all levels of public education contribute to the problem of passivity. The second part perhaps constitutes the “meat” of the book - having set up the passivity strawman, he then begins to ever so slowly pick it apart with a combination of generic advice and personal experience to renew the work ethic we as individual Americans once had. Of course, his idea of “work ethic” goes beyond the limits of one’s vocation to an overarching discipline of productiveness, renewed relationships, developing tolerance for discomfort, frugalness, traveling the world experience how American Exceptionalism, and failing that, reading to understand subjects as grand as those that inspired the philosophy of our nation and personal as understanding ourselves.

While I do not share the author’s political leaning, even I was inspired a bit about the frugality, productiveness, increased sociological relationships, and reading but here is where the presentation begins to flounder. The narrative of the second part, at it’s worse, bounces from some personal anecdote to something he read in a book, to anything else that pops into his head about the matter. Senator Sasse can make speeches – the problem is that I doubt anyone but Sasse supporters and comparable like-minded people would want to sit through them. Compounding the tolerance level is that this is not a book on his governmental policy – I had some expectation for the fiery rhetoric of other Republicans values but there is none to be found. I probably would have enjoyed it more but all things considered, Senator Sasse comes off as Andy Griffith if he was elected in office.

If you read the book all the way through, you are a better person than I am. I listened to the entirety of the audiobook version and I had to stop a couple times because I could not listen to his voice anymore – It wasn’t because he was bad narrator but because it sounded like a political speech that went on and on and mind you this is an 11-hour listening experience. For all the anecdotes and wisdom he shares, the overarching theme of perseverance (remember what I said his perspectives on the work ethic?) becomes a subject he beats to death so I can only imagine sitting through it and reading every word I heard. If you were looking to get out of this something out of this book, you would be hard-pressed to find it – in fact, you might be pleasantly surprised you had it within you all along.

Required reading for every single American citizen, and especially for parents. An incredibly intelligently and sensitively written wake-up call to a generation that has lost its sense of purpose and a critically-important foundation to build a truly successful life upon. Whatever your current political or ideological stance is now, fear not, as you will not be reading propaganda attempting to make you become someone you don't want to be. To the contrary, it will cause you to remember and realize that every single one of us has a responsibility to everyone else to be the best we can be so that we will all enjoy a meaningful, deeply-satisfying, socially responsible, and fun journey through life together.

Sasse has moments, at least early in the book, where he makes some sense and brings a reasonably rational historical perspective into his argument. Once he turns his Republican eye on millennials, he appears to have lost all sense of decency and rationality. He claims that millennials are deficient because "only 49 percent of millennials claim to be "patriotic." He thinks that the fact that these young adults "say that morality is a personal choice" is something new. Their lack of interest in contributing to the planet and nation's overpopulation seems to Sasse to be a defect. Their dislike of traditional religion is also, in Sasse's mind, a defect. Sasse is upset that millennials are unconvinced that capitalism is in some way superior to socialism. Sasse, a member of a political party that has done everything possible to diminish the effect of democracy on American government, feigns surprise and outrage that millennials aren't convinced that democracy is sustainable or even a realistic form of government.

It's hard to imagine any sensible person living through the 2017 effects of Sasse's political party and the so-called "American adults" holding any of those views and not expecting to either be ridiculed or ignored. There appears to be no semblance of patriotism from Sasse or Republicans as they ignore the Trump/Russian contamination of our government and ethics in general in their headlong rush to extend corporate power over every aspect of American life and to increase economic inequality to the point that the US might as well be defined a feudalism. Religion has tossed off every traditional value in exchange for money and power, which can't impress anyone with even a minimal education. Since adults, those over 50 anyway, seem to have decided that they will be the last generation to enjoy life on this planet, how can anyone be surprised when many young men have decided to bury their heads in video games? When his and my generation have decided to use up all of the planet's resources in one generation, leaving our kids with a dry, polluted, destitute planet and society, it is dishonest and transparent when someone like Sasse and his party pretend there were ever "old values" or useful traditions.

There aren't any answers in "The Vanishing American Adult," just poorly constructed false flags and simplistic platitudes. Now that Sasse and his fellow Republicans are willing to throw the world into a nuclear holocaust so they can present the Kochs and the rest of the idle rich with "tax reform" and deregulate everything from the banking system to the ecology to the justice system to the social safety net to healthcare, he is just blowing smoke when he asks millennials to pretend returning to "traditional values" (values the 1% have never shared) will fix everything.

I believe that this book is a "must-read" for anyone raising children. It is NOT a call to return to the "old days." It IS a challenging and convicting read examining what it has meant to be an adult throughout time, and provides some perspective on how we have come to a point in history where some (not all, as he is quick to point out) of our young adults insist on "safe spaces" and seem to be incapable of listening to ideas and viewpoints different from their own. Sasse points out that throughout history, adulthood has been determined by factors other than reaching a certain age. Having raised successful, productive young adults, I still was convicted by some of the statistics in the book - things that I did without thinking about the ultimate consequences to my children. A couple of things that were truly shocking to me in this book - on average, elementary school aged children spend 6 hours a day with entertainment media of some kind, and that there are parents who actually call their college kid's professors to dispute grades. Parents, read this and toughen up!

Ben Sasse, a true American adult, explores a sad and ever worsening crisis. Not only does he identify our problems, he proves they are there and then offer ways to help alleviate these issues. Everyone should read this. Senator Sasse personifies what makes this country great.

Sen. Sasse's message to parents and children is this: Be like my wife and me. Be well-to-do - maybe even be a Rhodes scholar and a senator. Send your kids to work on a ranch or a farm so they will learn the lessons of hard physical work. Expose them to music, lots of travel and other diverse experiences. Stimulate them to read a bunch of classics and develop their own serious reading plan. Go to church, because otherwise you will have no way of becoming a moral person.
I didn't see much in this book that would be useful to the vast majority of American families.
Sen. Sasse's prescription for American adolescents reminds me of Mitt Romney telling millennials that they should "borrow money from your parents and start a business."

Ben Sasse writes an amazing history of the world, our country, and education in summarizing form with excellent insight and candor as well as high level vocabulary. He is a visionary about how to build self reliance, hard work, community service, and intelligent debate and decision making in the parenting and shepherding of our children into vibrant adulthood. I did not agree with everything but his ideas kindled creative ways to engage our youth in self reliance and self government. These attributes are important in a democracy to continue our American idea based on the ideas of freedom and liberty.

Ben Sasse is a former college president and current Republican US senator. Mr. Sasse addresses some relevant topics and despite some significant flaws this is not just a political screed. The author is very critical of the younger generations, believing that they lack grit, good work ethics and are self absorbed and deficient of positive experiences with those outside their age group among other things. If there was not some element of truth in these points I would not have even bothered to write this review.

Mr. Sasse's attempts to explain why the younger generation exhibit these characteristics or how to address them sometimes have merit but often fall short. Moreover, he does not really seem to think they exhibit any counterbalancing good characteristics. He blames the problems on job specialization and movement away from farm life, the decreasing role of religion, the overreliance on formal schooling, consumerism and even the improvement in medicine that alleviates suffering and death.

Mr. Sasse has a near obsession with the dogmatic St. Augustine whom he respects as a great authority on how to live life, which I find a little terrifying. After glorifying the speculative metaphysics of Augustine, the author proceeds to take a perplexing anti-science stance, which has now apparently become mandatory in his political party. I'm not going to take the time to try to understand or explain this strange antagonism to science. Suffice it say that it is obvious that many of the future jobs for this younger generations will be in science and that science and logical thinking will play a big role in the future path of our country.

Mr. Sasse admits that people often overstate the importance of their times and the problems of the next generation, but he admits that he is doing this himself even though he is an historian. Our country has survived generations that includes many racists, drunkards and narrow-minded people. It was not the millennials that elected a celebrity TV host, sexual harasser, serial liar, bigot and psychopath to the presidency. If we can survive the Trump elected by Sasse's generation and the ones older than his (to his credit Sasse has often opposed Trump but with less passion than he attacks young people), I have hope this younger generation can overcome its on own flaws and become even better than we are today.

This book is a shallow political diatribe that will alienate people who don't share Senator Sasse's political viewpoint. It's a pity he could not resist talking about himself and taking cheap shots at people whose values differ from his own belief that Americans should aspire to the mindset of pioneers from the 1840s instead of the situation of the modern 21st century world.

Just heard this guy on the radio. I wasn't going to write a review, but some perpetual adolescent had already given a 1 star review, so I guess I gotta step up to the plate.
What this guy says is just common horse sense. Give your kids chores and responsibilities and stop molly coddling them and dragging out their childhood. My own kids have chores at home and they often help me with my landscaping business in the summer, earning their own money. Sadly our country has switched views on child rearing, from previous WWII "I never had this growing up and neither do you". To today's idea that "I never had this growing up, so I want my kids to have it". Today's young adults are emotional and whiny because of this all too prevalent philosophy of spoiling children into adulthood. In reality we need to get closer to our grandparents model of child rearing. We can give our kids the opportunities we didn't have without handing them the world on a silver platter.

Although I agree with some of his arguments, Sasse shows a lot of ignorance in some of his statements (the one on socialism for example, where he clearly is referring to communism) and a very narrow vision on some issues such as spirituality. I’m disappointed, I was hoping for a writer that at least attempts to be objective , that is not what I found.

Ben Sasse is a politician, but this book isn't political at all. It's funny, personal, and confronts the question: "How do we pass along our work ethic to our kids?"

Whether you're a Republican or Democrat, rich or poor, if you're a parent, you've probably wrestled with this question. Part travel guide, part book list, part parenting guide, this book raises fascinating questions we all must confront. Can't recommend it enough.

I was excited to read a book putting adults in their place & teaching people to grow up. But that's not what this book is. It's a Senator using 300 pages to go on and on about his optimistic values. Comes across like a long political speech.

Not that I disagree with what he says, but at the start he tells us that he's not going to say anything really negative about childish adults in America today. Well, he's just being a politician then. It would have been more helpful to really state where the problems are: 1. Daycare and preschool; 2. Public education; 3. Parents that both have full-time jobs and rarely see their kids; 4. The media and allowing children to watch whatever they want on any device because parents don't want to feel like hypocrites by saying "no." And 5. The loss of any sense of guilt or shame by adults, due to lack of spiritual foundation.

There--I just said in one paragraph what he needed to say but didn't have the guts to do it. He would probably agree with all of it, but tip toes around those points to be politically correct. He mentions that he was a college president and how shocked he was by young people--but he gives few specifics and doesn't want anyone mad at him. Typically college president and typical politician. I heard him interviewed on Glenn Beck's radio show and what he said there in a few minutes was better than all the pages in this book.

The concept of the book is fine but the title is misleading--there's little depth regarding the crisis but a whole lot of politically correct preaching about bland values. Senator, stand up for something instead of being another politician that spouts morals but doesn't really get to the heart of the problems. What's going on in America is much, much deeper than he states here and I think he knows it.

Vanishing American Adult, Ben Sasse, author and narrator
This book which purports to be about a vanishing population of the hard-working, ethically motivated American, an American that does not concentrate on or live to collect material wealth but rather to grow intellectually and spiritually, seems to really be about promoting the author. I couldn’t help wondering, as I forced myself to continue reading what was fast becoming overly detailed and boring, if he was planning to run for another office and was kicking off his campaign by writing a book that put him in the exalted position of scholar and instructor for those of us beneath him, those of us who did not have the proper lists or rules to guide us in our own lives or the lives of our children.

His theories seemed a bit lofty and patronizing as he haughtily presented them. I thought that he was attempting to quote from every author and book he had ever read and his success in that effort only made the book seem to have been written by a self-important, arrogant person with a superiority complex. He covered every topic from soup to nuts and promoted his way as the one right way for all of us, all of us who have lost our way and are busy collecting things rather than learning to understand what is really important in life. He covers birth to death and our approach to all that occurs in between. I felt, after reading the book, that Sasse may sincerely believe we have lost our way and are busy collecting things rather than learning to understand what is really important in life, and that we may be pursuing based on “consumption” rather than “redemption”. In many ways, I agreed with him, but I also thought that his rules were too broad and there were far too many of them. I love and value books, and I did appreciate his effort to promote good reading habits, but most of his dialogue was written almost as a “how-to” text, and it became overwhelming with instruction.

I have one rule of my own to offer. Authors should generally not do the audio of their own books, especially, I think, when they are non-fiction and relate to their personal lives. Some come off too dry and intellectual, some come off as if they are trying too hard and some simply sound like they are tooting their own horns. I will leave the decision as to which category Ben Sasse falls into, to the reader. Just let it be known that I often zoned out during the reading because his presentation was not engaging enough or seemed falsely emotional.

The main thrust of the book was supposed to be that our young people may not be growing up into mature adults, but rather they are being held back by the demands of others who try to protect them at every turn, preventing them from dealing with any kind of difficulty enabling them to grow and become more responsible. He believes they do not have the opportunity to properly “suffer” (author’s term, not mine), through certain coming of age moments, certain maturation experiences, certain growing pains, certain hard work experiences that will teach them that their needs and wants are separate entities, one being necessary and one being desirous. In his effort to explain his views on the subject, he outlines the changes that have taken place in our society concerning views on child rearing, education, personal behavior, respecting the rights of others and to rules that have taken on too much of a PC culture to function adequately, holding back the developing child. If a child can’t learn how to play tag because he might get scraped, or he can’t do hard work because he might get tired or even, perhaps, hurt, he cannot grow up. He remains a child. Parents that helicopter parent are delaying a child’s ability to become an independent adult, perhaps ever.

He concentrates a good deal on the sixties when moral values began to change and rules began to loosen governing children and sexual behavior, while rules governing the behavior of the adults in charge tightened, preventing them from being in control, in some cases, and making it easier for them to pass along the parenting responsibility onto others. While dress codes and moral codes relaxed, so did educational goals and religious affiliation. Devotion to family and faith began to wane as sexual freedom increased and acceptable modes of behavior broadened. As our values changed, so did the desire/need to have pleasure first and responsibility later. Children were being protected from injury and hard work, in an effort to give them self confidence, but instead, it seems to have created a perpetual child, and in my belief, a lazy parent more interested in working to provide material possessions than guidance and family values.

Sasse outlines rules for creating an atmosphere in the home and the outside world for children to live, play, work and grow because he believes that if children are exposed to alternate life styles and hard work, they will prosper emotionally and mentally.

Because he overly referenced and intellectualized the concepts with quotes and readings from the works of others from all fields of endeavor, I found the book overwhelming. I (sarcastically) wondered how many authors wrote this book along with Sasse. I also found that at every turn he began to sound somewhat like a martyr, a bit pompous and condescending. I did not feel that observing a friend’s wife deliver a child was a necessary prelude to understanding one’s own spouse’s experience. I did not feel that a child had to suffer to grow. A child simply has to experience life and not be overly protected in order to mature. A child has to know there are expectations he has to fulfill and standards have to be set that challenge the child to improve and succeed. I believe that trophies that are given for non-performance are worthless. Some of his examples for experiences children should engage in seemed a bit extreme and some seemed to simply be common sense. After awhile, I began to dislike his presentation and could understand why he is the contrarian in Congress. The book simply became all about him.

In every chapter, Sasse name dropped using references from classical authors to authors in the modern day. He quoted philosophers, educators, musicians, religious leaders, politicians, etc. He over thought the problem and presented what seemed more like a memoir or a text book, rather than a self-help handbook.

There were just too many references and asides from others to allow the narrative to flow smoothly. This list represents only a small fraction of those mentioned.

Lewis
Huxley
Negroponte
Shakespeare
Orwell
Adam Smith
De Toqueville
Augustine
St. Paul
MLK
Chaucer
Mandela

I had high hopes for a book that would explain the morphing of our society into one that was unwilling to accept the responsibility of adulthood, but instead it morphed into a book about the self-promotion of its author. Now I know that Ben Sasse is very smart and very capable, but I know little about the vanishing American or how to help recreate him/her.

As a parent, I thought I was doing pretty well making sure I was raising my four children to become hard-working, responsible, community-conscience adults. I now realize I'm not doing enough! We all complain about millennials being "soft" and self-centered. Sasse explains how and why we need to raise the next generation to be courageous, well-read, harder-working, and community-oriented. Our country's future and freedom depend on it! I especially appreciate the reading lists he includes for both adults and children. I found myself wanting to highlight and circle passage after passage because it all seemed so significant. Sasse is a brilliant historian with a down-to-earth writing style and does a great job looking at both sides of an issue. Before reading this book, I didn't consider myself particularly patriotic. But now I appreciate what it means to be an American. No more complacency!

A timely book for our family, as our young kids are reaching the age of adolescence, and we are trying to think of intentional ways to help them transition to independence and maturation. Sen. Sasse goes out of his way to be a-political, and uses data and research to support his points. A great read!

Self Righteous... No Idea what I was thinking. Should have done more research before purchase. I got audible and listened as I drove to work each day. Struggled to pay attention most of the time. I found myself tuning out the author because he didn't even seem to be enthusiastic to read it and he spent a lot of time talking about himself and his family. When I first heard about this I was super excited to read thinking it might fall in line with my belief in Montessori education. To some degree it does but to me the author came across as self righteous and uber protestant preachy.

I wanted to like this book. I have sympathy with the idea that civic responsibility is in decline, and I was hoping for some meaningful ideas about how to reverse that. Unfortunately, Sasse writes from a position of incredible privilege, something he claims to recognize but repeatedly forgets as he crafts solutions not for am entire society but specifically for parents with means. Both in laying out what he thinks our problems are and what he proposes as solutions, he shows a misunderstanding of the reality for most Americans. Only one of the tenets of his "active program" - reducing age segregation - is available across the socioeconomic spectrum. Another tenet involves a broader reading list, also something that could be accessible to everyone, but the chapter is called "Build a Bookshelf," and public libraries are not mentioned once. It isn't clear that he understands how much books cost and that having a reading public means making sure people have access to books, something not all parents can do by themselves.

This harkens back to one of his diagnoses of the problem: that public schools are to blame and families need to once again assume the mantle of educating the young. It's a common conservative refrain that things were better at some point in the past, and "progress," while well-meaning, derailed the good and the true. As a trained historian and subsequent politician, Sasse should be uniquely positioned to make a strong case for why a particular period of time in the past is the halcyon yardstick. John Dewey plays a major part as a villain in the first section of the book, but Sasse wants his readers to follow him in assuming causation where correlation is just as likely. His case that family is the best institution for spreading values relies on studies showing the decline in nuclear family structures over the same time period of rising public schooling and declining civic understanding. Consequently, the insistence on the family as the vector of reform serves as another indication of the author's privilege.

As with many Americans, he conflates production with "hard work," which for him means manual labor. It is a confounding idea to propose as a solution for the future of our children and our polity, when artificial intelligence is likely to usurp most jobs, including both manual labor and knowledge work. It shows a lack of imagination to assume that instilling a "work ethic" in the young is the only way to ensure they find enough meaning in their future endeavors to bind them to a body politic. It would be more useful to teach young people to find meaning without creating something that other humans need, since we should assume that at some point in the next 100 years, most needs will be met without human intervention. His disdain for millennials - another viewpoint shared by many Americans - could be construed as a misunderstanding of the future they see more clearly than he can.

His last proposal - to "make America an idea again" - presupposes that civic responsibility and patriotism are synonymous, something he posits throughout the book without addressing the importance of plurality. It is interesting that he touts Thomas Kuhn's "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions" as a book everyone should read but seems to dismiss the idea that its content could just as easily apply to politics as to science.

Arriving at the end of the book, I found myself feeling that I had not allocated my time wisely by finishing it. Although Sasse is a seamless writer, he is in the right field as a politician, as he adds little creativity and assumes his own experience is broadly transferrable. His chapter "Flee Age Segregation" is the only one worth reading, and even it is flawed by the odd inclusion of unnecessary anecdotes. For instance, Andrew Jackson turns up putatively to illustrate the prevalence of disease in daily life prior to the twentieth century, but as the incident adds nothing to the narrative, it is easy to conclude that it was written in as a dog whistle to a certain set of Sasse's political supporters. This book isn't about thoughtful solutions; it is a piece of privileged propoganda.

This book should be read by everyone, but I think it’s a “must read” for parents, educators and policy makers. (For folks 15 to 25 too, but how to get them to read it?) Though Sasse is a Republican senator, it is not a political book. Senator Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton’s running mate, said, “The book is practical, helpful and conversational. I wish it had been written 20 years ago.” We’ve all bemoaned the lack of resiliency in todays “emerging adults,” like the story of the two female college students who discovering a mouse in their apartment and called the police. And after the police trapped it, the girls went to therapy! Sasse goes through all of that snowflake mentality and puts the blame where it belongs, not on “millennial slackers,” but on the parents and educators who took the toughness out of life. Sasse offers a lot of solutions. (Though I very much fear it is too late to save the country.) It starts with hooking kids on reading, and not junk, but enough serious non-fiction to expand their horizons. I was fortunate in that I developed a love of reading very early. I still remember books I received for Christmas in junior high. How I’m almost 72 and read a book a week…and have shelves of unread books waiting, mostly history (I have a master’s in it, probably why I like Sasse so much.). If there is a weakness in Sasse’s book, it is that a lot of his solutions, like encouraging international travel while in school, work for the affluent upper middle class. The single mom who’s feeding the kids fried baloney and is two months behind on the rent isn’t thinking about how to send the kids to France. But there is a route open to them to develop into adults: military service, the tougher the better. And, yes, it doesn’t work for everyone, what does? And the services are being undermined by the PC wave, meaning the results won’t be as strong as 20 or 40 years ago. Perhaps the military didn’t occur to Sasse because he didn’t serve and can’t imagine his kids doing so. But these “emerging adults” need to develop a work ethic, resiliency, tenacity and self-discipline, to learn to take responsibility for their actions and to focus on the mission, on getting the job down. I got that at Parris Island in 1964 from my Marine Corps Drill Instructors Sgt. E. Owens, Jr, Sgt. M. P. Martin, and Sgt. W. H. Harris., and because of them, I’ve had a long, successful and happy life. They are still hiring. With that addition, I still highly recommend Sasse’s book.

Robert A. Hall
Author: The Coming Collapse of the American Republic

Sadly,too much of this book was autobiographical. I guess politicians never tire of talking about themselves. Unfortunately, there wasn't as much content as I had envisioned from the title. No real solutions . It would be nice if everyone had a chance to work on a farm, but that's not going to happen. Neither is widespread home schooling. I'm g,ad I borrowed this book rather than buying it

This book is a must read for parents, educators, and deep thinkers. Nebraska's Senator Ben Sasse offers a tour de force review of the state of American adolescence and the challenge for our modern culture to enable future generations to be strong adults and leaders. It's one of the most thought provoking books I've read in a while. Grab a copy and get one for a friend - it will lead to hours of great conversation and contemplation! And then of course there's the challenge of putting his suggestions into play, Adopting them first in our own daily routine and lives and then enabling the next generation to do so as well!

Insightful, and I daresay, inciting. A nice easy, fact filled read, with interesting and generally non-partisan observation and commentary. Sen. Sasse's writing is clear and concise. This book raises a number of important questions and clearly asks for the opening of shared and respectful national dialogue on those questions.

I highly recommend this book to all who are concerned about our nation, but most particularly parents, grandparents, educators at all levels and most certainly elected public servants.

There is no question that the trend toward child rearing involves tending to their every need to the point that we may be enabling a generation without many 'survival' skills. I agree with the concept of 'work' during the formative years, and assigning more responsibility.
However, his pointing out that a student who asserted himself and wasn't getting anywhere who then posed a sit-in outside Sasse's office was merely a 'scholarship' student was pretty inflammatory. So only students who's wealthy parents pay for schoolor those who take out loans are allowed to make protests? It was a distinction that had no place in his discussion. The kid was actually doing something about his situation and it shouldn't matter how his tuition was paid for. Reading that comment totally turned me off of this Senator.

Outstanding read for parents especially. Mr Sasse lays out a great case for the reasons for recent changes in the American culture and psyche. It's a very easy read with lots of anecdotes and statistics woven in.

How does one write a review for a book one has not read? I've never done it, except here. Sadly, many continue to do it.

the store book reviews, like all book reviews, are supposed to be solely of the contents. The author is not responsible if the e-reader does not work, the wrong book was shipped, or the book was too expensive. Authors have no control over such things, so it is unfair to then tag them with a low number review.

I don't know how the store could ensure only the book's contents are reviewed, but as an active reviewer (and author), I would like to see improvement.

This book profoundly changed me. It's reinvigorated my passion for hard work, raising my toddlers to be productive, resilient and hardworking children, and so much more! I have a new view on education, and a new perspective on the benefits of reading tough books that make you think. I'm really thankful for this book. I'd like to read it again sometime soon, and also to give it as a gift to many friends. I highly recommend it.

What a refreshing writing style and discussion about a real problem. Ben Sasse doesn't claim to know all the answers, but citing good research and human experience, he makes a case for a serious problem in the coming generation. Parents and youth alike need to think deeply about these issues, and Ben Sasse does a great job of giving concrete questions to think about.

One of the best books that encompasses the American Dream that is getting lost in today’s culture. Sasse unpacks the historical timeline, gives solutions, thought provoking ideas for every reader to start in their home and community. He doesn’t do a blame game, he just eloquently illustrates ways for Americans to move forward and get us back in a sustainable direction back to the republic the founders believed and built this country on. Love this book.

Obviously written by a lover of history, this book gives some concrete steps to take to help the next generation succeed based on time tested truths of the past. Like any good history teacher there is some homework and reading assigned on the back end.

As Sasse himself writes, "We must be able to grapple with the ideas we don't like, and internalize the distinction between a bad book and a wrong book." This book is both bad and wrong. Sasse takes an important topic worthy of discussion an denigrates it into inane gobbledygook.

I saw him on Morning Joe. His intellectual eloquence was refreshing for a politician and his message so true. I'm a psychologist conducting evaluations of mostly high school and college students. The over-riding feature I find is executive dysfunction. They are intelligent and show high academic ability but have none of the behavioral, emotional or metacognitive regulation needed to function away from home in an academic setting. Many have been shielded by "helicopter parents" and have had no practice at developing an internal locus of control. The result is often a lot of wasted resources and an unemployed or under-employed 19-, 23-, 25- or even 30-year-old living at home playing video games. And there is huge number of them out there. I can't honestly rate the book but I'll give it five stars for its message and am ordering it now.

Sasse's book is a collection of conservative twaddle and tired platitudes. He lived a relative life of luxury and never had her on anything. He is as clueless about the real world America as he is about 19th century America. His rather lame anecdote of the Christmas tree decorations efforts of a sorority and how they fail to use a ladder illustrates his incompetence. I was the coordinator of disabled student services at a state university anyone with an IQ above room temperature knows that you never trust a Greek organization to do anything without some sort of prank or scam going to occur. your money his ideas are not new they have been tried before and failed miserably. Sen. Ben is is a fraud and his coworker, Cory Booker who wrote the introduction is another fraud on the Democratic side. Save your money don't buy this piece of twaddle

This book is nothing short of wise advice for raising high functioning independent adults. Sasse's style is enjoyable, but his insight on exactly what is wrong with the way we are parenting is eye opening and undeniable.

In this book Ben Sasse does an excellent job of explaining the problems associated with perpetual adolescence. This is a must-read for anyone who is currently or plans to raise children. The book could be more "direct" with its approach - it does not really serve as a "how-to" guide but that could make a great follow up.

As the single father of two sons, I struggle to provide relevant life-lesson opportunities. This book speaks from the perspective that it's my responsibility as a parent to train up my children, to provide them with challenges and direction so they are better citizens for all of us. I've received some great ideas, book lists to check out and hurdles to place in front of my sons to strengthen their character.

Although I agree with the topic, unless you enjoy being lectured by someone who seems to think he is morally and intellectually superior, and just an all-around better parent than you, then I believe this book to be a waste of money.

I've been listening to it on audio and am very impressed. Halfway through it I am wanting to share some of the excellent insights and suggestions with my family and friends so I am purchasing the hard-copy book. Both sides of the aisle have much to learn from it--certainly the tone of listening in a responsible, civic-minded manner to reasoned discussion.

This insightful and informative book is a must read that frames our future. Many have opinions, few have real facts and this book provides facts and perspective on many topics that are facing our great Nation.

This should be required reading for all US parents first, and our children. I've never had the absolute pure pleasure of reading a message like that presented in this book. Thank you for your insight, wisdom, and well thought out ideas of what it means to be an adult in the US.

A must read for all educators. Senator Sasse for president, 2020. This book makes sense and has cited evidence to prove its points. A solid read based on the past and present American situation. Numerous book recommendations are noted. Add them to your To Read list.

After reading The Vanishing American Adult, I came away from it shaking my head, nursing a migraine, and asking myself over and over again, “What is it that Senator Sasse does not understand?”

While I believe that many of our young people are living an aimless existence, and that they desperately need more responsibility and a feeling of a definite purpose in their lives, I think it is unfair of the author to put most of the blame for their “failure to launch” on the young people and their parents.

In the decades following World War II, our economy expanded on a scale previously unimagined. American industrial might was at its peak, providing good-paying and stable employment for millions of Americans. Once upon a time, right here in the land of the free and the brave, we had factories that actually made things! Gasp! Everything from the cars and trucks we drove, to the tractors and steel beams used in agriculture and construction, to the furniture that filled our homes and offices, to the clothes we wore, and so much more. And the workers in those factories were often unionized and had good benefits: health insurance, paid sick leave, and vacation time. They received regular pay raises and were able to retire in dignity. They entered the middle class in droves. This was also a time of massive investment in our country’s infrastructure, which created thousands of decent-paying jobs, stimulating the economy even more.

All of this has changed now. We presently have 43 million Americans living in poverty today. These people all have jobs; yet they still live below the federal poverty line because of employers who insist on paying them low wages. Meanwhile health care costs are going up. Child care costs are going up. College costs are going up, and housing costs are going up. Everything is going up except peoples’ wages.

With jobs being outsourced to China and Mexico, where, pray tell, does the author expect young people to work when their own parents are losing their jobs? As the middle class continues to decline, most of the jobs being created in the U.S. are low-wage jobs. How are young people supposed to achieve financial independence when the present structure of our economy is rigged so mercilessly against them as well as their struggling parents?

Youth unemployment is off the charts, not because young people don’t want to achieve independence, but because there are not many jobs available now that pay a decent living wage. Those young people who are able to go to college leave school in an almost jobless economy with a mountain of debt that burdens them for decades.

There are millions of Americans who are struggling to feed their families, keep a roof over their heads, and find money in order to go to a doctor, and these are the parents! And this author expects their children to fare better?

This book is an insult to the millions of Americans for whom the American Dream has become nothing but a nightmare. One of the reasons why so many Americans are angry, despondent, and fearful is that they are worried sick about the future that awaits their children. Parents are working harder than ever, but their kids are not getting head. In many cases, they are actually falling behind their parents. The factory that Pop worked at with a good-paying union job is now in China. Will their son, who graduated high school, ever find a decent job? Will their daughter, who graduated out of college, ever be able to pay off her $60,000 student loan? Will the kids ever earn enough to be able to purchase homes of their own? If they can’t, according to this author, the blame must squarely be placed at both the feet of the young people and the well-meaning parents who made them into such “useless,” “shiftless” people.

If you really want to know what is going on in this nation, I highly recommend two books written by another US senator, one who lives in the real world, who is not completely disconnected from the reality of most Americans’ struggles, and who puts the blame for what has happened to both our young and their parents squarely where it belongs: on the corrupt government, the greedy corporate CEOs and the billionaire class who have completely undermined our democracy, caused us to drift into oligarchy, and are using their money and power to complete destroy our way of life. Both books have been written by Senator Bernie Sanders. The first book is entitled “Our Revolution.” The second book, which was written for young adults is entitled “Guide To Political Revolution.” If you read these books, however, beware, for you will shake with anger… and I do mean shake!

Fantastic and timely book. I love it!!! Easy reading. Well written. (I have both hardcover and audiobook. Ben Sasse does a terrific job of narrating his book) Enjoyed every moment of it. I learned a ton. It actually relieved some of my anxieties about the younger people today and gave me hope and direction.

Sasse's claim is that we are in a state of perpetual adolescence due to our addiction to technology and consumerism, which have replaced parents as our moral beacon. The thesis is somewhat trite, a platitude better expressed in Joseph Epstein's essay "The Perpetual Adolescent." Worse, Sasse's arguments are weak, and the author comes across at times as a sanctimonious scold. For example, Sasse bemoans college students who lacked the will to get a ladder to put decorations on the top portion of a giant Christmas tree. This anecdote was supposed to show a generation sodden with laziness and character defects, but I saw the students as lacking enthusiasm for decorating a tree. A weak example. When Sasse's not giving us his privileged point of view on upper middle class families using central air conditioning as a sign of strong moral character, he's larding the reader with hackneyed platitudes. I'm sorry to say, this book is overly familiar, a real slog.

Others have made most of the relevant points about this book, so I will call your attention to two crucial items. First, how can you seriously accept advice from a father of three children, two of whom are teenage girls, when he supports the leader of his political party - a proven pathological liar and a self-professed serial sexual offender? The message to Mr. Sasse's girls is clear: Support awful human beings when it allows you to comfortably call yourself Republican Senator Sasse. It is frankly embarrassing that I have to point this out.

Second, Mr. Sasse assumes that most parents are in a position to put his recommendations to immediate use. Most parents cannot exercise even a modicum of control, let alone influence, over their children. Most parents are modeling the aberrant behavior Mr. Sasse is writing about. This book clearly could have benefited from a discussion concerning the current state of shameful parenting in America. It's wonderful that Mr. Sasse thinks of himself as the ideal parent, but most of the population is struggling to earn their kids' most basic level of respect, let alone encourage their kids to read Greek tragedies. Mr. Sasse has firmly ensconced himself among the ranks of the elitists.

Ordered and received a book bound by a hard cover/jacket for Sasse’s Vanishing American Adult. When I had opportunity to read Sasse’s book, imagine my disappointment to find the fiction novel It’s Always the Husband by Michelle Campbell! How does this kind of error happen?

The author stated in the beginning that he was not going to lecture or make it political. Well, he did just that. The subject of the book is fascinating and it is not a liberal or conservative issue. Mr. Sasse made claims based on antidote evidence. He constantly injected his religion belief, his political belief, his family up bringing. I understand that his life experiences plays a huge part of his beliefs, but for Mr. Sasse to be a historian, I expected more unbiased research.

The same finger that Congressman Sasse points at today's adolescents could certainly also be pointed at the U.S. Congress -- especially the House of Representatives. There don't seem to be many mature adults there, either. The righteous Congressman Sasse would do well to get his own house in order.

Any book on social issues endorsed by both Republican and Democratic politicians is certain to be self-flattering fluff (and yes, I read the right book). Senator Sasse recycles the same old diatribes older generations have levied against “kids today” for thousands of years. (Sasse apparently doesn’t know 1930s elders hurled exactly the same complaints at the “Greatest Generation” youth he revers.)

Despite its pretense to historical philosophy, “Vanishing Adult” is simple: today’s youth have TOO MUCH adolescent influence, material greed (“consumerist captivity”), money (they’re “so rich”), porn, medication, civic ignorance, intellectual fragility, media “screen time,” and dependence; and TOO LITTLE grownup influence, religion, hard work, intellectual toughness, marriage, delayed gratification, adulthood, and independence. Hell, they can’t even operate a ladder.

Sasse’s documentation for the “adolescent” deficiencies he attributes to younger generations, and the lavish self-praise he showers on himself and past “adults,” is thin. He mostly just quotes other dubious culture critics and tosses in anecdotes and quips while ignoring real social trends. He nowhere confronts the special perfidy of politicians who (a) graduated back in their day debt-free from low-cost universities generously subsidized by taxpayers (their parents and grandparents), then, (b) from 1980 on, selfishly slashed their own taxes and public funding for universities, forcing 500% increases in tuitions and a staggering, $1.3 trillion in student debt, and now (c) berate severely debt-strapped young people for “living with parents” and “not growing up.”

Clearly, realities (as opposed to airy theorizing) are too tough for Sasse and his disciples. So, for argument’s sake, let’s assume he’s right: We older folks are shining, moral, grown-up icons of traditional virtue, while young people are apocalyptically immature.

Now, let’s introduce the hard realities Sasse evades:

First, by a whole array of definitive FBI, CDC, education, public health, and survey statistics, Sasse’s older Generation X and my Boomer generation (today’s grownups age 40-70 or so) are both the richest (most wealth, highest median incomes) and the worst behaved in documentable history. American elders’ awful personal behaviors (record levels of drug abuse, crime, violence, shootings, school failure, dropout, unplanned pregnancy, AIDS, obesity, family breakup, you name it) and horrific tribal attitudes (just look at politics today) have devastated America to the point that our very existence as a cohesive society is in jeopardy. From socially-destructive Bill Clinton (bad) to ultra-poisonous Donald Trump (the worst), older Americans are dangerously incompetent to lead.

Second, those same statistics show modern youth (those under age 40, particularly those under 25) are reversing older-Xer/Boomer crises dramatically. From 1990 (when Sasse graduated from high school) to today, young Millennials and Generation Z have brought astounding plunges in crime, homicide, rape, robbery, gun killings, violent deaths, school dropout, pregnancy, etc. (often to record low levels) and dramatic increases in graduation, college enrollment, civic engagement (volunteerism), and liberal tolerance. Nebraska Millennials have reduced youth crime by 60 percent since Sasse’s 1990 generation’s dismal days; nationwide, youth crime rates are down over 70 percent.

Even today, compared to high-school adolescents (age 15-18), Sasse’s supposedly mature 40-49 age group is twice as likely to shoot themselves, 2.3 times more likely to die violently, and 11 times more likely to die from illegal drugs. For the first time, more Americans age 40-49 than under age 20 are getting arrested for criminal offenses, including violent crimes. Over-40 prison populations are soaring while under-25 imprisonments plummet. That’s amazing, given the huge advantages in wealth and power middle-agers (our richest age groups) have awarded ourselves compared to the poverty we inflict on children, teenagers, and young adults (our poorest).

After working with young people in families and communities and researching social trends over the last 40 years, I believe that modern young people’s gravitation away from the toxic values, “religious” bigotries, selfish greed, and deteriorating personal behaviors of older, more tribal generations and toward healthier, global, diverse, peer cultures of the future are contributing to today’s best-behaved, most tolerant, education-oriented younger generation ever. Surveys and polls show that unlike their elders, young people’s attitudes are far more attuned to the inclusiveness and cohesion on which America’s survival as a global, multicultural society depends.

Young people now are tasked with undoing the extreme damage, division, and debt Sasse’s older Xers and Boomers have forced on this country. If older America is going to keep on being selfish and destructive, the least it could do is stop lying and degrading the young people who will have to fix our mess.

Ben Sasse, instead of lecturing about the coming crisis of the American youth, you should think about voting for their future. Instead of bowing to special interest money, you should actually care for American youth. Instead of sanctimoniously talk about the economic hardships fo the American youth, you should vote to their benefit. You are a hypocritical power hungry suit who does not give a rip about American youth.
Your hypocrisy is astounding, your book is garbage. Your writing is a political propaganda to the Republican party base. Your so called theology is a baseless diatribe to substantiate manifest destiny and to destroy others.
If you really would be a Christian you would support American youth.
Readers, this is a waste of your money. This is a poorly written, political propaganda. Deeply biased Republican nonsense.

One star does not mean that you should avoid Senator Sasse’s book, all it really means is I want you to read my thoughtful review.

Full disclosure: I am an FDR-style (cf. Bernie Sanders) liberal with some far out conservative creds. Not a socialist!

First, where Senator Ben Sasse and I agree. We agree that we are growing a nation of adult-children (or childish-adults) and how huge a problem that is. We agree that civics education is not a part of every citizen’s education and we are the poorer for it and we had better fix it! We agree that PC speech and “safe spaces” are an insult to who we are as a people who cherish our history of free speech (however, PROFESSIONAL lobbyists have no “right to exist,” as they bury your speech and mine) {Nota Bene: a few “safe spaces” on campus are not the problem, but only a few “free speech zones” ARE the problem. Campuses should be mostly open to any and all speech. But, honestly, it’s not that simple!}. We agree that we have produced a spineless vacuous consumerist culture and I even applaud his solutions, even though I do not endorse his specifically Christian message. Speaking of which, what are the odds that Jesus would be a conservative Republican (“pull yourself up by your own bootstraps”) rather than a liberal Democrat (“I AM my brother’s keeper”)? Or a capitalist rather than a socialist? Ignorance trumps facts in 21st century America, doesn’t it? OK, Sasse hails from Kansas!

However, my core critique is that Sasse applauds the achievements of (free market) capitalism without seeing that that same capitalism is at the root of every one of the problems that he is writing to remedy. One end of capitalism is production, the other end is consumption. If too many people practiced thrift, we’d be in permanent depression. He mentions the potential for tech to gobble up millions of jobs but doesn’t give it its due. It is REALLY dangerous to the future of human employment. And how ambitious would you be if you were faced with such an uncertain future? This problem will overwhelm everything that Sasse tries to do if we can’t take charge of it.

Sasse misses that it is capitalism that has produced the consumerist and materialistic society that he so decries, that it is capitalism that is responsible for the flight from the country to the city where unemployment lurks everywhere around the corner, and that it is capitalism that is driving us to a worker-less society (unless we intervene as a mass movement (not one self-reliant American at a time) of frightened but determined Americans). Even Sasse’s own eminently self-reliant children will not be safe from the political economy that we are heedlessly creating.

The worship of (free market and individualistic) capitalism undermines patriotism and public spirit. And many if not most of those who embrace “American Exceptionalism” are childish-adults who could not pass a citizenship test!

And last, how is it possible that a non-fiction book urging that we teach and impart greater self-reliance would fail to even mention the so-thoroughly-American Ralph Waldo Emerson, whose essay Self-Reliance is the most famous work on that weighty subject. And, by the way, Emerson loved Plato (Sasse went out of his way to say that he hated Plato).

And the godlike Teddy Roosevelt? TR was a progressive! Would he be a Republican if he were alive today? Or even a Libertarian? I don’t think so! But I am happy that Sasse reveres him as it shows that there is hope for him. Bully for Ben Sasse!

I was brought up much like Sasse advocates- chopping firewood, attending church, reading Greek tragedies, being homeschooled- and I don't see much difference between my work ethic and that of my husband or friends. We're all in our early twenties, working 50+ hours per week for little money and no respect, living in fear of health problems that we can't afford, only to be called lazy and shiftless at every turn. Listening to Sasse preen about his moral superiority is nauseating.

Lying on his sources, nitpicking arguments, strawmen and reductio ad absurdum galore.
I found it weakly structured and badly researched.

If you're looking for someone to agree or disagree with, then this guy is perfect. He'll say things that will either anger you or make you vehemently agree. But I think that's the point. The more people argue over him, the more exposure he gets.

But if you're actually looking for well researched & somewhat unbiased insight then this is not what you're looking for.
Got it as a present, since I didn't know about Sassy Ben until I had read the book, I did not realize that this was a joke gift. Will re-gift to the son of Farbaute & Laufey (aka Nal) and hopefully the kid kick off his great party, hell will freeze over, and people will stop lying about their research for whatever reason they have. ;)

Sasse says this isn't a policy book, but it definitely reads like 2020 election run moneymaker.

Somewhere between a self help parenting book and a 300 page rant against millenials, this book will explain why an Ivy League graduate (don't worry, he won't forget to remind you in the book) and son of a wealthy, landowning farmer believes child labor laws make our kids entitled.

Save yourself some money and wait to pick it up in a thrift store after the next election cycle

This book was based on holding up living human beings as examples to excoriate without fact checking, understanding the issues they were discussing or even contacting them. This is poor historical method but excellent demagoguery. If you want to feel smug about the suffering of others THIS is the book for you.

Basic and repetitive. Sasse is clearly not a deep thinker. If you've ever listened to shows like Hannity or Ingraham where they lament the current snowflake generation, you've heard all this before. The utter lack of inspiration leads me to believe that the words are just filler and this book is nothing more than an attempt to raise Sasse's national profile. Complete waste of time.

-This is more of a personal preference thing, but I found the tone to be unbearably snarky and condescending.

Same as the others, I also got "It's Always the Husband". Dangit, this book sounded intriguing, and I already know it's Always the Husband as I am one. Boo to the publisher!

UPDATE: Got a little negative feedback on down voting this book (my original rating was one star) and I will admit that was the first time I have been called a troll, but I was not down voting the book - I was down voting the product. If I got a BMW and everything was fine, but there was no gas tank, I would down vote that as well, but I digress...
the store promptly sent me another copy of this book and I am most of the was through it and I like it. It is giving me some great ideas on coming of age rituals for my boys - a structure that our society sadly lacks. They are not going to like me too much either as this book has kind of pushed me over the edge in actively limiting their screen time. I think this book is pretty well written and insightful, even if it is a bit nostalgic. Senator Stasse does try to be fair with this, it's just his worldview that biases the work, which is perfectly natural. I have already recommended this book to two people and would recommend it to all parents of the next crop of kids coming of age.

Because this is a published book, the writer is protected from being prosecuted for slander. Very little to no fact checking went into this horrible example of bad writing. The best thing about this book is when Benjamin E. Sasse makes any future attempts at running for office this is a handy reference on why he shouldn't be in public office.

The book was not the book that was on the cover or the binder of the book .. the outside said it was The vanishing American adult by Ben Sasse but the inside book was Its always the husband by a completely different author Michele Campbell

I received the book hardback but the pages were a different book inside. Must have been a publishing error. So I can't actually rate the book. The guys printing it on the other hand may want to ensure the book and cover match.

the book is poorly written , says little about the president and promotes Betsy De Voos' ideas with home schooling.
I wonder if Ben Sasse was also given a large sum for his election run, as Betsy DeVoos distributed large sums to Republican candidates.
This book is pretty sentimental propaganda, nothing new with little original ideas.
The editor in the NY Times Book review who reviewed it puts the book on a pretty low-medium level.

This book was full of misdirection and ill advision. Factual staticstics were not presented very often and it seems most of the numbers are pulled out of thin air. This book must sell well, but it's not the most factual title out in stores. Might need to look elsewhere.

Because this is a published book, the writer is protected from being prosecuted for slander. Very little to no fact checking went into this horrible example of bad writing. The best thing about this book is when Benjamin E. Sasse makes any future attempts at running for office this is a handy reference on why he shouldn't be in public office.

The book was not the book that was on the cover or the binder of the book .. the outside said it was The vanishing American adult by Ben Sasse but the inside book was Its always the husband by a completely different author Michele Campbell

I received the book hardback but the pages were a different book inside. Must have been a publishing error. So I can't actually rate the book. The guys printing it on the other hand may want to ensure the book and cover match.

the book is poorly written , says little about the president and promotes Betsy De Voos' ideas with home schooling.
I wonder if Ben Sasse was also given a large sum for his election run, as Betsy DeVoos distributed large sums to Republican candidates.
This book is pretty sentimental propaganda, nothing new with little original ideas.
The editor in the NY Times Book review who reviewed it puts the book on a pretty low-medium level.

This book was full of misdirection and ill advision. Factual staticstics were not presented very often and it seems most of the numbers are pulled out of thin air. This book must sell well, but it's not the most factual title out in stores. Might need to look elsewhere.

I haven't actually read the book, yet I am giving it one star. Why? Because when I opened the cover I found that the pages are from a different book, "It's Always the Husband" by Michelle Campbell. I sent emails to both the author Senator Ben Sasse and the publisher St. Martin's Press but no response. Wondering how many more copies of this mutation are out there. I would like to read the book, but I am wary of ordering another copy online. I'll go to a neighborhood bookstore so that I can open the book and check it out before buying

This is not a serious book, more of a "trust me, I know what I'm saying" approach to problem solving. Unfortunately, it seems not a minute of research went into this effortless collection of critical, personal opinions accompanied by the "here's how's done" outdated advice. I'd argue that my teenage son shows a lot more focus and attention to detail while playing a 6-hour stretch of 'Call of Duty' than the author shows in any of the 350 pages of this super boring diatribe. This is a book that was outdated the minute it was published. I don't mean to be unkind but, adulting?, really? If your kids happen to read this humble review, here is my message: "Stay hungry, stay foolish" (Steve Jobs)...and don't listen to your dad.

OK, this isn't fair to the book, but is a message to the publisher who sent a book entitled "It's Always the Husband" by Michelle Campbell also published by St. Martin's Press, inside the dust jacket for Ben Sasse's book. Ship orders at all costs? What were they thinking? Apparently I'm not the only one who got this. The actual book replacement arrived today and I'm looking forward to reading it, and coming to my own conclusions, while appreciating varieties of viewpoints already expressed. The title engages.

Received the book and read 2 chapters, thought it seemed totally off base but maybe it would turn around soon...then noticed it was NOT the book! Had the right cover jacket but the book itself was not the right book! How does that happen?? The book I was actually sent was "it's always the husband"

I am NOT HAPPY. This book has the proper cover, but inside is printed a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BOOK. It's called "It's always the husband" by Michele Campbell. Publisher better fix this and send the proper book. What a disappointment

St. Martin's Press,"Get it together". I too received the wrong book. Bookjacket and cover were for Ben Sasse's book, but the actual book was "It's always the husband" by Michelle Campbell. I guess the the work ethic at St. Martins Press has gone down.

This negative review is actually for the publisher.. I couldn't read the book I purchased.. The book I received has the correct cover but is actually the wrong pages inside the book. (Are you kidding me??!?). The book inside is "it's always the husband" by Michele Campbell. I'm returning and will update after reading...

The jacket and spine of this book says it's Ben Sasse's The Vanishing American Adult but the pages inside are some murder mystery. It was such a disappointment. Don't buy this on the store go buy it in the store so you can be sure of what you're getting.

I was so excited to read this book after receiving it today. After opening the book I found the publisher has made a horrible mistake in putting a novel by a different author inside the cover. I will be returning this and hope to find the correct book inside the cover next time.