This book dives into how some big trends in the past few decades have shaped today's political, social, and cultural atmosphere in the U.S. It takes on three major "untruths" that have crept into modern thinking: “What doesn’t kill you makes you weaker” -- where overprotective parenting has shielded children from challenges and has made younger generations less emotionally resilient; “Always trust your feelings” -- where people are encouraged to follow emotional reactions over logical and rational problem-solving; and “Life is a battle between good and evil people” -- where black-and-white mindsets fuel polarization and conflict. The authors connect these trends to the rise of "common enemy politics" and the intense divide in America today. What I really appreciated about this book was that it wasn’t just a pessimistic report of these negative trends. Instead, the authors actually offer advice for parents, schools, and young people to break out of these patterns. This book has a way of being brutally honest about the challenges that America is facing and will continue to face, but still leaves you feeling hopeful by the end, as it ends on a positive note. Personally, as someone who’s grown up in this generation, it made me reflect on how I was raised and how I see others being raised, especially as I get ready for college. It gave me awareness of these issues and practical ideas on how to approach America’s political and social climate with more emotional awareness and resilience. If you like politics, sociology, or just want a better understanding of why things feel so divided these days, I would totally recommend this book. It’s not just informative, well-written, and politically unbiased (which is always nice to see in political non-fiction), but it’s a wonderful guide for anyone who wants to help make things better.-Ainsley, twelfth-grade volunteer
Publisher's Description:
This is a book for anyone who is confused by what is happening on college campuses today, or has children, or is concerned about the growing inability of Americans to live, work, and cooperate across party lines.