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Rebecca Brooker's Reviews > The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness
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I was so excited about this book and could not feel more let down. The science is presented as misleading evidence for causal inference and the citations for some of the boldest claims are weak - citing Haidt’s own Substack, analyses that Haidt says he ran but never published, work in age groups that aren’t the ones under discussion, and more.
There is also a pervasive unchecked privilege throughout the book - and its recommendations - that is cringe-worthy. These are not recommendations for all families and the work could do way more to acknowledge that. A psychologist should know better.
My most generous interpretation is that Haidt feels strongly about this topic but the book was pushed out before a rigorous scientific platform was really there. The result feels like a work that should be classified as an opinion piece, not as psychological science.
There is also a pervasive unchecked privilege throughout the book - and its recommendations - that is cringe-worthy. These are not recommendations for all families and the work could do way more to acknowledge that. A psychologist should know better.
My most generous interpretation is that Haidt feels strongly about this topic but the book was pushed out before a rigorous scientific platform was really there. The result feels like a work that should be classified as an opinion piece, not as psychological science.
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Reading Progress
April 17, 2024
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Started Reading
April 17, 2024
– Shelved
May 11, 2024
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Finished Reading
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Jenn
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rated it 2 stars
Aug 19, 2024 09:05AM
Thank you so much for this! You nailed exactly what I thought about it, to the point where I quoted you in my review.
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When criticizing bold claims, which may be valid, can you please also provide citations for your own bold claims so we as fellow readers can better understand? Otherwise this reads as an ad-hominem attack, which I don't believe it is intended to be. I will provide my specific concerns with your post below in a few examples:"The science is misleading... citing Haidt's own Substack" - I have been reading this slowly, checking many of the studies/footnotes and am yet to encounter this. Where and what prompted this remark?
"There is also a pervasive unchecked privilege" - a serious allegation followed by a suggestion the recs are unimplementable. I found this an odd point since these changes should be done by regulators, tech companies and the federal government AND explicitly the burden does not fall on individual families in my understanding.
The recommendation to have phone-free schools and bans on <16 social media use being signs of unchecked privilege or unimplementable is potentially even condescending in fact. Is the suggestion poor or under-privileged families would be harmed by such a law? Is there a suggestion only the privileged would benefit or be able to implement such a thing? The argument is not fleshed out sufficiently to respond to, it just provokes.
In the original post, perhaps you just jotted down your initial thinking. Again, I am not even sure what your argument is and if you have substantive points, please spell them out, so I am better informed as a fellow reader. I look forward to hearing a more thorough critique of this book, which I found great, as I always welcome contrarian opinions and yours is the top ranked negative review.
What do you mean by pervasive unchecked privilege?
Also unsure about the unchecked privilege piece. Could you please be more specific?
