Title: The Amazing Generation
Author: Jonathan Haidt & Catherine Price
Illustrator: Cynthia Yuan Cheng
Hand Lettering: Mary Kate McDevitt
Cover Design: Maya Tatsukawa
Type: Paperback
Genre: Non-fiction
Publisher: Puffin Books (An imprint of the Penguin Random House)
Length: 240 pages
Age group: 10 years onwards (the publisher’s recommendation is 8-12 years)
We recently received The Amazing Generation for review, and I was especially curious to read it because it’s co-authored by Jonathan Haidt, who wrote The Anxious Generation, and Catherine Price, author of How to Break Up With Your Phone.
So yes, I went in with expectations. And I have to say, it met me exactly where I was.
Before I get into the book review, I want to share two reasons why this book worked so well for me and, honestly, why it came into my life at the perfect time.
First, I’m 37, and I recently joined a women’s wellness program that focuses on a holistic lifestyle. One of the key changes they asked us to make was to reduce screen time. As part of that, we had to actually check our daily screen usage.
And I’ll be honest; I was shocked. Even slightly ashamed.
All along, I had convinced myself that I was being “productive,” listening to podcasts while doing chores, being active on social media because I was a writer, and multitasking constantly. Those were my excuses.
But when I really looked at the numbers, I realised how much time was slipping away.
And right at that moment, this book came into my hands. Total game changer.
The second reason is more personal: I’m raising a teenager. And let’s be real, this generation doesn’t just listen because we say something as parents. They question; they need reasoning; and they need to feel convinced from within.
One thing I’ve learned over the past few months is this: sometimes, instead of telling them directly, it’s more effective to let a book or a third voice do the talking.
And this book helped me do exactly that. It opened up conversations about screen time in a way that didn’t feel forced.
On that note, here’s a joint review from my teen and me.
At its core, The Amazing Generation is about one powerful idea:
Use technology as a tool and don’t let it use you. While most of us would be aware of this, we might not be convinced enough to take actionable steps, and that’s when this book comes in as a rescue.
The book is brutally honest about how tech companies design platforms to capture our attention. It explains how, in many cases, we are the product, not the user.
That realization alone is a huge eye-opener.
The book breaks down things we’ve heard before but explains them in a way that really hits:
- If something is free, you are the cost
- Your time and attention are being traded
- Apps are designed to “hack” your brain
It talks about dopamine hits, streaks, notifications, and all those tiny features that keep pulling us back in without us even realising it.
And suddenly, everything starts making sense.
One of my favourite parts is the introduction, where the authors use a creative analogy (like the “greedy giants”) to explain how devices and tech systems compete for our attention. It’s simple, engaging, and instantly makes you think.
Throughout the book, the readers — especially young people — are addressed as “rebels.”
I loved this choice. It’s clever. It empowers and makes you feel like you want to take control.
What my teen particularly liked is that alongside the non-fiction content, there’s a small comic-style story running parallel. She found the comic relatable. Also, she was very particular that I mention that the comic strips illustrated by Cynthia are lively and wonderful.
It follows the life of a group of friends and shows, in real-time, how excessive phone use affects two of them and how it impacts their social life.
She also likes the fact that the book doesn’t stop with a reality check. It gives actionable steps on
- How to build real-world friendships
- How to stay safe from cybercrime
- How to improve focus, creativity, and confidence
- How to “rewire” your habits without depending on devices
It acknowledges the reality that we can’t completely avoid technology, but we can use it wisely.
For example, something as simple as streaks can either trap you… or help you build good habits, depending on how you use them.
The book also touches on:
- The importance of sleep
- The impact of screens on concentration
- And something quite striking: many tech creators limit screen exposure for their own children
That contrast is… uncomfortable, but important.
To top it all, at the end of the book, there’s a beautiful page that lists fun activities you can do without a phone. My teen is using it as a checklist and ticking off activities from it. It’s fun!
Overall, this book does a wonderful job of presenting facts in a way that’s impactful, accessible, and relatable. It’s definitely one for both personal and school libraries and I’m adding it to my list of go-to books for gifting.
If you enjoyed this review and wish to order the book from Amazon (kbc affiliate link),
CLICK & BUY NOW!Disclaimer: Seethalakshmi and her daughter are a part of the #kbcReviewerSquad and received this book as a review copy from the publisher via kbc.
REVIEW BY AMARDEEP – Amardeep has shared a detailed review with inside pages here in the kbc fb group. Quoting her:
If you buy just one book this month, it should be this one. Buy it, gift it. It’s life changing, and guaranteed to make your child think twice about screen time.
Sometimes, you come across a book that feels like a true gem – that holds the power to change an entire generation merely by explaining reality in simple, easy to understand words. The Amazing Generation is one such book, and it holds to power to make our children (and us) realise how technology and the tech giants have hypnotised us!
The authors explain through a fairytale of glowing stones, and gems how wizards cast a spell to make us believe that social media, video games and watching videos will give us friendship, fun and entertainment.
Then through real life stories of teens, and adults who spent their teens gaming, they explain what it actually gives – loneliness, anxiety and the inability to explore oneself!
The greatest problem? The apps and games are designed such that one spends maximum time and money on them – 5 day streak, rewards to lure you back, codes and hacks for double points, and of course spend money to advance more.
The most startling revelation for Neil (my 8 yo son) was that the very tech giants who make these apps and games, know how bad and addictive they are and have banned them for their own kids, while profiting off of other kids in the world!
What I liked the most in the book is how it introduces the concept of being a rebel – not having a smartphone, not having a social media account, using technology for your benefit instead of letting it use you! Further it also explains how you can do that, by going out and making actual friends, developing actual hobbies, and pursuing actual interests.
To order this must have book from Amazon (kbc affiliate link),
CLICK & BUY NOW!
