Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents—and What They Mean for America’s Future

Twenge (Generation Me), a professor of psychology at San Diego State University, takes a fascinating look at the six generations currently living in the U.S.: silents (born between 1925 and 1945), boomers (1946–1964), Gen X (1965–1979), millennials (1980–1994), Gen Z (1995–2012), and those she calls polars, also known as Generation Alpha (born after 2013). “Silents” is a misnomer, according to Twenge, since this group initiated the sweeping social changes typically associated with boomers. As a small cohort sandwiched between two larger ones, Gen X is the low-key middle child of generations. Millennials, born in an era of reliable birth control and legal abortion, were the most planned and wanted generation to date. Their self-confidence translates into higher expectations, which sometime turns into self-entitlement. More racially and ethnically diverse than previous generations, Gen Z “is also bringing an unprecedented amount of attention to diversity in gender identity and sexual orientation,” while polars are coming of age in an era defined by extreme political polarization and the threat of climate change. Twenge paints a well-rounded portrait of each generation and makes a convincing argument that technological advancements have led to “accelerating individualism” and a slowdown in the “developmental trajectory” of younger Americans. It’s an informative and insightful study of the dynamics at play in U.S. society today. (Apr.)