Generational warfare is fierce. Millennials accuse Boomers of ruining everything, and Boomers call the younger generations a bunch of entitled, lazy, and stupid kids. Dr. Jean Twenge’s new book Generations offers a different approach, attempting to describe each generation on its own terms, rather than writing another generational polemic. Although she’s evenhanded to a fault, the result is a fascinating, often surprising, book fit for intergenerational consumption and discussion.
Our impressions of generations can be heavily shaped by photos from Woodstock or our TikTok-addict nephew, but by analyzing survey data on more than 39 million people, Twenge (pronounced “twang-ee”) helps clarify and contradict our vague, anecdotal impressions. She contends that technological advance is the prime factor in generational differences, creating greater individualism and slower maturation, with major events like Vietnam or 9/11 putting the finishing touches on a generation’s identity.
Data on Generational Reputations
Parts of Twenge’s book crystallize and validate generational reputations. Boomers did indeed revolt against their parents’ norms. In a 1969 Gallup poll, only 1 out of 25 American adults said they had ever tried marijuana. As Boomers entered adulthood, usage shot up. By 1977, that number was 1 out of 4.
For the high school class of 1979, 94 percent had tried alcohol and 42 percent of those binge drank, 75 percent had smoked cigarettes, and 62 percent had tried marijuana. Twenty-five percent had used amphetamines, 17 percent tranquilizers, 12 percent barbiturates, and 16 percent had used cocaine. These remain record highs. Similarly, in 1967, 85
