The Anxious Generation cover art

The Anxious Generation

How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Anxious Generation

By: Jonathan Haidt
Narrated by: Sean Pratt
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

THE NO.1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
A TIMES, FT, ECONOMIST AND INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR

Acclaimed psychologist Jonathan Haidt reveals how the decline of free-play in childhood and the rise of smartphone use among adolescents is changing our world

From 2010, as teens traded in their flip phones for smartphones packed with social media apps, unsupervised time online soared while face-to-face conversations with friends and family plummeted, and so did mental health. This profound shift took place against a backdrop of diminishing childhood freedom and over-supervision in the real world, depriving children of the experiences they most need to become strong and self-governing adults.

The Anxious Generation delves into the latest research to show how this shift from free-play to smartphones disrupts development – from sleep deprivation to addiction – and lays the foundations of isolation and fear that define society today. Grounded in ancient wisdom and packed full of cutting-edge science and practical advice, this eye-opening book is a life-raft for anyone who wants to understand how the most rapid rewiring of human relationships and consciousness in human history has made it harder for all of us to think, focus, forget ourselves enough to care about others and build close relationships.

‘Jonathan Haidt is a modern-day prophet, disguised as a psychologist . . . He points the way forward to a brighter, stronger future for us all’ Susan Cain, New York Times best-selling author of Quiet Power

'Urgent and essential' Guardian

'One of the most terrifying books I have read . . . some of the statistics Haidt quotes are truly shocking' Evening Standard

©2024 Jonathan Haidt (P)2024 Penguin Audio

 Best of 2024 Mental Health Parenting & Families Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Social Psychology & Interactions Teenagers Health

Critic Reviews

A very important book (Bessel van der Kolk)
Compelling, readable – and incredibly chilling . . . a terrifying assessment of the digital carnage . . . remarkably persuasive . . . a clarion-call to parents everywhere (Lucy Denyer)
A game-changer for society . . . The statistics that Haidt offers are jaw-dropping . . . although this book is about young people, it will resonate with many of us . . . I can’t recommend this book highly enough; everyone should read it (Stella O’Malley)
A book of devastating observations . . . his data is startling . . . robust scientific evidence for what we've all come to assume is true . . . it's the sheer scale of harm depicted here that should galvanise us (Simon Ings)
Forget horror; this is one of the most terrifying books I have read . . . some of the statistics Haidt quotes are truly shocking . . . a persuasive and rousing argument (Anna Davis)
Urgent and essential . . . it ought to become a foundational text for the growing movement to keep smartphones out of schools, and young children off social media (Sophie McBain)
Lucid, memorable, galvanizing (Meghan Cox Gurdon)
Erudite, engaging, crusading (Tracy Dennis-Tiwary)
All stars
Most relevant  
if you're a parent, you can't skip this book. Lays out the risks in modern society posed by the internet, gaming and social media, and the lifelong consequences it can have on kids of all changes. Logical and backed by studies.

A must read/listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
There are a lot of valuable insights into the effects of the digital world on our children. Even if you don't agree with the author's views, it's important to be aware of the facts.

A great read for parents of young or teen children.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book nailed the causes of anxiety in young people. We need to be informed and prepared to start speaking up and ensuring all children have the opportunity to have the childhoods they need in order to grow into happy and functioning members of society. A must read for anyone concerned about children.

Should be compulsory reading for everyone

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Understanding the negative impacts on our children. Eye opening research that I could relate to.

Must have reading for all parents

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
All makes perfect sense when written this way, regardless of whether his research results are questionable or not. As a parent of teenagers and a teacher, I found this very helpful. I really do hope that this is going to cause a bit of a backlash to allow children to once again become children and play.

Fascinating and insightful read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
at some level we all instinctively knew this. but this book reveals the undeniable damage that is being inflicted on our kids. I'm happy to hear that we can "turn this ship around". let's all get onboard

sobering and confronting sprinkled with a little hope

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A refreshing, thought provoking read/listen. After working with young people over the past 5 years and watching people of all ages submit to their smartphones. This book provides a timely look at the devastating effects that smartphones are having on our children.

Now to spread the word.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
if you truly want understanding of what and why this generation has increased anxiety you must read this book. it doesn't shame parents for what has happened t simply advices parents of what research has been done and what we can do to help our children overcome the rewiring of the brain and reduce the mental.health crisis wr are currently experiencing as it can only get worse.

Absolutely loved this book and can't recommend it enough.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
So important for any parent or anyone who works with children and adolescents!. This book presents a critical, but accessible discussion of the effects of social media on our future. A must read!

Must read!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I didn't realise how sick Social Media was until I listened to this book. All the Social Media sites are only interested in profits and don't care about the wellbeing of their users. No wonder young people are so damaged. The narrator of this Audiobook makes it a very interesting listen, with never a dull moment. I highly recommend this book!

Very informative

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.