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The anxious generation : How the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness

Haidt, Jonathan.


From New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Coddling of the American Mind , an essential investigation into the collapse of youth mental health&mdash;and a plan for a healthier, freer childhood After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on most measures. Why? In The Anxious Generation , social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults. Haidt shows how the &ldquo;play-based childhood&rdquo; began to decline in the 1980s, and how it was finally wiped out by the arrival of the &ldquo;phone-based childhood&rdquo; in the early 2010s. He presents more than a dozen mechanisms by which this &ldquo;great rewiring of childhood&rdquo; has interfered with children&rsquo;s social and neurological development, covering everything from sleep deprivation to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, social comparison, and perfectionism. He explains why social media damages girls more than boys and why boys have been withdrawing from the real world into the virtual world, with disastrous consequences for themselves, their families, and their societies. Most important, Haidt issues a clear call to action. He diagnoses the &ldquo;collective action problems&rdquo; that trap us, and then proposes four simple rules that might set us free. He describes steps that parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments can take to end the epidemic of mental illness and restore a more humane childhood. Haidt has spent his career speaking truth backed by data in the most difficult landscapes&mdash;communities polarized by politics and religion, campuses battling culture wars, and now the public health emergency faced by Gen Z. We cannot afford to ignore his findings about protecting our children&mdash;and ourselves&mdash;from the psychological damage of a phone-based life. *Includes a downloadable PDF of charts, graphs, and images from the book.
Date Published:2024

From New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Coddling of the American Mind , an essential investigation into the collapse of youth mental health&mdash;and a plan for a healthier, freer childhood After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on most measures. Why? In The Anxious Generation , social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults. Haidt shows how the &ldquo;play-based childhood&rdquo; began to decline in the 1980s, and how it was finally wiped out by the arrival of the &ldquo;phone-based childhood&rdquo; in the early 2010s. He presents more than a dozen mechanisms by which this &ldquo;great rewiring of childhood&rdquo; has interfered with children&rsquo;s social and neurological development, covering everything from sleep deprivation to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, social comparison, and perfectionism. He explains why social media damages girls more than boys and why boys have been withdrawing from the real world into the virtual world, with disastrous consequences for themselves, their families, and their societies. Most important, Haidt issues a clear call to action. He diagnoses the &ldquo;collective action problems&rdquo; that trap us, and then proposes four simple rules that might set us free. He describes steps that parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments can take to end the epidemic of mental illness and restore a more humane childhood. Haidt has spent his career speaking truth backed by data in the most difficult landscapes&mdash;communities polarized by politics and religion, campuses battling culture wars, and now the public health emergency faced by Gen Z. We cannot afford to ignore his findings about protecting our children&mdash;and ourselves&mdash;from the psychological damage of a phone-based life. *Includes a downloadable PDF of charts, graphs, and images from the book.

Date Published:2024

The correspondent : A novel

Evans, Virginia.


#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER &bull; Discover the word-of-mouth hit hailed by Ann Patchett as &ldquo;A cause for celebration&rdquo;&mdash;an intimate novel about the transformative power of the written word and the beauty of slowing down to reconnect with the people we love. &ldquo; The Correspondent is this year&rsquo;s breakout novel no one saw coming.&rdquo;&mdash; The Wall Street Journal &ldquo;I cried more than once as I witnessed this brilliant woman come to understand herself more deeply.&rdquo;&mdash;Florence Knapp, author of The Names In development as a major motion picture starring Jane Fonda LONGLISTED FOR THE CENTER FOR FICTION FIRST NOVEL PRIZE, THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL, AND THE WOMEN&rsquo;S PRIZE FOR FICTION &bull; A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: NPR, The Washington Post, Boston Globe, Elle, Christian Science Monitor, She Reads &ldquo;Imagine, the letters one has sent out into the world, the letters received back in turn, are like the pieces of a magnificent puzzle. . . . Isn&rsquo;t there something wonderful in that, to think that a story of one&rsquo;s life is preserved in some way, that this very letter may one day mean something, even if it is a very small thing, to someone?&rdquo; Filled with knowledge that only comes from a life fully lived, The Correspondent is a gem of a novel about the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person. It is about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime. Sybil Van Antwerp has throughout her life used letters to make sense of the world and her place in it. Most mornings, around half past ten, Sybil sits down to write letters&mdash;to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not allow her to audit a class she desperately wants to take, to Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry to tell them what she thinks of their latest books, and to one person to whom she writes often yet never sends the letter. Sybil expects her world to go on as it always has&mdash;a mother, grandmother, wife, divorcee, distinguished lawyer, she has lived a very full life. But when letters from someone in her past force her to examine one of the most painful periods of her life, she realizes that the letter she has been writing over the years needs to be read and that she cannot move forward until she finds it in her heart to offer forgiveness. Sybil Van Antwerp&rsquo;s life of letters might be &ldquo;a very small thing,&rdquo; but she also might be one of the most memorable characters you will ever read.
Date Published:2025

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER &bull; Discover the word-of-mouth hit hailed by Ann Patchett as &ldquo;A cause for celebration&rdquo;&mdash;an intimate novel about the transformative power of the written word and the beauty of slowing down to reconnect with the people we love. &ldquo; The Correspondent is this year&rsquo;s breakout novel no one saw coming.&rdquo;&mdash; The Wall Street Journal &ldquo;I cried more than once as I witnessed this brilliant woman come to understand herself more deeply.&rdquo;&mdash;Florence Knapp, author of The Names In development as a major motion picture starring Jane Fonda LONGLISTED FOR THE CENTER FOR FICTION FIRST NOVEL PRIZE, THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL, AND THE WOMEN&rsquo;S PRIZE FOR FICTION &bull; A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: NPR, The Washington Post, Boston Globe, Elle, Christian Science Monitor, She Reads &ldquo;Imagine, the letters one has sent out into the world, the letters received back in turn, are like the pieces of a magnificent puzzle. . . . Isn&rsquo;t there something wonderful in that, to think that a story of one&rsquo;s life is preserved in some way, that this very letter may one day mean something, even if it is a very small thing, to someone?&rdquo; Filled with knowledge that only comes from a life fully lived, The Correspondent is a gem of a novel about the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person. It is about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime. Sybil Van Antwerp has throughout her life used letters to make sense of the world and her place in it. Most mornings, around half past ten, Sybil sits down to write letters&mdash;to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not allow her to audit a class she desperately wants to take, to Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry to tell them what she thinks of their latest books, and to one person to whom she writes often yet never sends the letter. Sybil expects her world to go on as it always has&mdash;a mother, grandmother, wife, divorcee, distinguished lawyer, she has lived a very full life. But when letters from someone in her past force her to examine one of the most painful periods of her life, she realizes that the letter she has been writing over the years needs to be read and that she cannot move forward until she finds it in her heart to offer forgiveness. Sybil Van Antwerp&rsquo;s life of letters might be &ldquo;a very small thing,&rdquo; but she also might be one of the most memorable characters you will ever read.

Date Published:2025

Hunger winter : A world war ii novel

Currie, Rob.


Unabridged. The thrilling story of one boy's quest to find his father and protect his younger sister during the great Dutch famine of World War II. "Sometimes you have to take a chance, because it's the only chance you have." Thirteen-year-old Dirk has been the man of the house since his papa disappeared while fighting against the Nazis with the Dutch Resistance. When the Gestapo arrests Dirk's older sister, who is also a Resistance fighter, Dirk fears that he and his little sister, Anna, might be next. With only pockets full of food and his sister asleep in his arms, Dirk runs away to find his father. As Dirk leads Anna across the war-torn Netherlands, from farmyards to work camps, he must rely on his wits and his father's teaching to find his way.
Date Published:2023

Unabridged. The thrilling story of one boy's quest to find his father and protect his younger sister during the great Dutch famine of World War II. "Sometimes you have to take a chance, because it's the only chance you have." Thirteen-year-old Dirk has been the man of the house since his papa disappeared while fighting against the Nazis with the Dutch Resistance. When the Gestapo arrests Dirk's older sister, who is also a Resistance fighter, Dirk fears that he and his little sister, Anna, might be next. With only pockets full of food and his sister asleep in his arms, Dirk runs away to find his father. As Dirk leads Anna across the war-torn Netherlands, from farmyards to work camps, he must rely on his wits and his father's teaching to find his way.

Date Published:2023

The nightingale : A novel

Hannah, Kristin.


Unabridged. A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK A #1 New York Times bestseller, Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year, and soon to be a major motion picture, this unforgettable novel of love and strength in the face of war has enthralled a generation. With courage, grace, and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of World War II and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women's war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France&#8212;a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime. Goodreads Best Historical Novel of the Year People's Choice Favorite Fiction Winner #1 Indie Next Selection A Buzzfeed and The Week Best Book of the Year Praise for The Nightingale : "Haunting, action-packed, and compelling. " &#8212;Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author " Absolutely riveting! ...Read this book." &#8212;Dr. Miriam Klein Kassenoff, Director of the University of Miami Holocaust Teacher Institute.
Date Published:2015

Unabridged. A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK A #1 New York Times bestseller, Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year, and soon to be a major motion picture, this unforgettable novel of love and strength in the face of war has enthralled a generation. With courage, grace, and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of World War II and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women's war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France&#8212;a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime. Goodreads Best Historical Novel of the Year People's Choice Favorite Fiction Winner #1 Indie Next Selection A Buzzfeed and The Week Best Book of the Year Praise for The Nightingale : "Haunting, action-packed, and compelling. " &#8212;Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author " Absolutely riveting! ...Read this book." &#8212;Dr. Miriam Klein Kassenoff, Director of the University of Miami Holocaust Teacher Institute.

Date Published:2015

Of fire and ash

Adams, Gillian Bronte.


Unabridged. She rides a fireborn, a steed of fire and ash, trained for destruction. Ceridwen tal Desmond dreams of ruling like her father over the nation of Soldonia, where warriors ride to battle on magical steeds&#8212;soaring on storm winds, vanishing in shadow, quaking the earth, and summoning the sea. After a tragic accident claims her twin brother, she is exiled and sworn to atonement by spending her life&#8212;or death&#8212;for her people. But when invaders spill onto Soldonia's shores and traitors seize upon the chaos to murder her father, Ceridwen claims the crown to keep the nation from splintering. Combatting overwhelming odds and looming civil war, she begins to wonder if the greatest threat to the kingdom may, in fact, be her. With fire before her and ash in her wake, how can she hope to unite instead of destroy? Flames rage and oceans rise in this explosive first installment of The Fireborn Epic as the exiled heir, a novice priest, and a reluctant rebel wage war against a hidden power that threatens to shake the world.
Date Published:2022

Unabridged. She rides a fireborn, a steed of fire and ash, trained for destruction. Ceridwen tal Desmond dreams of ruling like her father over the nation of Soldonia, where warriors ride to battle on magical steeds&#8212;soaring on storm winds, vanishing in shadow, quaking the earth, and summoning the sea. After a tragic accident claims her twin brother, she is exiled and sworn to atonement by spending her life&#8212;or death&#8212;for her people. But when invaders spill onto Soldonia's shores and traitors seize upon the chaos to murder her father, Ceridwen claims the crown to keep the nation from splintering. Combatting overwhelming odds and looming civil war, she begins to wonder if the greatest threat to the kingdom may, in fact, be her. With fire before her and ash in her wake, how can she hope to unite instead of destroy? Flames rage and oceans rise in this explosive first installment of The Fireborn Epic as the exiled heir, a novice priest, and a reluctant rebel wage war against a hidden power that threatens to shake the world.

Date Published:2022

Of sea and smoke

Adams, Gillian Bronte.


Unabridged. He rides a seablood, a steed of salt and spray, born to challenge the tides. Six years ago, the wrong brother survived, and nothing will ever convince Rafi Tetrani otherwise. But he is done running from his past, and from the truth. As civil war threatens Ceridwen's tenuous rule in Soldonia, Rafi vows to fight the usurper sitting on the imperial throne of Nadaar, even if it means shouldering his brother's responsibilities as the empire's lost heir. The stolen shipload of magical warhorses offers just the edge he needs. But the steeds have been demanded in ransom by the emperor's ruthless assassin, and if Rafi hopes to raise a band of riders, he must first outwit his brother's murderer. Yet when his best efforts end in disaster, and an audacious raid sparks an empire-wide manhunt, even forging an unexpected alliance might not be enough to help Rafi turn the tides, let alone outrace the wave of destruction intent on sweeping them all away. Seas boil and jungles burn in this tempestuous second installment of The Fireborn Epic as the outcast queen, captive missionary, and royal rebel strive to unearth the mysterious power that hungers for their world.
Date Published:2023

Unabridged. He rides a seablood, a steed of salt and spray, born to challenge the tides. Six years ago, the wrong brother survived, and nothing will ever convince Rafi Tetrani otherwise. But he is done running from his past, and from the truth. As civil war threatens Ceridwen's tenuous rule in Soldonia, Rafi vows to fight the usurper sitting on the imperial throne of Nadaar, even if it means shouldering his brother's responsibilities as the empire's lost heir. The stolen shipload of magical warhorses offers just the edge he needs. But the steeds have been demanded in ransom by the emperor's ruthless assassin, and if Rafi hopes to raise a band of riders, he must first outwit his brother's murderer. Yet when his best efforts end in disaster, and an audacious raid sparks an empire-wide manhunt, even forging an unexpected alliance might not be enough to help Rafi turn the tides, let alone outrace the wave of destruction intent on sweeping them all away. Seas boil and jungles burn in this tempestuous second installment of The Fireborn Epic as the outcast queen, captive missionary, and royal rebel strive to unearth the mysterious power that hungers for their world.

Date Published:2023