The DumbestGeneration Hardback - 2008 - 1st Edition

by Bauerlein, Mark

This shocking, lively exposure of theintellectual vacuity of today's under thirtyset reveals the disturbingand, ultimately, incontrovertible truth:cyberculture is turning us intoa nation of know-nothings.

Can a nation continue to enjoy political and economicpredominance if its citizens refuse to grow up?

For decades, concern has been brewing about the dumbed-downpopular culture available to young people and the impactit has on their futures. At the dawn of the digital age, manybelieved they saw a hopeful answer: The Internet, e-mail, blogs,and interactive and hyper-realistic video games promised to yielda generation of sharper, more aware, and intellectually sophisticatedchildren. The terms 'information superhighway' and'knowledge economy' entered the lexicon, and we assumedthat teens would use their knowledge and understanding oftechnology to set themselves apart as the vanguards of this newdigital era.

That was the promise. But the enlightenment didn't happen.The technology that was supposed to make young adultsmore astute, diversify their tastes, and improve their verbalskills has had the opposite effect. According to recent reports,most young people in the United States do not read literature,visit museums, or vote. They cannot explain basic scientificmethods, recount basic American history, name their localpolitical representatives, or locate Iraq or Israel on a map. TheDumbest Generation is a startling examination of the intellectuallife of young adults and a timely warning of its consequencesfor American culture and democracy.

Drawing upon exhaustive research, personal anecdotes,and historical and social analysis, Mark Bauerline presents anuncompromisingly realistic portrait of the young American mindat this critical juncture, and lays out a compelling vision of howwe might address its deficiencies.