Book club: The Anxious Generation

This is a book club discussion of:
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt.

• 400 pages or 10 hours of audio.
• Finishing the book is optional.

In this book, the author examines how smartphones and social media have reshaped everyday life for children and adolescents, with noticeable effects on well-being and social interaction. The book connects personal experience with broader cultural and societal changes driven by constant connectivity. It invites readers to reflect on how technology influences behavior, relationships, and responsibility in modern society.

Example of questions to discuss:

• In what ways have smartphones and social media changed how people relate to themselves and others?
• Do you recognize patterns from the book in your own life or in people around you?
• Where should we draw the line between personal choice and societal responsibility when it comes to technology use?
• What do you think children lose—and gain—by growing up online?
• How should schools and families respond to the challenges described in the book?
• If we were designing social media today from scratch, what values should guide it?

This discussion values shared reflection over completeness, so everyone is welcome regardless of how much of the book they’ve read.

If you've never participated before, here's what to expect:

• 2 hours of deep, interesting conversations in a respectful environment that will elevate your spirit and give you new ideas for life, work or relationships.
• a supportive group of people sharing their own unique experiences and viewpoints, and encouraging you to do the same.
• a rich mix of newcomers and regulars from different countries and cultures for a broad diversity of opinions and experiences.

In order to cover the room expenses we will collect a small donation per participant.