The Amazing Generation Book Club Reflection - Summer 2026
“#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Inspired by the award-winning phenomenon The Anxious Generation, this new book for kids and tweens is a comprehensive guide for living a happy and exciting life that isn’t hijacked by a smartphone.”
Haidt has gifted us with this young teens’ book that explores the essential topics of digital addiction and how children can reclaim real-world freedom and fun. These clubs were for 9-12 year olds and their parents/guardians and grandparents/mentors. There were two purposes of this book club: 1. To read this essential book to understand how technology competes for children’s, tweens’ and teens’ attention and 2. to help children become wiser users without losing themselves. It offered participants the real-world experience to give adults and children an opportunity to read together, connect and communicate.
Each week the participants received an email from me about the week's reading and an activity to do together. The activities varied from discussion questions, to art work, to exploration in the outdoors and more.
The club was intended to be fun while exploring a challenging topic together. I emphasized each week the importance of connection which leads to greater communication. Discussing technology does not end when your child turns thirteen. In fact, it will continue well into their college years. If we are able to help our children to understand their role in the world within the ever-changing world of technology through healthy conversations then, this is a win. It is an investment on the parents' part to create a safe connection to talk with their children and not lecture. Enter these conversations with curiosity and learn from your child.
Parents shared many of their own takeaways from the experience. They learned more about technology and became more aware of their own technology use during this family read. One activity asked the children to describe their parents’ phone use and to also keep an hourly log of phone use for the whole family - including gaming. Jonathan Haidt had given us the opportunity to reflect on our own use and for all of us to grow as responsible technology users.
Children are not easily able to understand that overuse and lack of understanding can lead to addiction. It is a silent addiction that quickly can alter a young teen’s lifestyle, behavior, social life and cause them to withdraw from family and friends.
A 5th Grader said how much she connected with the book and sent me a presentation that she would like to present to her class. It emphasized the message that it is more fun to play outside than play on the phone.
A 6th Grader loved the illustrations and how the book was not just text but also drawings, story blocks, charts, etc. It made it more fun to read, learn and the message was more powerful.
A 7th grader shared that she has decided to work with her school on creating posters that reflect the reading with information to help her peers think about their phone use. This will tie art class activities with reading.
A School teacher will be using excerpts of the book in their weekly advisory program in middle school to keep this topic and conversations on-going.
A School administrator described how he felt this is such an important read for their middle school students.
A School principal said he loved taking the time to read this book and put himself in the seat of a preteen and imagine what technology looks and feels like to them.
A Parent reemphasized Jonathan Haidt's reference to being the “Rebels” against the “Tech Wizards” and mentioned how this makes it a creative way to help children take action.
Another Parent emailed saying her kids were not crazy about the book because it was holding them accountable but that she learned so much and loved it.
It was a fun project this summer that I hope will have a lasting effect on families and school communities during the coming months.
School has started and for classes, children are back on their laptops and tablets and parents must keep these conversations going. Now is the time to teach our children to be more confident, disciplined tech users without losing themselves, who they are and who they are becoming.
Thank you to all who participated in this summer book club. If you would like more information on how to bring this book club to your school or local community please reach out.
“Today, this rebellion is growing. On one side are the greedy wizards, desperate to keep stealing people’s energy so that they can get richer. On the other side are the rebels: young people who have wised up to the wizards’ tricks and who want to keep their energy for themselves. The winner of this struggle will determine what life is like not just for their generation, but for generations to come.” (Jonathon Haidt, The Amazing Generation.)
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