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THE NO.1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

A TIMES, FT, ECONOMIST AND INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR

‘Boundlessly wise . . . important and engrossing’ The New York Times

‘One of the most important books I’ve read . . . It’s absolutely brilliant’ Dr Rangan Chatterjee

‘Urgent and essential’ Guardian

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.

Publisher Review

Compelling, readable - and incredibly chilling . . . a terrifying assessment of the digital carnage . . . remarkably persuasive . . . a clarion-call to parents everywhere -- Lucy Denyer * Telegraph * Deals seriously with counter-arguments and gaps in the evidence . . . all the suggestions sound sensible. Some even sound fun * Economist * 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 * Irish Independent * 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 * Spectator * 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 * Evening Standard * If this important book rings enough alarms to make politicians impose a genuine social media ban on children, I believe most parents would be happy and most teenagers happier * The Times, Book of the Week * 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 * Guardian * Lucid, memorable, galvanizing -- Meghan Cox Gurdon * Wall Street Journal * Erudite, engaging, crusading -- Tracy Dennis-Tiwary * New York Times Book Review * Compelling thesis . . . interweaving distressing analysis alongside practical advice -- Ed Smith * New Statesman * I would be amazed if large parts of this book don't ring painfully true . . . Whatever we do, it's time to recognise that there's been a massive shift in human behaviour -- Mark Mason * Daily Mail * An urgent and provocative read on why so many kids are not okay-and how to course correct. . . . even if you're not ready to ban smartphones until high school, this book will challenge you to rethink how we nurture the potential in our kids and prepare them for the world -- Adam Grant * author of Think Again * Jonathan Haidt is a modern-day prophet, disguised as a psychologist. In this book, he's back to warn us of the dangers of a phone-based childhood. He points the way forward to a brighter, stronger future for us all -- Susan Cain * author of Quiet * This is a crucial read for parents of children of elementary school age and beyond, who face the rapidly changing landscape of childhood. Haidt lays out problems but also solutions for making a better digital life with kids -- Emily Oster * author of Expecting Better * Every single parent needs to stop what they are doing and read this book immediately. Jonathan Haidt is the most important psychologist in the world today, and this is the most important book on the topic that's reshaping your child's life right now -- Johann Hari * author of Stolen Focus * Beautifully grounds his critique in Buddhist, Taoist and Christian thought traditions . . . his common-sense recommendations for actions...are excellent -- Judith Warner * Washington Post * The definitive book about the pernicious effects of ubiquitous mobile phone use -- Stefano Hatfield * i *