I'm a huge fan of your writing, Erin. Now I will have to read Twenge's book. You probably won't like hearing this (and the media hates Hawley), but this post reminds me a lot of another book I'm reading right now out of curiosity, which is "Manhood" by Josh Hawley. Hawley has written a lot on Big Tech previously, and he postulates that Americans need to 1) return to the Judeo-Christian roots that previously shaped our communal societies, 2) remember our own family histories (as a means of understanding oneself), and 3) put away technology, in order to sustain a socially healthy society. His book is very heavy on interesting historical references, too.
Thanks! I haven't read the Hawley book -- I wondered how different his book would be from Richard Reeves' "Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It" -- I would agree with Hawley on encouraging the development a life philosophy (though I don't necessarily think it needs to be Judeo-Christian, but that can certainly be used as a vessel for imparting a life philosophy) and his last two points seem valuable to me. Just because I don't necessarily agree with Hawley on a variety of issues... I am always willing to listen to a well thought through and supported argument (The wise -- "he who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that" via John Stuart Mill) and I will take any bipartisan efforts towards the development of a healthier culture that offers people more meaning and purpose in their lives derived from meaningful relationships and personal intellectual and spiritual development.
I'm a huge fan of your writing, Erin. Now I will have to read Twenge's book. You probably won't like hearing this (and the media hates Hawley), but this post reminds me a lot of another book I'm reading right now out of curiosity, which is "Manhood" by Josh Hawley. Hawley has written a lot on Big Tech previously, and he postulates that Americans need to 1) return to the Judeo-Christian roots that previously shaped our communal societies, 2) remember our own family histories (as a means of understanding oneself), and 3) put away technology, in order to sustain a socially healthy society. His book is very heavy on interesting historical references, too.
Thanks! I haven't read the Hawley book -- I wondered how different his book would be from Richard Reeves' "Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It" -- I would agree with Hawley on encouraging the development a life philosophy (though I don't necessarily think it needs to be Judeo-Christian, but that can certainly be used as a vessel for imparting a life philosophy) and his last two points seem valuable to me. Just because I don't necessarily agree with Hawley on a variety of issues... I am always willing to listen to a well thought through and supported argument (The wise -- "he who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that" via John Stuart Mill) and I will take any bipartisan efforts towards the development of a healthier culture that offers people more meaning and purpose in their lives derived from meaningful relationships and personal intellectual and spiritual development.