What do you think?
Rate this book
Generation on a Tightrope: A Portrait of Today's College Student
An understanding of today's undergraduate college students is vital to the effectiveness of our nation's colleges and universities. As "Generation on a Tightrope" clearly reveals, today's students need a very different education than the undergraduates who came before them: an education for the 21st Century, which colleges and universities are so far ill-equipped to offer and which will require major changes of them to provide. Examining college student expectations, aspirations, academics, attitudes, values, beliefs, social life, and politics, this book paints an accurate portrait of today's students. Timely and comprehensive, this volume offers educators, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and employers guidance and a much-needed grasp of the forces shaping the experiences of current undergraduates. The book: Is based on completely new research of 5,000 college students and student affairs practitioners from 270 diverse college campuses Explores the similarities and differences between today's generation of students and previous generations
256 pages, Hardcover
First published July 19, 2012
15 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
About the author
Arthur Levine
33 books6 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
(1)
(1)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 9, 2013
This book corroborates the work of a number of other books, written by sociologists like Christian Smith. For someone unfamiliar with their subject (the "digital natives" generation), it is readable and informative. As many books do, it is long on description of the problem and short on constructive proposals, though the final chapter offers suggestions. I appreciate that the authors make clear they are not talking about "dumbing down" various educational efforts. They call for challenging students and giving them "unconditional love," not "unconditional approval."
The book also illustrates how little we recognize moral themes in our concerns about "this rising generation." There is one small section on "values" in the closing chapter, in which the authors offer constructive proposals. But interspersed throughout the book are references to situations and concerns that are deeply moral. For example, "The real conundrum, according to senior student affairs officers, is that a growing number of students don't understand why plagiarism is wrong," (p. 50). Clearly here is a moral judgment, yet the authors do not seem to connect this lack of moral sensitivity and judgment in our young to larger cultural forces and institutions, including higher education, in which we are teaching our young to think and act exactly as they do. With regard to drinking and partying, the authors use the term "peer pressure." Peer pressure just is moral pressure. Thus, one of the reasons our students tend not to see the moral implications of many such situations is because we have unwittingly taught them - by the terms we use to describe such situations - to think of those situations in other ways, thereby missing the inherently moral qualities of such situations.
The book also illustrates how little we recognize moral themes in our concerns about "this rising generation." There is one small section on "values" in the closing chapter, in which the authors offer constructive proposals. But interspersed throughout the book are references to situations and concerns that are deeply moral. For example, "The real conundrum, according to senior student affairs officers, is that a growing number of students don't understand why plagiarism is wrong," (p. 50). Clearly here is a moral judgment, yet the authors do not seem to connect this lack of moral sensitivity and judgment in our young to larger cultural forces and institutions, including higher education, in which we are teaching our young to think and act exactly as they do. With regard to drinking and partying, the authors use the term "peer pressure." Peer pressure just is moral pressure. Thus, one of the reasons our students tend not to see the moral implications of many such situations is because we have unwittingly taught them - by the terms we use to describe such situations - to think of those situations in other ways, thereby missing the inherently moral qualities of such situations.
October 9, 2012
I gave this book two stars not because it was bad but because a lot of it is redundant. If you work in education, and you have been doing so for a while, you probably already know a lot of what has been written in this book. When I started reading it, my initial reaction was, "do we really need another book on the Millenial students and how different they are and how they have to be treated with kids' gloves because they have been coddled all their lives? How clueless can administrators and educators be on a topic that, to be honest, has been tossed around and dissected for a while now?" So, unless you have been living under a rock for a while, you can safely skim this book for the few good insights it has and move on to other things.
At times they can't even get their generational labels right, such as what is commonly agreed to be Generation X versus Generation Y for example (at least the sources they use for their definitions do not seem to be the best based on all the others I have seen and read, and I have read a lot in my line of work). I think at that point the authors were just grasping at labels to make the point that a generation is hard to label. Yes, we get it.
I did take some notes because I often found myself arguing with the authors or just plain wondering about some things. I will likely post those to my blog soon. However, for now, I will say the book is ok, but it is not great. The authors are drawing on a more recent study of undergraduates that covers them after the Great Recession of 2008, but again, it is stuff that we have heard before. A lot of it has already been on the news even. So, unless you really need a primer on this topic, you can probably skip this book. However if you do need a reminder, this may be a book for you.
At times they can't even get their generational labels right, such as what is commonly agreed to be Generation X versus Generation Y for example (at least the sources they use for their definitions do not seem to be the best based on all the others I have seen and read, and I have read a lot in my line of work). I think at that point the authors were just grasping at labels to make the point that a generation is hard to label. Yes, we get it.
I did take some notes because I often found myself arguing with the authors or just plain wondering about some things. I will likely post those to my blog soon. However, for now, I will say the book is ok, but it is not great. The authors are drawing on a more recent study of undergraduates that covers them after the Great Recession of 2008, but again, it is stuff that we have heard before. A lot of it has already been on the news even. So, unless you really need a primer on this topic, you can probably skip this book. However if you do need a reminder, this may be a book for you.
April 23, 2015
I assigned this book to my graduate students in student affairs and they absolutely HATED it.
November 12, 2025
Although a thinly researched assessment of the millennial generation's educational performance within the context of their societal and political background, it provides sufficient insights for the reader to empathize with the challenges encountered by today's students in the college classroom. The authors clearly associate the source of the negative performance issues with the students' upbringing, i.e., coddling, and their feelings of entitlement. One issue that has worsened is the lack of a strong sense of ethical/moral responsibility, as evidenced by an increase in cheating/plagiarism. The authors attribute this to the availability of the Internet, which has been exacerbated by AI, a development that was unforeseen by the authors.
The authors suggest some remedies, such as internships, which have been happily adopted by employers; however, others, such as Federal support for programs that build a strong sense of national purpose, like the Peace Corps in the past, have fallen by the wayside.
The authors suggest some remedies, such as internships, which have been happily adopted by employers; however, others, such as Federal support for programs that build a strong sense of national purpose, like the Peace Corps in the past, have fallen by the wayside.
November 25, 2018
Easy to read. In some ways, it confirms a lot of stereotypes about this generation of college students. According to the years they're talking about, that includes me which makes me sad and defensive.
August 14, 2015
Conclusion: digital users, more comfortable with diversity, think globally, network-team work, ok with change. Deficits: timid rule followers, self-centered, lack experience with failure, immature -tethered to adults, trivial and low in f2f interpersonal skills, confuse excellence and quality with quantity, talk internationally but focus local and lack knowledge of world.
So, they are different from earlier generations and will have own challenges.
For college students 5 realities which will dominate:
1. time of profound change - 3 skills of critical thinking, creativity, continual learning
2. life in digital society(anytime, anywhere} - must also be literate in use of tech, info, and media
rather than prof hunters search and generate knowledge, they are gatherers wading through sea of data
consumer driven, colleges need to deal with (own) knowledge-drive institutions vs. {other) distribution organizations; libraries must become center for discovery, distribution, etc of knowledge
3. life in diverse, global society:
multiculturalism - what diversity on campus means use in comprehensive action plans criss-crossing campus so students can 1. interact effectively with others (listen & speak), 2. work effectively in diverse teams (cultural differences, open, create new; multicultural content is hertitage and future
globalization - more international campus, global nature of politics, economice, tech, social, language, religion, ethics and so on
4. Life in evolving info economy
enriched major - traditional skills with new needed skills, roots and values, interdisciplinary and how works with other disciplines; learn deep, concentrated research skills, internships and how to apply
practical minors - complement, don't need double major, life-long learning
career services - from 1st day, life planing, fure careers, workplace skills, practical - job seeking and employment
5. Civic engagement - cultural and intercultural knowledge, link past with present:
a. communication skills,
b. human heritage (how societies respond to change),
c. environment (natural and made) in scientific context and community service and social institutions
d. individual roles - relationships, choices, place within society
e. values - know difference between fact and values, relative values, choosing amoung
So, they are different from earlier generations and will have own challenges.
For college students 5 realities which will dominate:
1. time of profound change - 3 skills of critical thinking, creativity, continual learning
2. life in digital society(anytime, anywhere} - must also be literate in use of tech, info, and media
rather than prof hunters search and generate knowledge, they are gatherers wading through sea of data
consumer driven, colleges need to deal with (own) knowledge-drive institutions vs. {other) distribution organizations; libraries must become center for discovery, distribution, etc of knowledge
3. life in diverse, global society:
multiculturalism - what diversity on campus means use in comprehensive action plans criss-crossing campus so students can 1. interact effectively with others (listen & speak), 2. work effectively in diverse teams (cultural differences, open, create new; multicultural content is hertitage and future
globalization - more international campus, global nature of politics, economice, tech, social, language, religion, ethics and so on
4. Life in evolving info economy
enriched major - traditional skills with new needed skills, roots and values, interdisciplinary and how works with other disciplines; learn deep, concentrated research skills, internships and how to apply
practical minors - complement, don't need double major, life-long learning
career services - from 1st day, life planing, fure careers, workplace skills, practical - job seeking and employment
5. Civic engagement - cultural and intercultural knowledge, link past with present:
a. communication skills,
b. human heritage (how societies respond to change),
c. environment (natural and made) in scientific context and community service and social institutions
d. individual roles - relationships, choices, place within society
e. values - know difference between fact and values, relative values, choosing amoung
October 20, 2012
This is a must read for educators of the millenia, especially college educators. The information shared by the authors is important to know. However, I found this book very negative, although this was not the intent of the authors, their analysis of today's college students - digital natives - gives readers a very poor image of the future generation.
Honestly, I think that we have enough authors listing the problems that plague our young adults, and we also have enough books which vituperate our digital natives. What we need is writers who talk about solutions and what we can do about the problems of our youths!
I would recommend reading this book, but be mindful of its negative undertone.
Honestly, I think that we have enough authors listing the problems that plague our young adults, and we also have enough books which vituperate our digital natives. What we need is writers who talk about solutions and what we can do about the problems of our youths!
I would recommend reading this book, but be mindful of its negative undertone.
December 22, 2012
This is the last book I am obligated to read for my NERCHE group. I will no longer be picking the common read for the group.
This is an important book because it quantitatively (and convincingly) documents the changes in college students' behaviors and attitudes between 2006 and 1012. The authors discuss the many significant changes in society from financial challenges to digital technology that our students face and embrace in today's world. Authors Levine and Dean feel that parents and higher education are not adequately preparing students for today's workforce. They end their book with a list of items those in higher education need to consider with suggestions for how they can be addressed.
This is an important book because it quantitatively (and convincingly) documents the changes in college students' behaviors and attitudes between 2006 and 1012. The authors discuss the many significant changes in society from financial challenges to digital technology that our students face and embrace in today's world. Authors Levine and Dean feel that parents and higher education are not adequately preparing students for today's workforce. They end their book with a list of items those in higher education need to consider with suggestions for how they can be addressed.
January 13, 2013
Generation on a Tightrope has a lot of interesting and useful information for anyone who works with the millennial generation. Based on a national survey of college students in 2009, the authors lay out the habits, aspirations, and worldview of the generation that is or will soon be populating the workforce. If you like research studies and a full explanation of the results, this book is for you. But if it's the nuggets of information you're interested in, save yourself some time and read the introduction and conclusion chapters. You'll get a great summary of the findings and implications for those working with the millennial generation - higher education, parents and employers.
February 21, 2013
This was a required read for my Associate Dean Think Tank meeting next month. Enjoyed the descriptions of the undergraduate today and how he/she has changed from the past. The author provides some quantitative and qualitative data about the "typical" undergrad who are often called "millennials, generation 2k, net generation, or the generation. Good overview of academics, life outside the classroom, parents, politics, and the future. This is a must read for anyone working in higher ed with undergrads. I look forward to the discussion we will have next month with associate deans from different colleges.
July 22, 2013
This was a good book but it wasn't as awe-inspiring as I had hoped. It basically explained the characteristics of today's college students in a quantitative and formal way. It seemed that most college students would be able to intuitively tell you the exact same information that Levine did without hours of research or a book publication. That said, I did find the book enjoyable. It would be most helpful for policymakers, professors, and university administrators to read. Higher education has woefully distanced itself from today's students and the only chance of return is to understand the students better.
September 27, 2012
As the subtitle says, this is "a portrait of today's college student." When I first began reading it, I thought that an editor should be called in, because there were endless examples of who today's college students are. That's also how the book ends. However, inbetween, there is a fascinating discussion of today's college students, their possible disconnect with the professors who are interacting with them, and how that might be addressed. I especially liked the idea that the professors are hunters, but the students are gatherers.
February 18, 2013
This book is written in a somewhat academic style - as it must be given the amount of data the authors use to support their thesis. But it is also personable and likable, as opposed to dry.
For anyone who wants to understand the younger generations and where they are taking our country should read this book. Wow I learned a lot of real value.
For anyone who wants to understand the younger generations and where they are taking our country should read this book. Wow I learned a lot of real value.
March 17, 2013
In parts depressing and in parts hopeful, this book does a great job at outlining the challenges that we face in higher education. The generation gap between faculty/staff and current undergraduates is vast, but the authors provide some interesting ideas about how to bridge the gap, do right by our students, and not lose our long-held academic values.
June 26, 2013
I found this book fascinating. A lot of it was validating things I already knew with research, and the writing style could have used a bit of punch. The chapter about increased parental involvement in students' lives, though, was eye-opening, and the conclusion was inspiring. A must read for anyone teaching college students, or parenting them.
February 18, 2014
If you are a data person, this is an excellent resource. It is a collection of research, not a written plan on working with this generation. There are definitely great ideas and points made throughout the book and it certainly supported some of my views/gave me new ones. I'm a numbers person though, so it was an easy read. Highly recommend my coaching friends to skim through it.
May 2, 2016
My office read this as a staff read for the semester. Since we work in higher Ed, nothing in the book was extremely new or insightful. It mainly explained how things are and didn't give any tips on how to address/handle issues that are happening on campus.
June 28, 2013
A good read for those in student affairs. Confirms my belief that students are not benefitting from the "We are all winners" theory.
December 8, 2012
This book didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. It was very readable, but I didn't find it really enlightening.
April 4, 2013
Great book. It was fun to hear the authors speak at NASPA and at DePaul.
April 16, 2013
I enjoyed the information offered in this text, It was very beneficial and relevant to the course i'm currently taking in Grad school.
May 25, 2013
For required reading it wasn't so bad. It makes me fear for the future though. YIKES!
February 7, 2014
The former sociology student in me enjoyed the studies and comparisons but you could read the intro and conclusion and get the info you are looking for. Overall, well explained.
November 9, 2013
Interesting...although a little scary.
May 29, 2014
Great look at Millenials - would be helpful to anyone who wants to better understand this (my own) generation!
January 14, 2014
i think, Levine and Dean are trying to top Howe and Stowe with their books on Millennials.
July 4, 2014
Must read for higher ed professors and administrators wondering
"who ARE these kids?"
"who ARE these kids?"
June 12, 2015
Was ok working with college students I can shake my head yes with most of this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews