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The Generational Puzzle
In a world connected by apps, IPhones, IPads, texts and Social Media, degrees of isolation are expanding, daily. Even our most educated people feel isolated and lack understanding regarding the "stages of life" between post-modern and emerging society. This book provides an equal playing field by establishing a social knowledge base...bridging generational gaps, which exist today. Understanding is key to the Communication Process, both in our personal and professional lives. "The Generational Puzzle was a great source of information for me! This insight helped me understand why certain people act certain ways - I'm able to look at people with a better understanding! (This would have come in handy YEARS AGO!) Thanks, Dr. Joyce for the wealth of information!"
199 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 19, 2013
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3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 9, 2013
My favorite quote: “If you want to create the glue it takes to mold together generations, that glue is communication.” Amen to that!
Dr. Knudsen provides a very easy to use guide regarding the various points of view through out the five major generations co-existing today. I choose this book because I wanted a study that is current with an alternative point of view to “The Fourth Turning.” It was a pleasure to read a book that was direct and practical around the subject of generational differences in the work place.
The Kindle version has a linked table of contents, an absolute must today for e-books, and it is $4.75, a great value when compared to many other Kindle titles priced far higher. The body of this book is a series of twenty-two interviews spanning the five individual generations. The repeated strategic questions within each interview aim to reveal the heart of each generation’s collective point of view. It is a powerful way to demonstrate the differences rather than just tell the reader. As a member of Generation X, I was shocked at how much in that section resonated with my own experience.
Right off the top, the author makes a strong point to the reader that generational labels should not be used as stereotypes to place people into ridge boxes. Furthermore, the purpose of examining these generational points of view should be in order to enhance communication in the workplace, rather than break it down. One of the most insightful quotes I found is as follows: “Each age group holds misconceptions about how they should handle life.” Most do not realize this until an event triggers them to examine how they could have handled a problem differently than the learned collective response driven by generational group think.
She breaks the generations down into five key characteristics: Communicative Style, Education Pursuits, Family Identification, Monetary Ideation, and Personal Values. Unlike books on this topic only published a few years ago, she includes generation Z, born after 1994, with its oldest members currently nineteen. All too often differences of point of view between members of a generation can be used as excuse for dismissing what others have to say. My only desire is that she spent a bit more energy upon covering specific examples of how to practically create that glue among generations, but perhaps that will appear in a later work. The reference section is a treasure trove of up to date articles and books in this area of study.
A repeated theme through out the work is the role technology, and specifically communication technology has played in forming the core identity of these five generations. This leads into why I feel strongly that demographic trends are important to cover in my book reviews for the company. What we “do” within telecom is far more that just sell a service. We are co-creating the culture of the future.
I purchased this book without the author’s knowledge and this review is a duplicate review of one published for my employer for educational leadership training purposes.
Dr. Knudsen provides a very easy to use guide regarding the various points of view through out the five major generations co-existing today. I choose this book because I wanted a study that is current with an alternative point of view to “The Fourth Turning.” It was a pleasure to read a book that was direct and practical around the subject of generational differences in the work place.
The Kindle version has a linked table of contents, an absolute must today for e-books, and it is $4.75, a great value when compared to many other Kindle titles priced far higher. The body of this book is a series of twenty-two interviews spanning the five individual generations. The repeated strategic questions within each interview aim to reveal the heart of each generation’s collective point of view. It is a powerful way to demonstrate the differences rather than just tell the reader. As a member of Generation X, I was shocked at how much in that section resonated with my own experience.
Right off the top, the author makes a strong point to the reader that generational labels should not be used as stereotypes to place people into ridge boxes. Furthermore, the purpose of examining these generational points of view should be in order to enhance communication in the workplace, rather than break it down. One of the most insightful quotes I found is as follows: “Each age group holds misconceptions about how they should handle life.” Most do not realize this until an event triggers them to examine how they could have handled a problem differently than the learned collective response driven by generational group think.
She breaks the generations down into five key characteristics: Communicative Style, Education Pursuits, Family Identification, Monetary Ideation, and Personal Values. Unlike books on this topic only published a few years ago, she includes generation Z, born after 1994, with its oldest members currently nineteen. All too often differences of point of view between members of a generation can be used as excuse for dismissing what others have to say. My only desire is that she spent a bit more energy upon covering specific examples of how to practically create that glue among generations, but perhaps that will appear in a later work. The reference section is a treasure trove of up to date articles and books in this area of study.
A repeated theme through out the work is the role technology, and specifically communication technology has played in forming the core identity of these five generations. This leads into why I feel strongly that demographic trends are important to cover in my book reviews for the company. What we “do” within telecom is far more that just sell a service. We are co-creating the culture of the future.
I purchased this book without the author’s knowledge and this review is a duplicate review of one published for my employer for educational leadership training purposes.
February 3, 2015
Where do we fit in The Generational Puzzle?
In her book The Generational Puzzle, Dr. Joyce Knudsen examines the generational perspectives of The Silent Generation, The Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Z, as seen through the eyes of ordinary folks like you and I, by interviewing folks from across a multitude of lifestyles, spanning geographically from Canada to New Zealand.
It is interesting to read what people of these different generations think about the previous and future generations, what they would change if they could and how they handle conflict. And, as diverse as the contributors' views may be on education, technology, marriage, money and religion, one can clearly visualize their worldview and experiences as being mere dots that connect the lines from generation to generation. Get the book, and find out where you fit, in The Generational Puzzle.
In her book The Generational Puzzle, Dr. Joyce Knudsen examines the generational perspectives of The Silent Generation, The Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Z, as seen through the eyes of ordinary folks like you and I, by interviewing folks from across a multitude of lifestyles, spanning geographically from Canada to New Zealand.
It is interesting to read what people of these different generations think about the previous and future generations, what they would change if they could and how they handle conflict. And, as diverse as the contributors' views may be on education, technology, marriage, money and religion, one can clearly visualize their worldview and experiences as being mere dots that connect the lines from generation to generation. Get the book, and find out where you fit, in The Generational Puzzle.
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