How Not to Become a Millennial: Learning from America's Largest Sociological Disaster

by Vince Barrick

Never before in the history of the world has more time, effort, and resources been invested into a single generation than the Millennials. Be it incredibly expensive college degrees, perfectly privileged diets, life-coping drugs, uncountable therapist visits, even bending reality so that everybody was impossibly a winner, no expense was spared for the most pampered generation in human history. But $30 trillion and 20 years later we have the biggest failure of a human crop in the history of the world. The Millennials are hopelessly indebted, perennially underemployed, they suffer more mental illness than any generation before them, and they are hopelessly armed with completely worthless degrees. They have absolutely no hope of homeownership, retirement, or family, and most will live their entire lives financially crippled with debt. They are an unmitigated sociological disaster and a tragic chapter in human history. But it doesn't have to be this way. And it doesn't have to end this way for Millennials. Because amongst the wreckage of the Millennial generation that lay in front of all of us right now is a spectacular opportunity. The chance to learn precisely what society did right and what it did wrong when it came to raising our children. The formula for preparing future generations, and thus the secret to the future success of humanity. Because while naive social scientists with their 50 year old "social theories" thought they knew better than 2 million years of human evolution, they unintentionally provided us with proof positive as to what absolutely does and does not work when it comes to economics, sociology, psychology, politics, education, personal finance, or just plain ole child rearing. Thus, with their social science experiment of the Millennials gone horrifically wrong, they’ve accidentally painted the path for humanity as to what could go spectacularly right. Everybody can learn from the pain, suffering, and failure of the Millennials. The secret to success, wealth, happiness and love is laying right in front of us. We just need the courage to think critically, be honest with ourselves, and admit where we as a society have failed. If we have this Come-to-Jesus-Meeting with ourselves, we can spare future generations the fate of the Millennials and give the Millennials themselves a fighting chance to salvage what remains of their lives. We owe it to future generations and it’s the least we can do for America’s most-tortured generation - The Millennials.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

435 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2020

Reviews

[Andrew Klynsmith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly written, aggressively stated, yet with some interesting data.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spent the whole book nodding in agreement

As a generation X person, this was so close to the bone that it hurt. The Mickey Mouse degrees we took, the baby boomer parents, the lies of a golden future if we got the degree. Plus, living through the aftermath of the gender feminists of the 70s who took away our opportunity to be mothers at home and enjoy our femininity. Now we all burned out working full time jobs and raising kids. Girl power, break glass ceilings, they brain washed with us with instead and now we realize that going out to work is not all it’s cracked up to be and we want more time gone without kids! They robbed us of this!

[Saurabh Kadam · Rating 5 out of 5]

As millennial, this is very accurate depiction of the millennial generation

[Scumbag Park · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good advice for the mathematically minded. The author encourages us to live as if we are going to live forever. I’m sure this advice is more relevant to someone in the US, some poor sucker that would have to pay for a university education. But still. He acts like we aren’t surrounded by art every day. Music. Television. Films. We can’t all be robots, man. The economy doesn’t need 7 billion robots.

[Shefi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ideas in this book are mainly (entirely?) those of self-styled “Asshole Consultant” Aaron Clarey. It is aimed at young people living in the USA. It attempts nothing less than to completely re-educated the young person from the lies snd misinformation they have been fed almost from birth by their parents, their teachers, college professors, the media including the advertising and entertainment industries and of course let’s not forget the politicians.

Some parts felt repetitive, other parts i felt already familiar with the ideas. But I learned a lot. While not everyone is lazy, and not all bad decisions can be blamed on laziness, it is worth considering whether it is not a much more common factor. Especially if you accept the author’s definition of lazy, which includes avoiding difficult situations, conversations and confrontations.

Clarey’s passion and compassion shine through the superficially hard and harsh words and judgements: a) because Clarey bears in mind, as most of us do not, that we are all mortal and therefore wasted time can never be recovered; and b) because an apparently ever-growing number of lazy people not only blame others for their own mistakes or fate but also insist that others pay for rescuing them from the consequences of those mistakes.

Clarey’s humour sugars the pill, tho if you want to see/hear him at his hilarious snd rip-roaring best, you’ll need to see his YouTube vids or listen to his podcast. This book is very restrained in comparison.

[Петър Стойков · Rating 2 out of 5]

Всички знаем, че младото поколение не го бива - мързеливо е, не уважава възрастните и изобщо за нищо не става. Кое младо поколение? Няма значение: тия мисли са тревожели още Сократ преди 2-3 хиляди години... и от тогава всяко младо поколение все така. Как светът още не се е сгромолясал при такова главоломно пропадане на всяко следващо поколение, не е ясно.

Сега, не, че първото поколение на милата ни планета (или поне по-цивилизованите части от нея), което израстна материално презадоволено, продукт на "развитата" психология и се докопа до интернета през младостта си няма характерни недостатъци. Напротив, има си ги в изобилие - и те са напоително изредени в книгата.

Но тия недостатъци на съвременното общество и свят (щото те "милениалите" станаха вече на по 30-40 години, не знам дали си осъзнал) ние си ги знаем, щото всеки що-годе десен и половината леви коментатори, ютюбъри, пундити, подкастъри, журналисти и вся остолная сволоч ги дъвче тия недостатъци до припадък и ей до тука ми е дошло да слушам за тях.

[dmitry b · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although idealistic, this book provides a great analysis of the societal factors that led to a lackluster generation. Choosing the comfort of feelings versus being in touch with reality, replacing hard work and accomplishments in life with political ideologies and crusades comes along with its consequences. My favorite quote from the book is "Lazy people work twice as hard", a paradox, that happens to save you time and most importantly allows you to live an enjoyable life. Also, the last chapter of the book discusses humans as the most important thing in life as everything we do in life centers around our need to have value conferred upon us by others. Material possessions are finite, while human beings are not. Material possessions that most people are programmed to spend their entire lives chasing in only provide so much stimulation: No Ferrari, McMansion, or Rolex can provide the stimulation that comes from spending your time with quality people, who you have something in common with.

[Slov · Rating 1 out of 5]

Great leaps and assumptions made by a former economist who uses data as support for crackpot social theories, not knowing that correlation is not causation. Lots of random stats used to theorize social complexities, and a free pass to the generation before baby boomers. Its funny this dude never looked at the economic injustices of the industrial revolution, but that doesn't matter because they can do no wrong.
If only people were more than just numbers and statistics...but they're not (according to this book).

[Josh Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of it is self-explanatory. It mainly preaches about being realistic and honest with yourself. Finding a way to align your goal with the goals of your community.

It's basically a quarter-life crisis in book form. Decent enough for those going through it and a bit repetitive for those on the other side.

[Brandon Galindo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining read.

A very well thought out book, and an entertaining one should you not be the type of person described here. And if you are, hopefully it gives you the mental fortitude to change that before it's too late. - Bacon

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book should come with a free ice pack. When you get an overpriced useless degree that you never pay the student loan back for you are essentially stealing money from society and giving it to the bank. Someone has to pay for it in the end.

[Vlad Saveluc · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like the news articles "Millenials did this", "Millenials destroyed that" you will enjoy this book. Explains how we got to this spoiled, entitled generation and what can be done.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some truths need to feel brutal to interrupt our thought processes and conditioning. This book provides those truths in spades.

[Christina Bloomfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t be fooled by the cover. This book is written for every generation since World War II including the boomers and Gen X. Real truth for men and women and I highly recommend it.

[blake currie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As real as it gets.

Lays out the truth that everyone knows but is too lazy or cowardly to say. Get this book you damn millennial.

[Alie | Bookscape Away · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

[Ethan Padilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely reframed some things for me as a Millennial in his 30s.

[Sam Sneed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overly dismissive of certain stuff. His youtube channel is better where he goes by the name Aaron Clarey

[Daniel Triumph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly what We (some of us) Need Right Now.

Great job. Nearly every chapter is useful, and a few are simply enlightening in the most literal sense. If you didn't like this book, you are part of the problem. This is not an attack on millennials, this is a way to move forward and succeed in the current landscape, as well as a bit of wisdom and life advice for a generation which thirsts for both.