The Pandemic Population: Eight Strategies to Help Generation Z Rediscover Hope After Coronavirus

by Tim Elmore

Tim Elmore’s new book – The Pandemic Population – identifies eight strategies to help Generation Z rediscover hope after coronavirus. It is a timely treatment on how to lead youth in a crisis. Students today are already the most anxious generation in modern history and now they live in the most anxious time. This book provides best practices for leading in a crisis as well as creative ideas to sustain morale and collaboration among students. It’s perfect for educators, parents, and coaches who lead kids.

Genres: Leadership

128 pages, Paperback

Published August 4, 2020

Reviews

[Gretchen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was written from a very privileged and white perspective. It also felt like the author was gaslighting the trauma of the past two and a half years. No new informed insights on communicating to Gen Z.

[Jens Hieber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good reminders, but nothing new here. I appreciated the emphasis on growth mindset, building internal narrative, and the importance of expectations and belief going together. That said, I felt this was too repetitive, not organized very well (with uneven fontsize/bolding/italicizing of sections in the kindle edition), and focused too much on the US for a book that purports to address the needs of an entire generation impacted by a global event.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was nothing in this book that I have not heard, seen, or read before. Stereotyping of entire generations is abundant. I find some parts, like comparing today’s pandemic to ebola, a bit problematic. There’s more, but I don’t have time to write an essay. If you find something useful in this book, that’s great. I think the biggest takeaway from the book is simply to continue to hold high expectations of gen z, help them be resilient, and keep believing in them.

[Dalton Worthington · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is borderline right wing propaganda by somebody without any training in education or psychology. Avoid it at all costs.

[Blaze Currie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is near impossible to write a plan for how to help students recover from this Pandemic while we remain in the grips of COVID, but I think Tim Elmore gives us much to work with.

Analyzing previous generations and how traumatic events shaped their evolution (The Great Depression, WWII, 9/11), Elmore argues that much of what shapes our generational response to trauma is our collective self-narrative.

Those of us engaged in youth development can take steps now to help young people frame the trauma of the past year into a narrative of resilience, growth, and hope.

I expect more research and more books about the impacts of 2020 and “virtual learning” on students will be out soon. What I also expect all of them to include, just as Elmore has, is a call to action: our investment in Gen Z over the next two to three years will be absolutely critical to our collective future.

[Demetra · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a teacher, this book is absolutely invaluable; as someone who graduated from undergrad in the height of COVID during spring 2020, then completed an entire master's degree via Zoom, this book helped me to evaluate my own personal narratives involving the pandemic and challenge myself to be more adaptive. GREAT book. Honestly, I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone who is living through these times.

[Daniel Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phenomenal book, Elmore compares the greatest generation's experience of the Spanish flu and great depression to gen z's experience. his insight on the similarities and differences lead to great action steps to help lead the next generation as they grow into adults.

[PJ Ochoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you work with students, K5-College, I CANNOT recommend this book enough! Tim does a fantastic job of explaining where generation Z is at right now with the pandemic, and how you can successfully coach them through this time! Please do yourself a favor and read this book!

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take on comparing past generational responses to trauma and how Gen Z is weathering. I didn’t feel this book taught me anything new but it was a good reminder on how to help support students grapple with hardships and be resilient.

[Ashley Luhrs · Rating 2 out of 5]

There some good things in here, but nothing groundbreaking. Some it seemed pretty stereotypical and cliche, but provided some decent talking points.

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing groundbreaking, but some good things. Quick and easy read.

[Kemt217 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Provides great insight about how the population needs to be dealt with in a different way.