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Hollowed Out: A Warning about America's Next Generation
Do teachers have a front row seat to America’s decline?
Jeremy S. Adams, a teacher at both the high school and college levels, thinks so.
Adams has spent decades trying to instill wisdom, ambition, and a love of learning in his students. And yet, as he notes, when teachers get together, they often share an arresting Something has gone terribly wrong. Something essential is missing in our young people.
Their curiosity seems stunted, their reason undeveloped, their values uninformed, their knowledge lacking, and most worrying of all, their humanity diminished.
Digital hermits of a sort unfamiliar to an older generation, they have little interest in marriage and family. They largely dismiss—and are shockingly ignorant of—religion. They sneer at patriotism, sympathize with riots and vandalism, and regard American society and civilization as so radically flawed that it must be dismantled. Often friendless and depressed, they eat alone, study alone, and even “socialize” alone.
Educators like Adams see a generation slipping away. The problems that have hollowed out our young people have been festering for years. A year of COVID-19 lockdowns and social distancing have magnified them. The result could be a generation—and our nation’s future—lost in a miasma of alienation and stupefaction.
In his stunning new book, Hollowed Out , Jeremy S. Adams reveals why students have rejected the wisdom, culture, and institutions of Western civilization—and what we can do to win them back. Poignant, frightening, and yet inspiring, this is a book for every parent, teacher, and patriot concerned for our young people and our country
Jeremy S. Adams, a teacher at both the high school and college levels, thinks so.
Adams has spent decades trying to instill wisdom, ambition, and a love of learning in his students. And yet, as he notes, when teachers get together, they often share an arresting Something has gone terribly wrong. Something essential is missing in our young people.
Their curiosity seems stunted, their reason undeveloped, their values uninformed, their knowledge lacking, and most worrying of all, their humanity diminished.
Digital hermits of a sort unfamiliar to an older generation, they have little interest in marriage and family. They largely dismiss—and are shockingly ignorant of—religion. They sneer at patriotism, sympathize with riots and vandalism, and regard American society and civilization as so radically flawed that it must be dismantled. Often friendless and depressed, they eat alone, study alone, and even “socialize” alone.
Educators like Adams see a generation slipping away. The problems that have hollowed out our young people have been festering for years. A year of COVID-19 lockdowns and social distancing have magnified them. The result could be a generation—and our nation’s future—lost in a miasma of alienation and stupefaction.
In his stunning new book, Hollowed Out , Jeremy S. Adams reveals why students have rejected the wisdom, culture, and institutions of Western civilization—and what we can do to win them back. Poignant, frightening, and yet inspiring, this is a book for every parent, teacher, and patriot concerned for our young people and our country
224 pages, Hardcover
Published August 3, 2021
58 people are currently reading
507 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 23, 2021
Hollowed Out is a relatively short but important read for people of all ages to understand the new generation of American students, even if you don't agree with the authors obvious conservative bias.
This book has six chapters, each one focused on a different area of life that marks gen Z as remarkably different from the generations that came before it. As you might guess from the title, the book isn't exactly positive about these. The author combines parts of his own story as well as personal experience in the classroom to add to a collection of disturbing statistics that if not at least alarming, then at least information about the effects of new technology on our lives.
The part of the book that I thought was the most successful was using statistics to demonstrate how the young generation lacks substance. I thought that the most harrowing information were shocking statistics about screen time and anecdotes about students lack of basic knowledge and respect of western culture, as well as the complete breakdown of the family unit and adult responsibilities. The fact that teens are more depressed, more anxious, and more likely to die from suicide is something that needs to be reckoned with, and I believe this book does a good job of proposing that new technology, the breakdown of the family unit, the lack of contemplation over higher purpose, and general lack of respect for western ideas is responsible.
The part of the book that was less successful to me was the last chapter, which talked about all of this in relation to America and American ideals. It feels to me like this book was written basically because the author wanted to talk about how the younger generation had completely lost respect for America and its history, and that this book was kind of born out of a justification and background for it. Which I understand, but this last part was based far more on the authors opinions and respect for America, and though I do agree with a lot of it, it seemed less dire to me, because the other things have a direct impact on children's health and well-being, whereas respect for American heroes doesn't determine how happy my life is.
A couple other things:
The author just kind of likes to throw the term "judeo-christian values" around without explaining why its relevant, which was by far the most annoying thing about the book. I understand bemoaning a seeming lack of interest in understanding our purpose or meaning, but complaining that kids don't know enough about the bible, or suggesting that becoming a believer in God makes us any less ignorant about our understanding of our place in the world seems out of touch.
I listened to this in audiobook form, the narrator was great and communicated things with energy.
I am currently a 19yr old college student, and a lot of this book rang true for me. There was a lot of things I recognized in the people I know or in myself that concerns me, and I've made a goal of changing a couple lifestyle things like spending more time to myself and reading/listening to more classical literature, so thank you Jeremy.
Overall, a good book with a lot of good things to say. If you are not conservative, this book might piss you off a couple times, but I'd stick with it, because there is a lot of concerning and important things that it has to say.
4/5 stars
This book has six chapters, each one focused on a different area of life that marks gen Z as remarkably different from the generations that came before it. As you might guess from the title, the book isn't exactly positive about these. The author combines parts of his own story as well as personal experience in the classroom to add to a collection of disturbing statistics that if not at least alarming, then at least information about the effects of new technology on our lives.
The part of the book that I thought was the most successful was using statistics to demonstrate how the young generation lacks substance. I thought that the most harrowing information were shocking statistics about screen time and anecdotes about students lack of basic knowledge and respect of western culture, as well as the complete breakdown of the family unit and adult responsibilities. The fact that teens are more depressed, more anxious, and more likely to die from suicide is something that needs to be reckoned with, and I believe this book does a good job of proposing that new technology, the breakdown of the family unit, the lack of contemplation over higher purpose, and general lack of respect for western ideas is responsible.
The part of the book that was less successful to me was the last chapter, which talked about all of this in relation to America and American ideals. It feels to me like this book was written basically because the author wanted to talk about how the younger generation had completely lost respect for America and its history, and that this book was kind of born out of a justification and background for it. Which I understand, but this last part was based far more on the authors opinions and respect for America, and though I do agree with a lot of it, it seemed less dire to me, because the other things have a direct impact on children's health and well-being, whereas respect for American heroes doesn't determine how happy my life is.
A couple other things:
The author just kind of likes to throw the term "judeo-christian values" around without explaining why its relevant, which was by far the most annoying thing about the book. I understand bemoaning a seeming lack of interest in understanding our purpose or meaning, but complaining that kids don't know enough about the bible, or suggesting that becoming a believer in God makes us any less ignorant about our understanding of our place in the world seems out of touch.
I listened to this in audiobook form, the narrator was great and communicated things with energy.
I am currently a 19yr old college student, and a lot of this book rang true for me. There was a lot of things I recognized in the people I know or in myself that concerns me, and I've made a goal of changing a couple lifestyle things like spending more time to myself and reading/listening to more classical literature, so thank you Jeremy.
Overall, a good book with a lot of good things to say. If you are not conservative, this book might piss you off a couple times, but I'd stick with it, because there is a lot of concerning and important things that it has to say.
4/5 stars
July 31, 2021
This can fuck all the way off. Once again, old people blaming kids for their mental health issues when the world is collapsing, there is no future, and dissociation is the only way to survive.
August 5, 2021
As a parent and an educator, this book resonated with me on so many levels. It was a sober look at what is happening to the youth in America due to a myriad of factors (social media dependence, a limited knowledge of America’s history, etc.) but what I truly loved about this book is that it also gave hope.
It impressed upon me the importance of my role in modeling to my children how to engage in the world outside of their electronic devices: the importance of family conversation over dinner and the joy of a game night with an actual board game in front of them.
It also reminded me that, while I believe it is vitally important to teach my children about what I believe are America’s failings (systemic racism, LGBTQ inequality etc.) it is also important to teach my children about all that America and it’s founders have accomplished. Historical figures, like all of us, are layered and by focusing only on their shortcomings, we are ignoring the contributions they made. As the author writes, “The reason older Americans tend to feel great pride in their country is because they do not isolate episodes of oppression and injustice and claim that they are the real America - instead, they see America as a continuous and virtuous struggle, an unfolding drama in which the United States struggles to reconcile its worst misdeeds with its most soaring ideals.” p. 106.
This book was eye-opening for me, and I believe it is an essential read for every parent.
It impressed upon me the importance of my role in modeling to my children how to engage in the world outside of their electronic devices: the importance of family conversation over dinner and the joy of a game night with an actual board game in front of them.
It also reminded me that, while I believe it is vitally important to teach my children about what I believe are America’s failings (systemic racism, LGBTQ inequality etc.) it is also important to teach my children about all that America and it’s founders have accomplished. Historical figures, like all of us, are layered and by focusing only on their shortcomings, we are ignoring the contributions they made. As the author writes, “The reason older Americans tend to feel great pride in their country is because they do not isolate episodes of oppression and injustice and claim that they are the real America - instead, they see America as a continuous and virtuous struggle, an unfolding drama in which the United States struggles to reconcile its worst misdeeds with its most soaring ideals.” p. 106.
This book was eye-opening for me, and I believe it is an essential read for every parent.
August 2, 2021
Having spent as many years in the classroom as Mr. Adams I found myself consistently nodding as I read this book. In clear prose and through poignant examples Mr. Adams lays out the problems he sees in the classroom. His students are not the problem. The problem is a society that has not done enough to help young people become their best selves. I recommend it for educators, parents, young people and anyone looking for a compass in a time that feels somewhat directionless.
August 4, 2021
Informed by his experiences in the classroom, educator Jeremy Adams astutely traces back the roots of the next generation's malaise to a society that has failed them in culture, in academic curriculum, in family support, and in national discourse. This is not an exercise in blaming the victim, but a call to arms to defend them from the dangers our crumbling social compact poses to them and arm them with the wisdom, moral courage, and pride to thrive in a changing world.
August 2, 2021
A must read book for 2021. Adams does a terrific job not only describing today's youth, but calling on American adults to rise to the occasion and reverse the hollowing of culture. The book is timely, readable, engaging and – most importantly – not written by a pundit, but rather, by a teacher who has seen first hand the transformation (one might say, devolution) of the young people in his classes over the past 20 years.
September 4, 2021
This is a good book but was definitely disappointing. As someone who really enjoys these Social Science books, I was really looking forward to reading this one. I was expecting it to be much like Nancy Jo Sales's book "American Girls" (great btw, highly recommended) but instead read a book that was written with much more emotion and opinion at the sacrifice of more facts and unbiased narration. While I agree with probably 80% of what Jeremy Adams writes about, the delivery was a little too one sided in my opinion and I personally felt the book could have been double the length (it comes in at only 136 pages) with at least double the amount of references used. It felt more to me like I was reading a long Op Ed in the Times or an article in The New Yorker than I was a Social Science book.
Going back to Nancy Jo Sales's "American Girls", what you read was a book packed with statics about teenage girls in today's society v. teenage girls of previous generations. Sales kept much of her personal opinion out of the book, and presented the reader with a very factual picture of how media and social media are affecting the growth of today's teenage females in America. In contrast, Jeremy Adams gives us a book that at times feels like a well researched pre-meditated argument as to why today's generation coming up are so hollow when it comes to traditional core American values such as faith, politics, and morals. Don't get me wrong, he hits the nail on the head in all of the topics discussed. With the exception of one or two of his opinions, I agree with him whole-heartedly. What I wish he would have done though was research the topics more and present a book that was put together more like a factual based report on HOW today's generation is hollowed out with more examples and statistics. Although he does back everything he says with hard facts, it's not many. And I don't think at all that it's b/c there are a limited number of examples for him to find, I'm sure they're out there in abundance. The book reads more like Adams was/is just so fed up with how non-chalet today's generation is about everything that he just had to get it out on paper as fast as possible. It's almost like reading what a conversation is amongst teachers in America today would sound like.
Another part I found a little weird is his inclusion of the 1776 Report as an appendix at the end of the book. He speaks about it briefly in the last chapter of the book and while again, I agree with his thoughts on it, I disagree with him including it in the book. If the 1776 report was found to be an accurate representation of what it authors' and supporters' claim it to be then I would had no issue with it being included in the book. I was going to read it myself to get an unbiased opinion on it but took all of 5 minutes to Google search just how many scholars and historians dejected this report. The report has zero citations in it which to me, is an immediate red flag in any literary work of non-fiction, especially a report on facts about our country's founding.
Overall I don't know if I would recommend this. It's a quick read and definitely interesting and I think true for the most part. It definitely isn't earning a permanent spot in my library.
Going back to Nancy Jo Sales's "American Girls", what you read was a book packed with statics about teenage girls in today's society v. teenage girls of previous generations. Sales kept much of her personal opinion out of the book, and presented the reader with a very factual picture of how media and social media are affecting the growth of today's teenage females in America. In contrast, Jeremy Adams gives us a book that at times feels like a well researched pre-meditated argument as to why today's generation coming up are so hollow when it comes to traditional core American values such as faith, politics, and morals. Don't get me wrong, he hits the nail on the head in all of the topics discussed. With the exception of one or two of his opinions, I agree with him whole-heartedly. What I wish he would have done though was research the topics more and present a book that was put together more like a factual based report on HOW today's generation is hollowed out with more examples and statistics. Although he does back everything he says with hard facts, it's not many. And I don't think at all that it's b/c there are a limited number of examples for him to find, I'm sure they're out there in abundance. The book reads more like Adams was/is just so fed up with how non-chalet today's generation is about everything that he just had to get it out on paper as fast as possible. It's almost like reading what a conversation is amongst teachers in America today would sound like.
Another part I found a little weird is his inclusion of the 1776 Report as an appendix at the end of the book. He speaks about it briefly in the last chapter of the book and while again, I agree with his thoughts on it, I disagree with him including it in the book. If the 1776 report was found to be an accurate representation of what it authors' and supporters' claim it to be then I would had no issue with it being included in the book. I was going to read it myself to get an unbiased opinion on it but took all of 5 minutes to Google search just how many scholars and historians dejected this report. The report has zero citations in it which to me, is an immediate red flag in any literary work of non-fiction, especially a report on facts about our country's founding.
Overall I don't know if I would recommend this. It's a quick read and definitely interesting and I think true for the most part. It definitely isn't earning a permanent spot in my library.
August 23, 2021
Easy to see that what happened in 80s/90s caused the fall for the next two generations. Stop trying to blame the young for issues that you created.
November 27, 2021
A must read for teachers and parents
August 3, 2021
I often look forward to reading what Jeremy Adams writes because he so eloquently shares meaningful observations & perspectives on the current sociopolitical climate, especially as it pertains to the classroom. He writes with authority as a veteran classroom teacher of over 20 years, not as an administrator or former classroom teacher: he is in the trenches every day.
Hollowed Out was no exception to his writing. The book was hard to put down, but I did move through it more slowly because it caused me to reflect on my own life & career as both a parent & a teacher. While I nodded my head in agreement many times, I also had to consider how much I was contributing to the problem & how much I was contributing to the solution. While his observations are alarming, he does not place blame on the current generation of students; instead, he challenges us to take responsibility. And by us, he means anyone who works with the future of our country: parents, educators, community members.
Hollowed Out is a book for anyone who has a stake in education & the future of our nation…meaning this is a book for everyone to read & consider. It’s not about “brainwashing” but instilling a desire to be active participants in society.
Hollowed Out was no exception to his writing. The book was hard to put down, but I did move through it more slowly because it caused me to reflect on my own life & career as both a parent & a teacher. While I nodded my head in agreement many times, I also had to consider how much I was contributing to the problem & how much I was contributing to the solution. While his observations are alarming, he does not place blame on the current generation of students; instead, he challenges us to take responsibility. And by us, he means anyone who works with the future of our country: parents, educators, community members.
Hollowed Out is a book for anyone who has a stake in education & the future of our nation…meaning this is a book for everyone to read & consider. It’s not about “brainwashing” but instilling a desire to be active participants in society.
August 4, 2021
This book is a modern classic. It captures a real problem with the upcoming generation that too few people are noticing. Each chapter covers a particular aspect of the decline, starting with the lack of foundational principles progressing to the our divided politics. Lurking behind all of this is a disengagement with reality that sets so many young people adrift and apathetic. Although Adams focuses on Gen Z, much of the same criticism applies to the Millennials and even Gen Xers. Overall, Hollowed Out helps pull the reader from the daily minutia and consider these broad trends and how to best address them.
As far as style and voice go, Adams is a professional. The book is very readable, graceful, and clear. This a must-read for anyone hoping to understand our world today.
As far as style and voice go, Adams is a professional. The book is very readable, graceful, and clear. This a must-read for anyone hoping to understand our world today.
October 24, 2021
This book could read as a harbinger of American doom, but Adams’ last chapter keeps optimism front and center. That is, if we stop race peddling and victimization in our schools - in our lives - and start content knowledge up again instead of “critical thinking skills”. A must read for teachers, admin, counselors, and parents!
July 4, 2022
Thought-provoking and chilling. As a teacher who has grown frustrated with the attempted dumbing down of curriculum and the almost complete lack of behavioral expectations, this book wasn’t shocking, but rather it made me want to fight harder against the terrible changes.
November 21, 2021
The author, an instructor of high school and college students, warns the nation about the alienation and spiritual malaise of the upcoming generation. He urges return to basics in civics, social studies, patriotism, and understanding of American government and American uniqueness. He also stresses return to traditional institutions -- family, church, society -- as well as classical and canon authors. The appendix includes the "1776 plan," to integrate positive, right-wing American history lessons.
The author presents well; his prose is fluid, absorbing, and sincere. He might be preaching to the choir, but hopefully his message may get through to a wider crowd. He is right to condemn the raging progressive folly going on in the campuses and media. I write this after the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse and a possible return to common sense in America. As much as I agree with the author about the civic and spiritual decline among our youth, I don't know how much the promotion of a secular institution, on which this country was built, may accomplish -- or restore. Ironically, Americans may suffer from too much freedom. Nevertheless, there are worse places in the world to be, and the attraction felt by many foreigners to our country attests to the privilege of living here. Although never a Yankee Doodle Dandy type, I have grown to appreciate the land of my birth.
Americans are in a dilemma -- wanting to embrace a multicultural view yet sacrificing the nation's Judeo-Christian cornerstone. I would like to see the young return to religion in some form--preferably the Seven Noachide Laws, at least for the non-Jewish majority. Though hardly a panacea, awareness of Divine authority is necessary to maintain a society. However, some people -- i.e. LGBT, non-whites -- might feel threatened or marginalized by the re-emergence of Church or synagogue. On the other hand, pure democracy does not work in any society, no matter how moral. The current riots show the dangers of mob rule. Jews, in particular, are a nation of Torah Law, and America is a republic -- built on Constitutional law. It is the basis of morality.
The big challenge will be restoring a sense of national community. Yet value-free, judgment-free inclusion does not work either. I truly fear for the upcoming generation.
The author presents well; his prose is fluid, absorbing, and sincere. He might be preaching to the choir, but hopefully his message may get through to a wider crowd. He is right to condemn the raging progressive folly going on in the campuses and media. I write this after the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse and a possible return to common sense in America. As much as I agree with the author about the civic and spiritual decline among our youth, I don't know how much the promotion of a secular institution, on which this country was built, may accomplish -- or restore. Ironically, Americans may suffer from too much freedom. Nevertheless, there are worse places in the world to be, and the attraction felt by many foreigners to our country attests to the privilege of living here. Although never a Yankee Doodle Dandy type, I have grown to appreciate the land of my birth.
Americans are in a dilemma -- wanting to embrace a multicultural view yet sacrificing the nation's Judeo-Christian cornerstone. I would like to see the young return to religion in some form--preferably the Seven Noachide Laws, at least for the non-Jewish majority. Though hardly a panacea, awareness of Divine authority is necessary to maintain a society. However, some people -- i.e. LGBT, non-whites -- might feel threatened or marginalized by the re-emergence of Church or synagogue. On the other hand, pure democracy does not work in any society, no matter how moral. The current riots show the dangers of mob rule. Jews, in particular, are a nation of Torah Law, and America is a republic -- built on Constitutional law. It is the basis of morality.
The big challenge will be restoring a sense of national community. Yet value-free, judgment-free inclusion does not work either. I truly fear for the upcoming generation.
June 23, 2024
Do teachers have a front row seat to America’s decline?
Jeremy S. Adams, a teacher at both the high school and college levels, thinks so.
Adams has spent decades trying to instill wisdom, ambition, and a love of learning in his students. And yet, as he notes, when teachers get together, they often share an arresting Something has gone terribly wrong. Something essential is missing in our young people.
Their curiosity seems stunted, their reason undeveloped, their values uninformed, their knowledge lacking, and most worrying of all, their humanity diminished.
Digital hermits of a sort unfamiliar to an older generation, they have little interest in marriage and family. They largely dismiss—and are shockingly ignorant of—religion. They sneer at patriotism, sympathize with riots and vandalism, and regard American society and civilization as so radically flawed that it must be dismantled. Often friendless and depressed, they eat alone, study alone, and even “socialize” alone.
Educators like Adams see a generation slipping away. The problems that have hollowed out our young people have been festering for years. A year of COVID-19 lockdowns and social distancing have magnified them. The result could be a generation—and our nation’s future—lost in a miasma of alienation and stupefaction.
In his stunning new book, Hollowed Out , Jeremy S. Adams reveals why students have rejected the wisdom, culture, and institutions of Western civilization—and what we can do to win them back. Poignant, frightening, and yet inspiring, this is a book for every parent, teacher, and patriot concerned for our young people and our country
Jeremy S. Adams, a teacher at both the high school and college levels, thinks so.
Adams has spent decades trying to instill wisdom, ambition, and a love of learning in his students. And yet, as he notes, when teachers get together, they often share an arresting Something has gone terribly wrong. Something essential is missing in our young people.
Their curiosity seems stunted, their reason undeveloped, their values uninformed, their knowledge lacking, and most worrying of all, their humanity diminished.
Digital hermits of a sort unfamiliar to an older generation, they have little interest in marriage and family. They largely dismiss—and are shockingly ignorant of—religion. They sneer at patriotism, sympathize with riots and vandalism, and regard American society and civilization as so radically flawed that it must be dismantled. Often friendless and depressed, they eat alone, study alone, and even “socialize” alone.
Educators like Adams see a generation slipping away. The problems that have hollowed out our young people have been festering for years. A year of COVID-19 lockdowns and social distancing have magnified them. The result could be a generation—and our nation’s future—lost in a miasma of alienation and stupefaction.
In his stunning new book, Hollowed Out , Jeremy S. Adams reveals why students have rejected the wisdom, culture, and institutions of Western civilization—and what we can do to win them back. Poignant, frightening, and yet inspiring, this is a book for every parent, teacher, and patriot concerned for our young people and our country
October 26, 2021
I randomly picked up this book, in my dismay at what I'm seeing happening in public school education. Just trying to understand. Jeremy Adams presented a compelling and disturbing picture of today's youth, in a post-Covid 19 world. I will say this book made me seriously reconsider my relationship to my phone, Facebook, and Netflix. I ended up cancelling Netflix and am trying to read actual books instead of phone scrolling. Facebook is a bigger beast to give up, but I'm certainly watching the ongoing hearings with great interest. Adams also presents a history of the country that I fear is being forgotten. Its not about being Christian or Trumpism, but it is about forgetting what it is like to have values that are Truth. In our post-modern world, its all subjective. I am tiptoeing very cautiously around these ideas - on both sides - because I think when you hold on too tight, you get the political polarization we see in our country. But, as a Christian, I cannot deny that family and church are pillars of our society. However, I was very disappointed that Adams' included the 1776 Report in full at the back of the book. A quick google search showed me the problems with that particular piece of work - and also connects Adams' ideology to Trump in a way that makes me a little uncomfortable.
June 29, 2022
I absolutely am so glad I picked up this book!! It explains so much about our generation and how our generation has become so engrossed in gaming,Tic Tok, social justice and climate change that we have failed to actual acquire real social skills and real knowledge about the real things that matter like faith, freedom and family. Our generation has been captured and held hostage by our devices and follow whatever the latest Hollywood celeb tells us while we throw away history and God and care less about what our country was actually founded on and how our government today is literally failing at every single level yet no one seems to care. This book was so informative and put it all out there making such bold claims and even going as far as saying we’re at risk of loosing our country Because of our hollowed out generation. absolutely agree 👏🏻👏🏻
Now it makes sense why I rather be outdoors then hidden in my basement, seeking out real truth and diving into our rich American history eager to learn from my forefathers rather then aimlessly taking to the streets because Hollywood told me too
I have vowed to myself that I WILL NOT become a part of this hollowed out generation and neither will my children!!!!
Now it makes sense why I rather be outdoors then hidden in my basement, seeking out real truth and diving into our rich American history eager to learn from my forefathers rather then aimlessly taking to the streets because Hollywood told me too
I have vowed to myself that I WILL NOT become a part of this hollowed out generation and neither will my children!!!!
September 11, 2025
This recommendation came from a professional medical forum I belong to when an attending complained she kept getting written up when trying to guide young physicians.
I'm middle aged enough that I too feel a disconnect from teenagers these days, especially when they're so absorbed with their phones & online content. But I'm not sure that Adam's contention that "A classical education remains the best way to come to a reckoning with the past & what it means to be human" is really the answer. I myself have never actually read Homer or Voltaire or Proust (& countless others). He insists that we need to teach optimism about the ideals of the founding fathers so we can get away from a culture of victimhood. I think those ideals are generally great but they can be taught alongside an understanding of structural racism/sexism & a celebration of all kinds of communities & cultures.
I'm middle aged enough that I too feel a disconnect from teenagers these days, especially when they're so absorbed with their phones & online content. But I'm not sure that Adam's contention that "A classical education remains the best way to come to a reckoning with the past & what it means to be human" is really the answer. I myself have never actually read Homer or Voltaire or Proust (& countless others). He insists that we need to teach optimism about the ideals of the founding fathers so we can get away from a culture of victimhood. I think those ideals are generally great but they can be taught alongside an understanding of structural racism/sexism & a celebration of all kinds of communities & cultures.
January 23, 2022
The author accurately reports the shallow, rampant narcissism of Generation Z & even many Millennials. He also very clearly points out the causes (various aspects of society including the disintegration of the family, the abandonment of faith, particularly Christianity, the failure of educators, and the rise of ego feeding social media) and the effects (more loneliness & mental illness, more promiscuity & fewer children, society wide selfishness, etc).
I would suggest that anyone who disagrees with the problems he outlines fall into one of 2 camps. They are either willfully or sadly ignorant of people under the age of 30 or they don’t see the shallowness & narcissism as problems: ie they LIKE kids hating history, faith, their elders, each other and themselves.
I would suggest that anyone who disagrees with the problems he outlines fall into one of 2 camps. They are either willfully or sadly ignorant of people under the age of 30 or they don’t see the shallowness & narcissism as problems: ie they LIKE kids hating history, faith, their elders, each other and themselves.
June 15, 2022
The author is not blaming the students for their predicament but is attempting to get them to be responsible for their actions and mindset regardless. Quote from the book: "America's success has been a success of freedom, mass prosperity, science, and innovation. Most of all, America's success marks the success of human aspiration. The ultimate irony is the the young people who condemn America for its flaws do not recognize that their standards of justice, equality, freedom, opportunity, and prosperity are entirely the product of our history. They carp at the extraordinary achievements of the American past-and do not recognize how that makes them less capable of building and even more extraordinary future."
December 1, 2022
I very much appreciate the on the ground/on the front lines view that Jeremy S. Adams provides in this book. It is a great mix of idealism, optimism, intuition, experience, data, and philosophical knowledge that really makes the piece shine in an era pervaded by figurative darkness in the form of cynicism, hatred, fear, and despair. Adams is charitable and genuine in his approach to what he believes to be major issues of our time, and he reminds us that one of the ways we can better our position is by looking to the wisdom that has been accumulated in the past not only of America but of the West more broadly. This book is an inspiring work, and I would definitely recommend it to people who are parents, teachers, or hold any other positions of authority because that seems to be the type of audience that Adam's really wants to try to speak to.
August 12, 2021
Hollowed Out was a haunting read!
A must read for anybody concerned about America’s future. Jeremy Adams makes a compelling case for the importance of high school civics and its critical impact on us all. Hollowed Out is a well researched and argued reflection about America’s youth and the critical need for embracing the past to protect our future. This book is a reminder that our nations future is already here. A high school campus is a way to travel forward in time and the most important battlefield we must master.
A must read for anybody concerned about America’s future. Jeremy Adams makes a compelling case for the importance of high school civics and its critical impact on us all. Hollowed Out is a well researched and argued reflection about America’s youth and the critical need for embracing the past to protect our future. This book is a reminder that our nations future is already here. A high school campus is a way to travel forward in time and the most important battlefield we must master.
August 6, 2023
I really liked this book. I teach high school mathematics and Jeremy's assessment of teenage students is spot on. Many of my students have little to no motivating to do anything to improve themselves.
I read right through the first half of the book agreeing with almost every point.
The second half of the book was slower and probably not directed at me. I agreed with his ideas on the second half, but have already seen those ideas published in other books/essays/websites.
I recommend this for anyone who had children in the public education system.
I read right through the first half of the book agreeing with almost every point.
The second half of the book was slower and probably not directed at me. I agreed with his ideas on the second half, but have already seen those ideas published in other books/essays/websites.
I recommend this for anyone who had children in the public education system.
August 6, 2021
I couldn’t put the book down! Jeremy Adams has captured what is going on with today’s youth. Other avenues of entertainment are starting to see this trend and portray it on television, but Jeremy’s experience with teaching High Schoolers has enabled him to get a “first glimpse” into the heart of the problem with today’s teens. This isn’t just a book that uses gloom and doom to scare you into a certain belief. Jeremy’s writing is full of hope and optimism that we can help our teenagers get their faces away from screens and instill in them a greater sense of beauty, spirit, and connectedness.
March 23, 2024
When I started this book I decided it was a very pessimistic view of today’s young people in America, but towards the end I felt it was pretty realistic even though it’s so dark and bleak. I’ve read a few books about the path America is currently on (mostly social/cultural rather than political) but I don’t have answers yet on where to start with solutions. Someone LMK if the book has been written on what to do next with this country lol
October 7, 2021
4.5 stars. It is always nice to read a book that inspires, especially when the topic/message of the book is a difficult topic. Particularly loved his writing on the education system and getting back to a classical/liberal arts focus. I also really appreciated his vast literature references as well as pulling from a diverse and huge knowledge base, past and present.
June 12, 2023
This book was not so much new information for me, but it does include references to research that is helpful. It was for certain sobering, almost depressing, but at least it tried to end on a hopeful note, encouraging everyone to teach the next generation. Ultimately any hope without Christ is still hollow, so the book definitely lacked that.
January 15, 2026
Good book.
I wish the ending didn’t twist into a conservatives’s monologue about everything wrong with society.
Being a conservative myself, I found it most likely hurt the credibility of his quality points to those not of an already like-mindset.
From a teacher’s mindset, it aligned very well with everything I saw from my 8 years as a middle school teacher.
I wish the ending didn’t twist into a conservatives’s monologue about everything wrong with society.
Being a conservative myself, I found it most likely hurt the credibility of his quality points to those not of an already like-mindset.
From a teacher’s mindset, it aligned very well with everything I saw from my 8 years as a middle school teacher.
December 2, 2021
I would give this a 5 stars if he could ease off on the God & religious forced point of views. Not everyone one needs to seek for religious guidance for a deeper meaning life. Let me be hollowed on that regards.
February 12, 2022
This book truly makes you thing about how today society perceives our country. Will make you really evaluate some decisions we make as parents and what things should remain sacred in our family and lives.
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