What do you think?
Rate this book
The Death of the Grown-Up: How America's Arrested Development Is Bringing Down Western Civilization
Diana West sees a US filled with middle-age guys playing air guitar and thinks "No wonder we can't stop Islamic terrorism." She sees Moms Who Mosh and wonders "Is there a single adult left anywhere?" But, the grown-ups are all gone. The disease that killed them was incubated in the sixties to a rock-and-roll score, took hold in the seventies with the help of multicultralism and left us with a nation of eternal adolescents who can't decide between "good" and "bad", a generation who can't say "no". From the inability to nix a sixteen year-old's request for Marilyn Manson concert tickets to offering adolescents parentally-funded motel rooms on prom night to rationalizing murderous acts of Islamic suicide bombers with platitudes of cultural equivalence, West sees us on a slippery slope that's lead to a time when America has forgotten its place in the world. In The Death of the Grown-Up Diana West serves up a provocative critique of our dangerously indecisive world leavened with humor and shot through with insight.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published August 21, 2007
54 people are currently reading
504 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 29, 2011
I considered giving this book 5 stars. I do recommend it and know my own read hasn't done it justice. I need to get back to it, as is the case with so many books.
I suppose some will have trouble with this, in my own way I did. I am in or of the Baby Boom generation and "we" (that generation) are called to task somewhat specifically (among others) here. AND I must admit that Ms. West hits the mark more often than not.
While I suppose it can be argued that she is a bit hypersensitive in some of the examples she sights (I don't care or see as a problem so much that a majority of people watching the Cartoon Network at some times are over thirty so much as I'm concerned that they don't keep up on current events in the world). But on the whole this is a book which will point out something that I believe many if not most with an open mind will already have been somewhat cognizant of. There are hard questions here that one needs to have a really open mind to appreciate.
The books assertion that we who are supposed to be adults have now largely abdicated or even refused to see our responsibilities will I think hit home if an honest look is taken here. It has seemed to me for some time that society has in many senses "thrown out the baby with the bathwater". We lack balance we can't find the tipping point so to speak, we often choose what's "easy" instead of what's right. I recommend this book, even though it can be in some ways uncomfortable.
I suppose some will have trouble with this, in my own way I did. I am in or of the Baby Boom generation and "we" (that generation) are called to task somewhat specifically (among others) here. AND I must admit that Ms. West hits the mark more often than not.
While I suppose it can be argued that she is a bit hypersensitive in some of the examples she sights (I don't care or see as a problem so much that a majority of people watching the Cartoon Network at some times are over thirty so much as I'm concerned that they don't keep up on current events in the world). But on the whole this is a book which will point out something that I believe many if not most with an open mind will already have been somewhat cognizant of. There are hard questions here that one needs to have a really open mind to appreciate.
The books assertion that we who are supposed to be adults have now largely abdicated or even refused to see our responsibilities will I think hit home if an honest look is taken here. It has seemed to me for some time that society has in many senses "thrown out the baby with the bathwater". We lack balance we can't find the tipping point so to speak, we often choose what's "easy" instead of what's right. I recommend this book, even though it can be in some ways uncomfortable.
January 30, 2009
I admit here that I also did not completely read this book. I skimmed it. As in my reading of "The Dumbest Generation", I found this book a "preaching to the choir" type book. Useful really only to those who already hold the idea, but not persuasive enough to convert someone who perhaps didn't think there is any arrested development in America.
The information superhighway and the internet, email, and various types of technology were supposed to make people better decision makers because they would have better information from which to make their decisions and easier access to others in making those decisions... but that has not happened. Instead we see people drowning in information and unable to sift through what is true and what is entertainment and hype. This book attempts to answer the "why is this happening?", similar to "The Dumbest Generation".
Again, the question that I find more compelling is "how do we change things?". If the problem is as the author states, then how do we move forward?
The information superhighway and the internet, email, and various types of technology were supposed to make people better decision makers because they would have better information from which to make their decisions and easier access to others in making those decisions... but that has not happened. Instead we see people drowning in information and unable to sift through what is true and what is entertainment and hype. This book attempts to answer the "why is this happening?", similar to "The Dumbest Generation".
Again, the question that I find more compelling is "how do we change things?". If the problem is as the author states, then how do we move forward?
October 9, 2008
An interesting commentary on how as a nation we don't seem to take responsibility or accountability for many of our actions -- from raising children to going to war in Iraq. It really made me think of how differently I would have parented had I had this book years ago. It is truly thought provoking on many levels.
February 14, 2009
If you think that there is no harm in adults cavorting around like children, reading this book will disavow you of that notion. Sit down, read, and GROW UP. Start acting like an adult. Civilization's continued survival depends on it according to the author's convincing thesis in this book.
September 15, 2018
An absolute must read for every American. This book is about personal responsibility and the weakness of political correctness; the demise of values in the U.S. Read this and you may no longer tolerate the intolerant. A truly great book that will increase in it's impact as it proves itself true.
March 23, 2016
Disappointing. There are likely many who would read this book and give it a poor rating due to disagreements with the conclusions drawn by the author; I am not necessarily in that group. I would potentially agree with (*some* of) the author's conclusions, and yet I still feel compelled to give it a poor rating, for two reasons.
First, the author doesn't actually defend her position all that well. In fact, she doesn't really establish her position all that well. There is no discussion early on about what she means by "grown up", and as such there's no objective attempt to show how that idea has changed. Instead, behavior that the author finds destructive or annoying or offensive or whatever is simply described as "not acting like a grown up." Thus, the bulk of the book is made up of anecdotes displaying some non-grown-up behavior. Yet the author often fails to connect the dots as to why the behavior is destructive. For example, it may be true and interesting that American kids are living with their parents for longer, but also explain why that is a problem, especially given that much of the world has parents and children living under one roof for life.
Second, the author's writing style is laborious and at times unreadable. The sheer amount of cultural references, allusions, and metaphors used is exhausting for the reader, and if you don't get the reference, you're left trying to puzzle out the meaning of the sentence.
I didn't know anything about the author prior to reading this book, though I've since learned that she is a regular in the professional political-talk arena. That explains a lot, as this book is more of a rant than reasoned argument, which is a shame, as the topic could have been an interesting one.
First, the author doesn't actually defend her position all that well. In fact, she doesn't really establish her position all that well. There is no discussion early on about what she means by "grown up", and as such there's no objective attempt to show how that idea has changed. Instead, behavior that the author finds destructive or annoying or offensive or whatever is simply described as "not acting like a grown up." Thus, the bulk of the book is made up of anecdotes displaying some non-grown-up behavior. Yet the author often fails to connect the dots as to why the behavior is destructive. For example, it may be true and interesting that American kids are living with their parents for longer, but also explain why that is a problem, especially given that much of the world has parents and children living under one roof for life.
Second, the author's writing style is laborious and at times unreadable. The sheer amount of cultural references, allusions, and metaphors used is exhausting for the reader, and if you don't get the reference, you're left trying to puzzle out the meaning of the sentence.
I didn't know anything about the author prior to reading this book, though I've since learned that she is a regular in the professional political-talk arena. That explains a lot, as this book is more of a rant than reasoned argument, which is a shame, as the topic could have been an interesting one.
February 19, 2010
I said in another review a few months ago that in the last decade, I have only encountered one book so bad that I had to stop reading it. I jinxed myself, because I then found The Death of the Grown-Up and encountered so many logical fallacies and uncited assertions that by page 20 I could not go on. The horror is, despite the fact that I knew I was going to disagree with the book’s main premise – that multiculturalism is destroying America – I still wanted to read this book after purchasing it. I like reading ideas contrary to mine. But I disagreed with the premise even more when I later understood that the author uses the term “multiculturalism” to mean “cultural relativism.” I think the technical term for all the problems in this book is “hot mess.”
I read in good faith so it may seem like dirty pool that I am reviewing a book I could not finish. So be it. I’ll take my lumps, if any come. But since I read in good faith, I expect people to write in good faith. When they don’t write in good faith, creating a book to bolster their pre-existing arguments instead of researching, thinking, and at least doing the most minimal due diligence to create a coherent thought, I get to take off my gloves as a polite reviewer. This is not going to be a polite review. My spouse refers to this form of writing as “killing gnats with a machine gun.” He may be right but I’m loading my critical gun right now. You can read the whole review here.
I read in good faith so it may seem like dirty pool that I am reviewing a book I could not finish. So be it. I’ll take my lumps, if any come. But since I read in good faith, I expect people to write in good faith. When they don’t write in good faith, creating a book to bolster their pre-existing arguments instead of researching, thinking, and at least doing the most minimal due diligence to create a coherent thought, I get to take off my gloves as a polite reviewer. This is not going to be a polite review. My spouse refers to this form of writing as “killing gnats with a machine gun.” He may be right but I’m loading my critical gun right now. You can read the whole review here.
March 14, 2013
In this well documented and provocative book, Diana West has taken a very hard hitting look at the immaturity of our culture: parents who want to be friends with their kids, parents who are afraid of their kids, parents who enable all menner of abusive behaviors in their kids - why? because they themselves have never grown-up. Moreover she shows how this leads to a childish wishful world view, a view that pretends, that refuses to see the hard realities that challenge the Western world today. An amazing read.
February 19, 2013
This book starts at the rise of the teenager in the 50's and then progresses to the riots of the 60's and eventually the way parents are 'friends' of their children instead of standing their ground about morals and appropriate behavior and what children are exposed to. I really liked how she reviewed history and brought perspective in how my grandparents were raised verses how I was raised. It was a bit of a wake up call for adults to act like one and sometimes we have to take a stand in what we believe and what is right. Recommend--
July 18, 2008
Sometimes you read a book and find that it pulls together many disparate thoughts that have been percolating in your brain. This was such a book for me. In addition, I am still deeply considering the book's message and its worrisome implications.
August 12, 2023
wanted a book on how adults are immature and not serious people but instead got a conservative rattling on about how Political cal correctness is using Islam to destroy the West. very disappointing
September 28, 2010
This book was downright bizarre.
(1) It seemed to be more about Diana West than anything else.
(2) When she wasn't going on about herself she seemed to spend a good chunk of the last part of the book going on about the "War on Terror," with no reference to arrested development or very much related at all to America.
(3) She did sprinkle the text with a few statistics, mostly in the first half, that I guess you could say relate to the text's title, but with no narrative flow and no real interest in trying to create one.
Well, at least we can say she's a gal with no self-esteem issues, I guess. And if you want to wade through the muddle of muck there's a few tidbits here and there....hermetically sealed off from the rest of the book.
I'm almost thinking she wanted to write another book entirely, but was somehow talked into this one. Almost worth reading as an exercise in weird narrative.
And if this is a sample of what is going to be coming from the next generation of "conservative" writers, Jesus, or maybe James Burnham, wept.
(1) It seemed to be more about Diana West than anything else.
(2) When she wasn't going on about herself she seemed to spend a good chunk of the last part of the book going on about the "War on Terror," with no reference to arrested development or very much related at all to America.
(3) She did sprinkle the text with a few statistics, mostly in the first half, that I guess you could say relate to the text's title, but with no narrative flow and no real interest in trying to create one.
Well, at least we can say she's a gal with no self-esteem issues, I guess. And if you want to wade through the muddle of muck there's a few tidbits here and there....hermetically sealed off from the rest of the book.
I'm almost thinking she wanted to write another book entirely, but was somehow talked into this one. Almost worth reading as an exercise in weird narrative.
And if this is a sample of what is going to be coming from the next generation of "conservative" writers, Jesus, or maybe James Burnham, wept.
January 25, 2010
My-oh-my, what an eye-opener this volume was.
I might Not believe the text if it wasn't so thoroughly backed up by research of the author and supported by quoted viewpoints.
Americans certainly have much to learn about the historical and present-day Islam and its tenets plus how it relates to Western thought and governments.
We tend to be so far bent over backwards to avoid intolerance, offense, and exclusion, we are missing the dangers of tolerance, inclusion and the fear exhibited by our behavior to those who are intimidating, namely, the Muslim adherents to Islam, its laws, its intolerance,anti-semetism, suppression of women, and forceful use of retoric and riots to get their own way.
I might Not believe the text if it wasn't so thoroughly backed up by research of the author and supported by quoted viewpoints.
Americans certainly have much to learn about the historical and present-day Islam and its tenets plus how it relates to Western thought and governments.
We tend to be so far bent over backwards to avoid intolerance, offense, and exclusion, we are missing the dangers of tolerance, inclusion and the fear exhibited by our behavior to those who are intimidating, namely, the Muslim adherents to Islam, its laws, its intolerance,anti-semetism, suppression of women, and forceful use of retoric and riots to get their own way.
March 6, 2012
I picked this book up solely based on the title, which poses an idea that I generally suspect to be true - there is a lack of maturation required in modern societies. But West goes on to make this point in rather racist, homophobic, sexist, and xenophobic ways, that pretty much invalidate her argument as she is often wrong or misinformed of history and fact. Her disregard of objective truth is appalling to the point of being comical.
October 11, 2015
Fantastic book which painfully describes the deleterious effects of lacking adult leadership. Written in 2006, I can only imagine how the author would feel about the situation today. I have been conducting my own study of virtues recently and Ms. West's insights have hardened my resolve to lead a more virtuous life (in the classical sense) but also to teach my sons the importance of virtue.
Great book. Highly recommended.
Great book. Highly recommended.
February 13, 2023
This book is probably more for those that want to confirm what they think they know but I enjoyed some of the new ideas she offered as well.
As the mother of 4 adult children that vary in interdependence on us, I understand much of what she says.
I am disturbed by what I perceive as racism and xenophobia.
As the mother of 4 adult children that vary in interdependence on us, I understand much of what she says.
I am disturbed by what I perceive as racism and xenophobia.
October 10, 2018
Diane West does an good job answering the question, "Where have all the grown-ups gone?"
The rise of rock n' roll music didn't surprise me as part of the problem, but how she tied in multiculturalism and diversity into the picture did.
The rise of rock n' roll music didn't surprise me as part of the problem, but how she tied in multiculturalism and diversity into the picture did.
Read
September 24, 2007I can't wait to get my hands on this title and look like a ridiculous curmudgeon on the subway.
September 14, 2008
Explains a lot about what American society has become and where we're headed. And it's not very pretty, but it just might be true.
September 14, 2009
I reviewed this book here:
http://www.reformation21.org/shelf-li...
http://www.reformation21.org/shelf-li...
February 16, 2010
Required reading! Insightful w/crytical analysis of American society and culture ... along with the rest of Western culture.
March 21, 2010
A thought provoking book about the decline of the mature adult over the last century and how this new mentally effects the war on terror and our western world's future.
June 21, 2012
Very compelling points and fresh insight. It's not an easy read--it's packed with very sophisticated verbiage and writing style.
November 4, 2013
A very important book. While verging on acerbic at times, the hypotheses and ideas presented can not be ignored.
March 3, 2014
Diana West is dreadfully insightful! I cannot recommend her books enough.
August 8, 2021
Whatever salient points she makes, whatever insights she makes, they are drowned by her whiny her conservative-as-victim, blame-the-liberals ideology. It might be considered an intellectual’s forerunner to the racist, misogynist MAGA nonsense. If you believe the world was better in 1950 and want to return to its values, this is the screed for you. It only lacks the Talibangelist faux-religion harangue to make it the complete rightwing manifesto.
May 25, 2020
Wow! Is this a great read! This woman had hit the nail on the head. I recommend this book to everyone I know, especially husbands, fathers, and Church leaders. When you read this book you are in the for the ride of your life, especially if you are old enough to have seen some of the things she writes about,
September 16, 2020
Clear poignant penetrating discussion of how and why American culture has become centered around youth and adolescence and it's attendant characteristics of lack of : restraint subtlety nuance self denial and sober minded acceptance of truth ...instead it exemplifies impulsivity denial idealism hedonism and sexual license...not pretty, but thank the Boomers for never growing up
March 17, 2021
I removed my first review...to sum-up I do not believe Diana West wrote this book in it's entirety....from the 1/3 point through till the end the book's focus changes...the theme of the book goes so off far track that it feels like it was directed by committee and making an entirely different statement than what it originally set out to do...since 9/11 there has been an increase in digital book burning and in it's place are books filled with propaganda & psy-ops. This book, Grown-up, just has that feel to me....it not only twists reality it leads one down a different path than what it set out to do...it's more smoke & mirrors...a link in the chain...remember, the book publishing business of non-fiction (well, of fiction as well) is just another arm of the MSM and they distort reality daily...This book I believe fits that category...- I must say though that Ms. West's Red Thread & American Betrayal were excellent read, but, after reading Grown-up I may go back and take a second look...
January 15, 2018
I wanted to like this book but it bored me silly.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews