What We’re Reading: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

For this month’s reading pick, we chose The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt, one of the most talked-about books of the past year. While it is primarily a book about childhood and adolescent mental health, its implications stretch far beyond schools and families. For employers and HR professionals, it offers valuable insight into the experiences and expectations of the newest generation entering the workforce.

Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist and professor at New York University, explores the sharp rise in anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges among young people over the past decade. His central argument is that two significant societal shifts have occurred simultaneously: children have become increasingly overprotected in the physical world while being dramatically underprotected in the digital one. The result, he argues, is a generation that has had fewer opportunities to develop resilience through real-world experiences while spending unprecedented amounts of time navigating social media, smartphones, and online life.

Rather than placing blame on individuals, Jonathan draws together research from psychology, sociology, education, and neuroscience to examine how modern childhood has changed. He presents evidence suggesting that excessive smartphone use and social media have fundamentally altered how young people socialize, develop confidence, and respond to challenges. Whether readers agree with every conclusion or not, the breadth of research makes for a compelling and thought-provoking read.

From an HR perspective, the book raises important questions about the future of work. Organizations are increasingly welcoming employees from Generation Z, many of whom have experienced a vastly different upbringing than previous generations. Understanding these experiences can help leaders better support employee wellbeing, design more effective onboarding programs, and create environments where confidence and resilience can develop over time.

One of the book’s strengths is that it avoids simple solutions. While Jonathan makes clear recommendations around limiting smartphone use for children, the broader message is about rebuilding opportunities for independence and meaningful human interaction. These themes feel particularly relevant in today’s workplace, where employers continue to balance technology with the need for collaboration, mentoring, and genuine social connection.

Overall, The Anxious Generation is an engaging and highly relevant read for anyone interested in leadership, workplace culture, and the future workforce. Even if you do not agree with every argument, it encourages readers to think more deeply about the environments we create and how they shape the people within them.

As HR professionals, we often focus on supporting employees once they arrive in the workplace. Jonathan’s book reminds us that understanding the experiences that shaped them may be just as important. It is certainly a book that has sparked important conversations, and one we believe is well worth adding to your reading list. If you would like to grab a copy, you can purchase one here in the UK and here in the US.

And if you would like to discuss how we can help ensure that you are onboarding this new generation of workers in a way that fully optimizes their skills, please get in touch with us today.