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The Amazing Generation by Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price Review: A Smart Tween Guide to Screen Freedom
by Jonathan Haidt, Catherine Price
The Amazing Generation is a practical handbook for tweens aged 9–12, co-authored by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt and health journalist Catherine Price, designed to help young readers reclaim friendship, freedom, and fun from the pull of smartphone addiction — and reviewed here on the basis of its content and published critical reception, not hands-on use.
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Best for
Tweens in grades 4–7 who are already feeling uneasy about their screen habits, and families looking for a shared, research-grounded starting point for honest conversations about smartphones and social media.
Worth it if
The young reader (or the adult reading alongside them) is genuinely open to reflecting on their relationship with devices and willing to engage actively with the book's practical strategies — not just read it passively.
Skip if
Older teenagers already deep into social-media culture, or children younger than the 9–12 target range, are likely to find the tone and pitch a less precise fit for where they actually are.
What readers & critics say
Kirkus awarded the book a starred review, calling it "a persuasive argument for disillusioned smartphone users" and singling out its "upbeat, encouraging approach" and "kid-friendly strategies" as what makes it stand out (kirkusreviews.com). School critical coverage echoed that verdict, labelling it "a fresh, motivating guide recommended for students and educators who want to encourage independence, curiosity, and real-world adventures" (slj.com). ParentMap praised Haidt and Price for not shying away from placing responsibility squarely on tech companies and the "greedy wizards" who run them, calling that frankness refreshing (parentmap.com). Slate tested the book with actual tween readers and found the most persuasive argument was the idea that apps are built by people who profit from grabbing their attention — though the "wizards" framing struck the adult reviewer as a little hokey (slate.com).
“The winning argument for tween test-readers was the idea that apps are created by people who make money from grabbing their attention — though the 'wizards' framing struck me as a little hokey.”
— Slate4.7from 742 Amazon ratings— reader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score
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The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom is a practical, tween-focused handbook co-authored by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt and digital-wellness expert Catherine Price, designed to help 9–12-year-olds reclaim friendship, freedom, and fun from the pull of smartphone culture. Backed by the research foundation of Haidt's The Anxious Generation and praised by Kirkus with a starred review for its "upbeat, encouraging approach," it stands out for treating tweens as capable agents rather than passive victims of technology. The key caveat: its strategies are tightly calibrated to grades 4–7, and its real-world value will depend entirely on how individual readers engage with and apply the material.
- Is it worth reading?
- For tweens in the 9–12 range — especially those already skeptical of their own screen habits — and for families seeking a shared starting point for conversations about digital wellness, The Amazing Generation is well-positioned as both a standalone guide and a complement to The Anxious Generation. Published critical reception is notably strong: Kirkus awarded a starred review, The Boston Globe called it 'an eye-opening book,' and Oprah Daily described it as 'an eye-roll–proof script for calmer boundaries and fewer power struggles.' The honest caveat is that its value depends on how individual readers engage with and apply its strategies — the strong critical reception speaks to its design and framing, but real-world usefulness is inherently individual.
- Similar books
- Readers drawn to The Amazing Generation may also enjoy The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey, which similarly empowers young people by advocating for parental restraint and children's autonomy. For tweens who enjoy thinking about big ideas in an accessible format, Big Ideas for Curious Minds: An Introduction to Philosophy by The School of Life offers a kindred spirit of kid-friendly intellectual engagement. Wonder by R. J. Palacio and Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney both resonate with the 9–12 age group navigating social pressures, while Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce offers a classic middle-grade perspective on childhood freedom — a theme central to The Amazing Generation's vision of reclaiming fun.
- Who should read this?
- The Amazing Generation is primarily designed for tweens aged 9–12 (grades 4–7), particularly those whose smartphone habits and social-media use are just taking root — a window the authors identify as developmentally significant. It is also meaningfully useful for parents and families seeking a shared framework for conversations about digital habits; The Boston Globe and Oprah Daily both highlight its cross-audience readability. Tweens already skeptical of their screen use, or families experiencing friction around device boundaries, are the readers most likely to get the most from it.
- What age is it for?
- Best for ages 9–12 (grades 4–7). The book's strategies, voice, and format are specifically calibrated to tweens in this developmental window, when smartphone habits and social-media use are often just taking root. Readers outside this band — younger children or older teenagers already deep into social-media culture — may find the content a less precise fit.
- How does the book approach screen time — is it anti-tech?
- The Amazing Generation is not a blanket anti-technology manifesto. As described in critical coverage, it builds self-awareness and decision-making skills so young readers can navigate a world 'where technology is designed to promote impulsivity,' rather than simply telling them devices are bad. Kirkus praised its 'upbeat, encouraging approach,' and the book's central argument is framed around empowering tweens to choose friendship, freedom, and fun — positioning young readers as capable agents rather than passive victims of their devices.
- Why are these authors qualified to write this?
- Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist at NYU Stern whose writing on adolescent psychology and moral culture has made him one of the most widely discussed social scientists of his generation; The Anxious Generation is described by the publisher as having 'inspired millions of parents, teachers, and leaders to take action.' Catherine Price — described by critical coverage as 'the Marie Kondo of Brains' — is a health and science journalist, founder of Screen/Life Balance, and author of How to Break Up with Your Phone, bringing focused practical expertise in digital-wellness strategies to the collaboration. Together, they combine research-grounded authority with hands-on, accessible strategy design.
Summarize this book
Is it worth reading?
Who should read this?
What age is it for?
How does the book approach screen time — is it anti-tech?
Why are these authors qualified to write this?
Summarize this book
The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World, published by Rocky Pond Books on December 30, 2025, is a young readers' handbook co-written by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt and health journalist Catherine Price, with illustrations by Cynthia Yuan Cheng. It grows directly out of Haidt's adult book The Anxious Generation (2024) but reframes that book's research-grounded concerns as an empowering guide aimed squarely at tweens aged 9–12. Rather than lecturing readers about what devices are doing to them, the book builds self-awareness and decision-making skills to help young people navigate a world where, as critical coverage puts it, 'technology is designed to promote impulsivity.' The central case is a persuasive argument for disillusioned smartphone users to reject the hype in favor of friendship, freedom, and fun.
Follow up
What makes it different from other screen-time books?
Is this a companion to The Anxious Generation?
Does it have illustrations?
Synthesized from verified book data & published reviews · How we review
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Age & Reading Level
Recommended age
Ages 8–12
Reading level
Middle grade
Best for: Ages 9–12 — the reading level, voice, and developmental framing are calibrated to confident upper-primary and middle-school readers in grades 4–7.
Skip if you want a narrative or story-driven book rather than a practical handbook with strategies and exercises.
Our Review
This review covers the book's content, structure, and published critical reception; it does not reflect hands-on use or testing of the strategies inside.
What the Book Is and Where It Comes From
The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World is a young readers' handbook co-written by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt and award-winning health and science journalist Catherine Price, with illustrations by Cynthia Yuan Cheng, published by Rocky Pond Books on December 30, 2025. It grows directly out of Haidt's blockbuster adult book The Anxious Generation (2024), which sparked wide public debate about the effects of smartphones and social media on young people's development. Where that earlier book addressed parents, educators, and policymakers, The Amazing Generation takes the argument directly to the audience most affected — tweens — and reframes it as an empowering guide rather than a dire warning. Price, whose prior work includes How to Break Up with Your Phone and who is the founder of Screen/Life Balance, brings focused expertise in practical digital-wellness strategies to the collaboration.
Interior spread showing a graph of teenage loneliness statistics and a quoted testimonial about social media's impact on friendship.
The Core Argument and What It Covers
The book's central case, as described by critical coverage, is a persuasive argument for disillusioned smartphone users to reject the hype in favor of "friendship, freedom, and fun." Rather than lecturing readers about what devices are doing to them, the book is structured to build the kind of self-awareness and decision-making skills that let young people navigate a world where, as critical coverage puts it, "technology is designed to promote impulsivity." The handbook is aimed at the 9–12 reading age and grades 4–7, a window when smartphone habits and social-media use are often just taking root — making the intervention particularly timely in developmental terms. The publisher describes it as a direct companion to The Anxious Generation, translating that book's research-grounded concerns into a format and voice accessible to the kids at the center of the conversation.
Interior spread with infographic about free apps' hidden costs and a cartoon illustration of a child eating lunch.
Critical Reception and Standout Strengths
Published-source reception for the book is notably strong across a range of outlets. Kirkus awarded it a starred review, noting that "what makes this book stand out is its upbeat, encouraging approach" and that Haidt and Price "offer kid-friendly strategies" — a verdict that underscores the book's tone as distinctly motivational rather than alarmist. Oprah Daily described it as "an eye-roll–proof script for calmer boundaries and fewer power struggles," pointing to its utility not just for young readers working through these ideas independently, but for families navigating them together. The Boston Globe called it "an eye-opening book, designed for kids but also incredibly readable for parents who know that we need to do something, anything to proactively get them away from screens — but who aren't quite sure how to convince them." That cross-audience appeal — readable and relevant to both the tween holding the book and the adult who may have handed it to them — comes through as a consistent thread in critical commentary.
Interior spread with a math activity about screen time usage and a calculator showing daily hours converted to yearly time totals.
The Authors' Credibility and the Book's Broader Significance
Both authors bring substantial public-facing credibility to the project. Haidt's work at NYU Stern and his writing on adolescent psychology and moral culture have made him one of the most widely discussed social scientists of his generation; The Anxious Generation is itself described by the publisher as having "inspired millions of parents, teachers, and leaders to take action." Price, dubbed "the Marie Kondo of Brains" by critical coverage*, is an established voice in the screen-wellness space whose previous books reached broad popular audiences. The decision to adapt this research and advocacy for middle-grade readers reflects a meaningful shift in the conversation: rather than relying solely on adults to implement change on behalf of children, the book treats tweens as capable agents who can understand the structural forces at play and make informed choices. That framing is itself part of what reviewers have identified as the book's distinctive contribution.
Interior spread showing comic-style illustrations of tweens at a science fair, with dialogue bubbles and text discussing social interactions and technology use.
Who This Book Is For — and One Genuine Limitation
For tweens who are already skeptical of screens, or for families seeking a shared starting point for conversations about digital habits, The Amazing Generation is well-positioned as both a standalone guide and a complement to The Anxious Generation for parents reading alongside their children. The book is targeted at grades 4–7, meaning its strategies and voice are calibrated to that range. Readers outside that band — older teenagers already deep into social-media culture, or younger children — may find the pitch less precisely matched to where they are. More broadly, because the book's value lies in how its strategies are actually applied in a reader's life, the real test of its usefulness is inherently individual; the strong reception from Kirkus, The Boston Globe, and Oprah Daily speaks to its design and framing, but any reader's mileage will depend on their own relationship with their devices and their willingness to engage with the material.
Sources & Further Reading
The key facts and claims in this review are grounded in the retrieved, verified sources listed below.
- Cited in this review
- 1
kirkusreviews.com
- 2
- 3
- Further reading
- 4
anxiousgeneration.com
- 5
theamazinggenerationbook.com
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
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