The Vanishing American Adult Audiobook By Ben Sasse cover art

The Vanishing American Adult

Our Coming-of-Age Crisis - and How to Rebuild a Culture of Self-Reliance

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The Vanishing American Adult

By: Ben Sasse
Narrated by: Ben Sasse
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"Former college president and now U.S. Senator Ben Sasse reads with the clarity and confidence of a voice pro in this friendly warning aimed at America's parents, teachers, and governing officials." — AudioFile Magazine

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER — read by the author.

In an era of safe spaces, trigger warnings, and an unprecedented election, the country's youth are in crisis. Senator Ben Sasse warns the nation about the existential threat to America's future.

Raised by well-meaning but overprotective parents and coddled by well-meaning but misbegotten government programs, America's youth are ill-equipped to survive in our highly-competitive global economy.

Many of the coming-of-age rituals that have defined the American experience since the Founding: learning the value of working with your hands, leaving home to start a family, becoming economically self-reliant—are being delayed or skipped altogether. The statistics are daunting: 30% of college students drop out after the first year, and only 4 in 10 graduate. One in three 18-to-34 year-olds live with their parents.

From these disparate phenomena: Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse who as president of a Midwestern college observed the trials of this generation up close, sees an existential threat to the American way of life.

In The Vanishing American Adult, Sasse diagnoses the causes of a generation that can't grow up and offers a path for raising children to become active and engaged citizens. He identifies core formative experiences that all young people should pursue: hard work to appreciate the benefits of labor, travel to understand deprivation and want, the power of reading, the importance of nurturing your body—and explains how parents can encourage them.

Our democracy depends on responsible, contributing adults to function properly—without them America falls prey to populist demagogues. A call to arms, The Vanishing American Adult will ignite a much-needed debate about the link between the way we're raising our children and the future of our country.

©2017 Ben Sasse (P)2017 Macmillan Audio Ethics & Morality Parenting & Families Philosophy Politics & Government Relationships Sociology Teenagers Inspiring

Critic reviews

"Former college president and now U.S. Senator Ben Sasse reads with the clarity and confidence of a voice pro in this friendly warning aimed at America's parents, teachers, and governing officials. Offering accessible examples and data to back his concerns, he says that too many of today's youth lack persistence and become "bizarrely fuzzy-headed when actual real-world problems need to be solved." Part of the problem is that they have few early experiences with hard work or overcoming obstacles. We don't expect enough of them. He also recommends that we let them travel and see the deprivation in other cultures and encourage them to nurture their bodies—to become better citizens by not taking their circumstances or health for granted. In a not-so-subtle jab, he says these experiences will also help our youth be less angry and, thus, less vulnerable to political demagogues." --AudioFile

"I know Ben Sasse as one of the most important emerging voices in our national dialogue—plain-spoken, brilliant, and unafraid to speak his mind. Whether we agree or disagree, when he speaks—I’m listening. And when he writes, I’m definitely reading." --Cory Booker
Thought-provoking Insights • Practical Parenting Advice • Excellent Narration • Historical Perspective • Relatable Tone
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This one of the three most influential books I have read in my life. As a father of three I could not be more grateful for the truth captured in these pages!

Required reading!

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Would you listen to The Vanishing American Adult again? Why?

Yes. Probably will. Ben awakens us to an unspoken crisis that is undermining everything that makes America a great nation.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

While Ben has his opinions, he puts forward his arguments and concerns that do not lean on those opinions, but rather in a way that unifies all of us in our humanity. Whether you agree with his religious and political convictions or not, his reasoning is both basic and persuading to any listener. You don’t have to vote for him, but it’s hard to argue with the heart he puts forth in this book.

Have you listened to any of Ben Sasse’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

He has more?! I have not listened to others, but will keep my eye out for additional works and thoughts from Ben Sasse.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

At times, laugh, yes. Oddly enough, his book makes me love my daughters more and inspires me to be a better father for them. The illustrations and dialogues that he includes involving his children and parenting experiences serve as a good standard to be both intentional and excellent in parenting.

Any additional comments?

Ben, please write more. I am from Georgia, but you have my vote, sir. Police CS aside, I am grateful for your vision and your honesty. Thank you sharing candidly and intelligently your thoughts and hopes.

Ben Sasse makes me wish I were a fellow Nebraskan

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I was expecting a policy heavy book. Instead I received some thoughtful tips on parenting and living. Looking forward to the Senators next book.

Pleasant Surprise

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Every parent, and every child, should read this! Well thought out, logical - and important.

must read

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Many good things to consider when raising future leaders of the country. I listened to the book then purchased 3 physical copies to give to friends with kids.

Many good points to consider

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Really can't say enough good things about this book. It is eye opening and gives a historical context to how we view adolescence now as modern Americans.

A Kick in the Pants that we all need

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Provokes me to better works and reading disciplines
Act to be good neighbors and engage with community

Must read

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The topics were great. If you pay attention to your surroundings, you’ll see that what the author is writing is a reality that we need to check, and check ourselves for.

An Eye Opener for this Generation

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Enthusiastic and somewhat pensive memior about how to grow up. Parents need this book. The book is not political. We will not escape the crisis, but this book helps us understand the magnitude and nature of our national/international difficulties maturing into anything resembling responsible adults.

Outstanding and transformational

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I would recommend this book to every parents as a very thought provoking piece for where we are headed in America (the good and bad), and how we can praise the excellent and steer from the dangerous, and not physically dangerous but the danger of complacency in both work and education.
As a farmers wife, raising 3 children (ages 5,4,2) who do varying levels of chores on the farm and in the home, I am saddened by the parents I see in my peer group who do not give their children work to do to contribute to the well being of the family and instead are coddled consumers that are growing up without a sense of what work is (which doesn’t have to be on a farm, but working hard at a task for the greater good).
This is the most important non-theological book I’ve read in quite some time. Thank you for penning this, Senator Sasse.

Thoughtful, edifying, a must read for parents

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