The Vanishing American Adult

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

By: Ben Sasse

Narrated by: Ben Sasse

Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

"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

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

Required reading!

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!

Ben Sasse makes me wish I were a fellow Nebraskan

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.

Pleasant Surprise

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

must read

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

Many good points to consider

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.

A Kick in the Pants that we all need

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.

Must read

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

it feels good to find I like a Republican

this book is surprisingly good. Sasse' vision of how to form good citizens moved me

Are you smarter than Ben Sasse's 5th Grader?

Ben Sasse's prescription for improving the life education of our young adults: work, read, and take risks.

fantastic! a must read!

this is an excellent book that accurately describes our situation in America. I heartily recommend it for everyone's consumption.