The Perennials

The Megatrends Creating a Postgenerational Society

By: Mauro F. Guillén

Narrated by: Leon Nixon

Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Get the best from accelerating social change with the new audiobook from the bestselling author of 2030 and “acclaimed thought leader” (Kirkus), Mauro Guillén. Adam Grant praises how the book "invites us to rethink our careers, our families, and our future plans.” Find out why business leaders and bestselling authors around the world are calling it "sharply relevant and necessary" (William P. Lauder), "insightful and deeply researched" (Richard Florida), and "a must read" (Mohammed A. El-Erian).

In today’s world, the acceleration of megatrends – increasing longevity and the explosion of technology among many others – are transforming life as we now know it.

In The Perennials, bestselling author of 2030 Mauro Guillén unpacks a sweeping societal shift triggered by demographic and technological transformation. Guillén argues that outmoded terms like Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z have long been used to pigeonhole us into rigid categories and life stages, artificially preventing people from reaching their full potential. A new postgenerational workforce known as “perennials” – individuals who are not pitted against each other either by their age or experience – makes it possible to liberate scores of people from the constraints of the sequential model of life and level the playing field so that everyone has a chance at living a rewarding life. Guillén unveils how this generational revolution will impact young people just entering the workforce as well as those who are living and working longer.

This multigenerational revolution is already happening and Mauro Guillén identifies the specific cultural, organizational and policy changes that need to be made in order to switch to a new template and usher in a new era of innovation powered by the perennials.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

©2023 Mauro F. Guillén (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“An acclaimed thought leader proposes a new way of looking at shifting demographic patterns. … In a wide-ranging study, Guillén provides a wealth of insights about how we can get the best from social change."—Kirkus

“Demographic and technological changes have transformed nearly every aspect of contemporary life: how we work, how we shop, and how we learn. Mauro Guillen’s The Perennials offers professionals of every level an invaluable guide to navigating these tectonic shifts–a deeply researched, sharply relevant and necessary read.”—William P. Lauder, Executive Chairman, The Estèe Lauder Companies and Lecturer, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

“In this well-written and refreshing book, Professor Guillen powerfully sets out the case for revisiting what has long been a “given”–the traditional four stages of life. From the urgent need for life-long learning to re-imagining retirement, this book makes us question in a constructive manner the way we normally live our lives. A must read for those seeking greater fulfillment, impact and success.”—Mohamed A. El-Erian, President of Queens’ College, Cambridge, Chief Economic Adviser to Allianz and NYT bestselling author of The Only Game in Town

Paths for Marketers, Less So for Policymakers

This book was well reasoned and well written but lacked clear suggestions for policy makers. Billed as a bit of both, it fell short on that side of the equation.

Entirely too left-wing

Watching an interview by the author intrigued me. Listening to the book was like hearing the same ideas repeated while someone was scratching nails across a chalkboard.

Every single current left-wing cause got its moment in the sun. If he wants to reach a wider audience with his views, he needs to reach a wider audience with his views and not frame everything through such ideology.