Type R and Kids These Days

Here are a couple of new titles which should be especially interesting to our Psychology students:

TYPE R by Ama Marston and Stephanie Marston deals with “Transformative Resilience for Thriving in a Turbulent World.” The authors, a mother and daughter, note that this term is different from the traditional sense of the word and define Transformative Resilience as “the ability to learn, grow, and spring forward.” They provide examples from their own lives and from their work consulting about stress and leadership. The Marstons argue that there are six stages (seeking comfort, experiencing disruption and chaos, etc.) to this transformation as well as some essential skills (adaptability, control, purposefulness, active engagement, willingness to seek support, and openness to new information.). Suggested actions for individuals and leaders are offered. And since we all seem to face increasing uncertainty and stressors, these stories of turning adversity into growth are certainly very inspiring. They seem to blend well with the growth mindset work we have done, especially at the Northfield campus, in recent years.  If this topic interests you, look also at works dealing with resilience by Kenneth Ginsburg, Carol Dweck, or Brene Brown.

You may need some measure of resilience to read KIDS THESE DAYS by Malcolm Harris because, while this is a well-written and accessible work, Harris focuses pessimistically on how the generation of millennials (born between 1980 and 2000) has been exploited as human capital.  He says, “When you look at some major trends in the lives of American young people, there’s good evidence that the quantitative changes over the past three or four decades now constitute a meaningful qualitative rupture, one with repercussions we’ve yet to fully appreciate.” He argues that all of the homework and focus on college is a reaction to the need to keep the economy growing, yet he says wages have not grown and debt has increased for this cohort.  Harris spends a portion of the book looking at this debate about whether labor saving technology has really benefited workers or owners.  In addition, he explores the constant connection and impact of social media, increased expectations for athletes and less opportunity for professional performing artists and musicians.  KIDS THESE DAYS is packed with analysis and footnotes, providing an extremely thought-provoking look (with which readers will not always agree) from a millennial about the struggles he believes that his generation faces.

An American Family by Khizr Khan

This aptly subtitled memoir of hope and sacrifice, AN AMERICAN FAMILY by Khizr Khan, certainly fits with the news headlines of the last week or so regarding respect for American service men and women.

Khizr Khan and his wife, Ghazal, are Gold Star parents, having lost their son, Humayun Khan, in 2004 during the Iraq War. This memoir tells the story of their early days as students in Pakistan, life in Dubai, and eventual move to America – first Houston, then Boston where Khan earned a law degree from Harvard, and then to Virginia where their son had attended college and joined ROTC.  

For me, this elegantly written book should be savored – it is very moving and relates an important immigrant story as well as one of painful sacrifice. The New York Times Book Review said AN AMERICAN FAMILY "can teach all of us what real American patriotism looks like."

You can see and hear Khizr Khan speak about why public service is the root of patriotism at this PBS NewsHour link.