After the Baby Boomers: How Twenty- And Thirty-Somethings Are Shaping the Future of American Religion

Here is a book for dinosaurs like me who are teaching/understanding religion after a long part-time ministry. Evidence to back up assertions is a strong point of this book. It both re-enforces some impressions and corrects others that are not true. This is a good companion to the Family Systems movement in religious communities encounters for clergy and lay leaders.

This books is a must for those who follow Generational Cohorts but suspect it may be pushed too far as the defining mechanism behind Generation X and Y. Wuthnow looks at the differences in life stages Independence, work force, marriage, children) between 21 to 45 year olds in 2000 (Generation X and Y) AND 1974 (Boomers). Lots of good data and analysis in longitudianal studies that comapre two cohorts at the same age. Differences in age of marriage and percent who do not marry, for instance, explains a lot of the differences in attendance and participation in religion. Be ready to plow through lots of data and disciplined conlusions

Wurthnow comes with a formidable reputation and he certainly is no slouch in this book which reviews, condenses and depicts the results of many studies of the "post baby boomer" generation(s), sticking with people between the 20s and 45 years of age. He debunks some casual and widely held myths (e.g., how one generation appears to differ from another) and concentrates on the pretty hard numbers that track changes in the life styles of young people. . . and their consequences for churches. This book seems shaped as a resource for pastors, but almost anyone dealing with the young will get a lot out of it. Well worth the price and the read.

I have had the pleasure of doing some project work with Bob Wuthnow. His work is always on target and this is no exception. An important base for multi-generational study.

After reading Smith and Denton's book, Soul Searching, with its great statistics on teens and faith, I wanted a book that was similar with information on young adults. I needed facts, not feelings, and this book offers that. I find it fascinating and easy reading, though I must admit I don't study every table carefully! It has been quite useful in my thesis work with young adults and faith.