Millennial Makeover: Myspace, Youtube, and the Future of American Politics

The paperback edition of Millennial Makeover by Winograd and Hais is just out and for those who did not have a chance to read it when it was first published this is one of those times when the wait will have been worth it. The hardcover edition was published before the election; the paperback edition contains an afterward which contains one of the best summaries of how the new generation voted for Obama in numbers, and in places, that no one except Winograd and Hais had predicted. It should be no surprise that the New York Times has picked this as one of the ten best books of the last year. D.W.Buffa

Unlike most books, this one more than lives up to the hype on its jacket. Morley Winograd and Michael Hais go well beyond generational theory to help us understand not only past critical turning points in American history, but also the crucial one we're about to live through. This is not the political punditry of "talking heads" who merely spout trendy theories without analytical substance. Rather, it is a well researched and well written review of the factors that have helped shape the Millennial Generation (1983-2003) now coming of age, together with some insightful commentary on the impact this generation is likely to have on our country and our world. In its pages the authors present both the "whys" and the "hows" in a well organized and easy-to-read discourse. "Millennial Makeover" is not just for political junkies. If you are a concerned citizen trying to wade through the political and social cross-currents of our country, particularly in this important presidential election year, you should read this book. It left this aging Baby Boomer surprised, enlightened, fearful, smiling and cautiously optimistic about our future. "A republic, if you can keep it." That's what Benjamin Franklin reportedly said when asked at the close of the Constitutional Convention what type of government the Framers had fashioned. "Millennial Makeover" offers a fascinating look at how this emerging tech-savvy "civic" generation might do just that.

When I heard that Morley had co-authored a new book I wondered what he was up to. I was part of the reinventing government team that Morley headed and respect him for his political insight and as a decent human being. The book is a mile stone that shows where we are now. where we came from and where we are going. Not to often do you find a book on society and politics that is as informative and easy to read. The the final chapters Rebuilding America's Civic Infrastructure and Public Policy in a Millennial Era are jnspiring and are a great addition to public dialog. The comparison to our time and 1860 and 1932 is on the mark. Now living in northern Arizona after 47 years in the DC area I can see a factor that I could not find in the book the relationship with the rapidly expanding world of nonprofits partcularly in the area of natural resource sustainability

It is impossible to understand the race for the presidency and the phenomenal rise of Barack Obama without understanding the new generation of voters which has been drawn to him in numbers and in ways scarcely anyone had anticipated, and some, especially those in the Clinton campaign, still can not believe. In their remarkable new book, Millenial Makeover, Winograd and Hais tell us more about what this new generation thinks and what it expects than anyone has done before or is likely to do again. Conservative or liberal, Democrat or Republican, if you have an interest in politics or public affairs this is a book you cannot afford not to read. I am giving it five stars, but only because I cannot give it six.

Just in time to help us understand the underlying dynamics of the 2008 presidential election--and the Obama surge--"Millenial Makeover" provides a well-documented, insightful account of why and how the next generation of voters, Millenials born during the Reagan, Bush, and Clinton administrations, will transform American politics for decades to come. New generations, not political parties, shape the nation's political and civic landscapes--and the political party that figures this out fastest, has the best chance of winning elections. Winograd and Hais combine "generation theory" with their own long experience in politics, survey data, and detailed observations about the unique values and expectations that Millenials bring to public affairs to shape an optimistic picture of the very near future. With most Millenials set to reach voting age in 2012, they show us this new force already at work in 2008 and moving inexorably to crowd the Baby Boomers off the political stage.