I’ve been wanting to read The Millennials for a while, but there were other books and interruptions that stood in the way. The lesson gained was that I should I have read this sooner. In my strong desire to finally read the book, I used the “Whisper Sync” function on my kindle to listen to the book on the way to and from work and read when I wasn’t in the car. The result was a weeklong immersion into the world of Millennials.
One important discovery I gained from the book was the Millennials’ desire for mentorship. This is an area that I am interested in taking part in and it is exciting to see that there is the desire, as a group, on this as well. I see mentoring as a key opportunity to reaching that generation and our world for Christ. I also gained an appreciation for the Millennials’ impatience with progression. While I have noticed this tendency through the Army, the authors explained that while there was an impatience to get ahead—it seemed to be more of an impatience to actually achieve more. This is the generation of 9-11, and they understand more than anyone how short life can be. While they are impatient to get ahead, I also saw that they are made up of peace makers. They have seen battles in politics, in churches, and in their homes. They want peace. The book addressed these different areas and many more through a very positive outlook. This positivity was probably the biggest encouragement I received from reading.
The biggest point I will remember from the book is that the Millennials top priority is the family. This emphasis on family helps me understand many of the counseling sessions that I have had with Millennial Soldiers. I see it constantly played out in how they interact and how they look forward to their future. I also see it in how their lives are affected when the family is not there.
The Millennials is a great book for understanding the rising generation. They are slowly growing into the entire fabric of our nation and culture. This book gives me hope for what they may bring to the table.