This week, we unpack what makes a generation. From the Silent Generation to the Zoomers and beyond, are these groupings only useful to stir up competition and resentment? How did Gen Z become more conservative, more pessimistic AND more empathetic than their predecessors? We also explore recent research on a troubling trend of declining IQ scores. Does this back up an argument that millennials are the group most well-equipped for life in the modern age? 

Our guests this week are researcher Elizabeth M. Dworak from Northwestern University and Jean M. Twenge PhD, author of Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents—and What They Mean for America's Future. (Buy the book here.)

Related links:
Dr. Dworak’s IQ research: Looking for Flynn effects in a recent online U.S. adult sample: Examining shifts within the SAPA Project
James Flynn’s TED Talk: Why our IQ levels are higher than our grandparents'
The New Yorker on Jean Twenge: Where Millennials Come From (2017)
Tom Wolfe for New York Magazine: The “Me” Decade (1976)
An interesting counterpoint, on Bobby Duffy’s “The Generation Myth”: It’s Time to Stop Talking About Generations
More on the Reverse Flynn Effect from New York Mag: A Theory of Dumb

You might also like NST #59: Kids can’t read anymore. Does it matter? (with author Jason Reynolds)

Subscribe to our newsletter. 

Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286

This week, we unpack what makes a generation. From the Silent Generation to the Zoomers and beyond, are these groupings only useful to stir up competition and resentment? How did Gen Z become more conservative, more pessimistic AND more empathetic than their predecessors? We also explore recent research on a troubling trend of declining IQ scores. Does this back up an argument that millennials are the group most well-equipped for life in the modern age?&nbsp;
Our guests this week are researcher Elizabeth M. Dworak from Northwestern University and Jean M. Twenge PhD, author of Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents&mdash;and What They Mean for America's Future. (<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/generations-the-real-differences-between-gen-z-millennials-gen-x-boomers-and-silents-and-what-they-mean-for-america-s-future-jean-m-twenge-phd/a29d942f36ac83e0?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=dsa_nonbrand&amp;utm_content={adgroupname}&amp;utm_term=aud-1885352274224:dsa-19959388920&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=12440232635&amp;gbraid=0AAAAACfld42F8JwbFmxBOXVLB-x9QA4JB&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwvNfSBhBiEiwAyaGMCU0rm0bTqmkbghEe4BMU670vYhnE-r_WoxMOQhEokLnOzJ3GxvcGhxoCwFcQAvD_BwE">Buy the book here.</a>)
Related links:
<ul>
<li>Dr. Dworak&rsquo;s IQ research: <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160289623000156">Looking for Flynn effects in a recent online U.S. adult sample: Examining shifts within the SAPA Project</a></li>
<li>James Flynn&rsquo;s TED Talk:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vpqilhW9uI">Why our IQ levels are higher than our grandparents'</a></li>
<li>The New Yorker on Jean Twenge:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/12/04/where-millennials-come-from">Where Millennials Come From (2017)</a></li>
<li>Tom Wolfe for New York Magazine:&nbsp;<a href="https://nymag.com/article/tom-wolfe-me-decade-third-great-awakening.html">The &ldquo;Me&rdquo; Decade (1976)</a></li>
<li>An interesting counterpoint, on Bobby Duffy&rsquo;s &ldquo;The Generation Myth&rdquo;: <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/10/18/its-time-to-stop-talking-about-generations">It&rsquo;s Time to Stop Talking About Generations</a></li>
<li>More on the Reverse Flynn Effect from New York Mag:&nbsp;<a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/american-adult-lower-iq-scores-cognitive-decline-technology-flynn-effect.html">A Theory of Dumb</a></li>
</ul>
You might also like NST #59: <a href="https://pod.link/1780210954/episode/MDBkNDYwYTAtNjc3Mi00ZDI2LWFhMTAtYjQyYzAxNjJkOWRj">Kids can&rsquo;t read anymore. Does it matter? (with author Jason Reynolds)</a>
Subscribe to our <a href="https://www.nosuchthing.show/">newsletter</a>.&nbsp;
Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286

Join Manny, Noah, and Devan — three best friends and journalists — as they settle dumb arguments by actually doing the research. 

Each week, they start with a debate or discussion. Why don’t men ask follow up questions? Should schools ban phones? Is dating an AI chatbot cheating? Then, they go out into the world, talk to experts, conduct experiments, and find the answer.

NO SUCH THING is an explainer podcast about pop culture, the internet, and whatever weird thing your group chat can’t agree on. If you’ve ever had a take so strong you had to fact-check it, this show is for you.

New episodes on Wednesdays.

For more information, please subscribe to our newsletter at www.nosuchthing.show.

And if you have any questions you’d like us to get to the bottom of, email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail: ‪(860) 325-0286.

Join Manny, Noah, and Devan &mdash; three best friends and journalists &mdash; as they settle dumb arguments by actually doing the research.&nbsp;
Each week, they start with a debate or discussion. Why don&rsquo;t men ask follow up questions? Should schools ban phones? Is dating an AI chatbot cheating? Then, they go out into the world, talk to experts, conduct experiments, and find the answer.
NO SUCH THING is an explainer podcast about pop culture, the internet, and whatever weird thing your group chat can&rsquo;t agree on. If you&rsquo;ve ever had a take so strong you had to fact-check it, this show is for you.
New episodes on Wednesdays.
For more information, please subscribe to our newsletter at <a href="http://www.nosuchthing.show">www.nosuchthing.show</a>.
And if you have any questions you&rsquo;d like us to get to the bottom of, email us at <a href="mailto:mannynoahdevan@gmail.com">mannynoahdevan@gmail.com</a> or leave a voicemail: ‪(860) 325-0286.

NO SUCH THING

Join Manny, Noah, and Devan &mdash; three best friends and journalists &mdash; as they settle dumb arguments by actually doing the research.&nbsp;
Each week, they start with a debate or discussion. Why don&rsquo;t men ask follow up questions? Should schools ban phones? Is dating an AI chatbot cheating? Then, they go out into the world, talk to experts, conduct experiments, and find the answer.
NO SUCH THING is an explainer podcast about pop culture, the internet, and whatever weird thing your group chat can&rsquo;t agree on. If you&rsquo;ve ever had a take so strong you had to fact-check it, this show is for you.
New episodes on Wednesdays.
For more information, please subscribe to our newsletter at <a href="http://www.nosuchthing.show">www.nosuchthing.show</a>.
And if you have any questions you&rsquo;d like us to get to the bottom of, email us at <a href="mailto:mannynoahdevan@gmail.com">mannynoahdevan@gmail.com</a> or leave a voicemail: ‪(860) 325-0286.

Are millennials the elite generation? (And are people actually getting dumber?)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/485da23e-0c57-4c9a-a2f7-b487017ee458/transcript