Press Room
2008
Press Contact: Ann Pryor
212.904.4078
Ann_pryor@mcgraw-hill.com
By Don Tapscott, Bestselling author of Growing Up Digital andWikinomics Controversy is swirling around the Net Generation. Critics allege the children of the Baby Boomers, ranging in ages from 12 to 30 and reared in the embrace of digital technologies, are disinterested in politics and public affairs; are not intellectually engaged; no longer read and are only interested in games and blogs; are narcissistic, self-absorbed and unaware of privacy boundaries. But this global generation is savvier, more creative, more diverse, more collaborative, and more adaptable because of their digital embrace, argues Don Tapscott in GROWN UP DIGITAL (McGraw-Hill; November, 2008), a follow-up to his bestselling book Growing Up Digital. He writes that the Net Generation's biggest strength is the ubiquity of digital technology in their lives. It has created profound improvements in the in the way they process information, work, create, and interact; their brains are even physiologically hotwired differently. They are poised to deeply transform society - and the change is well under way. The result of more than 11,000 interviews with Net Geners, along with scientific studies, input from academics and leaders in business, education and government, Tapscott has put together a dynamic look at the thinking, habits, and expectations of the Net Generation. Covering aspects of family, workplace, citizenry, education, society, and marketing, GROWN UP DIGITAL drills down into Net Gen behaviors and the powers they hold. From transparency in business, government, and consumption across the board (and extending to all manner of self-expression), to expectations they have about their elders, teachers, leaders, parents, society, and each other, this is a generation that behaves unlike any other. Here is a handbook for educators to understand how best to teach; a rulebook for policymakers seeking to embrace new voters; for business leaders who want to understand the next generation of talent; for parents to better understand their kids; a sociological study of technology's influence on culture; and how digital immersion strengthens the muscles of the mind. In GROWN UP DIGITAL, Tapscott reveals the two-way street: "Technology is influencing the way kids think, and the way kids think is influencing how they use, and shape, the Internet and every institution in society."
About the Author: Don Tapscott is founder and chairman of the nGenera Innovation network and an adjunct professor of management at the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. He is the bestselling author and co-author of eleven books, including Paradigm Shift and The Digital Economy. Go to http://www.grownupdigital.com/ to learn more. GROWN UP DIGITAL: How the Net Generation is Changing Your World, by Don Tapscott; McGraw-Hill, November, 2008; Hardcover, $27.95. ISBN-10; 0-07-150863-5; ISBN-13: 978-0-07-150863-6.
Discussion points for Don Tapscott, Author of GROWN UP DIGITAL: Family *How have the ideas of "freedom" and "outside" have changed the family dynamic? *How have parental relationships between Net Geners and their parents transformed? *How can parents be cyber-smart with their children?
Workplace *How have Net Geners transformed the meaning of "career?" *How are satisfaction and amusement tied to the concept of meaningful work? *What can companies do to tap into the innovative mind of the Net Geners?
Citizenry *Why are Net Geners more involved in current affairs than previous generations? *How has the internet forced political accountability and underscored the necessity for trust?
The Brain *Why do video game players process visual information more quickly? *Is there a difference between the way Net Geners and Boomers move their eyes? *Have Net Geners evolved to adapt to the media's constant stream of information?
Education *What do you mean by "pre-Gutenberg" teaching in today's academia? *What are some of the learning models being used today at schools like Cornell and MIT? *What can we learn from the Singapore education system? *How can the Net Gener's ‘new brain" be tied to new learning?
Society *Why are transparency, integrity, and candor, so important to the Net Geners? *How are the Net Geners leading the leaders? *How are young activists using the web to make huge societal changes?
Consumers *Why are the Net Geners more discriminating when it comes to buying products? *What is the cause of their skepticism when it comes to advertising and marketing?
The Future *How will the norms of the Net Geners change our society? *What message do you personally have Net Geners as a whole, as they begin to mature?
Praise for GROWN UP DIGITAL: How the Net Generation is Changing Your World "Once again, Don Tapscott has captured a piece of the zeitgeist. GROWN UP DIGITAL demonstrates the world-changing power of the Net Generation and the way they are rethinking everything, from education to home life to citizen participation. If you want to understand their impact, read this book." Eric Schmidt, CEO, Google "To be sustainable, a knowledge economy needs highly-educated, skilled workers. More than manpower, we need workers with mind-power. The #1 challenge we face as leaders in business, government, education, and the community is educating and engaging our kids. Tapscott makes a well-reasoned, persuasive case for how to harness Net Gen. Every educator and manager should read this book." Jim Goodnight, CEO, SAS "No one knows the digital generation and its impact on society better than Don. GROWN UP DIGITAL is a fresh look at a global phenomenon that has been brewing for over 15 years. As a demographer, marketer and social observer, Don brings the net generation to life and equips the reader with practical advice on how to cope with a world gone digital." Brian Fetherstonhaugh, Chairman & CEO, OgilvyOne Worldwide "Only those who understand the new paradigms as described in the latest book by Don Tapscott, will not be displaced as individuals or businesses in the world of tomorrow." "Don Tapscott is always relevant, always fresh. His new book GROWN UP DIGITAL adds depth and insight to an important issue impacting talent and leadership in the hyper connected world of today, and tomorrow." Kevin Kelly, CEO, Hedrick & Struggles "Don Tapscott delivers insights. As usually is the case, these insights reflect the world around us in ways we possibly should see but perhaps don't. As a business leader, and as a father of young adults, GROWN UP DIGITAL is a collection of insights that contain tremendous value to understanding how this generation will impact the world and our future." "Don Tapscott's book is like the firm nudge with a cold steel pointer from a teacher who catches you looking out the window. Tapscott explains that success is not about the control and authority we grant ourselves to "empower people"...it's all about genuine understanding and creating an environment where people can and will choose to motivate themselves." - Bill McEwan, President & CEO, Sobeys Inc. "For anyone leading a talent-based organization, GROWN UP DIGITAL is an essential read. The Net Generation is transforming the way we work, learn, play and communicate-and redefining how organizations recruit, train, motivate, collaborate and innovate. A revolution in how we live and work is upon us. This generation is the one to watch...and learn from." - Bill Green, Chairman & CEO, Accenture
212.904.4078 Ann_pryor@mcgraw-hill.com |
