Addressing the issue of loneliness, former rabbi and nonprofit executive ¬Herring (Leading Congregations and Nonprofit Organizations in a Connected World) maintains that it is only by relearning how much one generation has to offer another generation that people can end social isolation and embrace richer lives. Chapters cover issues such as understanding stereotypes, exploring careers and identity, and family caretaking, with “What You Can Do” suggestions mostly revolving around getting out of one’s comfort zone and spending time with a member of a different generation, rounding out each section. In conclusion, Herring introduces the concept of “perennial” to reclaim organic intergenerational relationships. VERDICT Herring’s words add a lot to our understanding of generational perspectives. Appendixes featuring a family technology action plan, a health-care transition guide, and a bibliography of experts and organizational resources serve as catalysts for further intergenerational discussion.

Library Journal

Time was, three or four generations lived under one roof, but today, Americans live in lonely silos. Without harking back to "the good old days," Herring understands the human need for connection. He defines and describes five different age groups living today and contends that even though technology promises connection, more often it makes strangers of us all. Each group longs for a community to feel at home in, but finding it solely with one's peers is to miss out on a banquet of relationships, posits Herring. He interviewed 30 people to better understand how circumstances shape us and how differing ages can better relate. For instance, Baby Boomers will work at a hateful job for money, but a Millennial will not. If one doesn't understand why, misconceptions persist. Each chapter concludes with concrete suggestions for how to bridge gaps between age groups. This book is written in an engaging style and is completed by appendices, lengthy notes, and bibliography complete the book. This could be welcome on a sociology syllabus or in a faith-group study.

Booklist

Most people only have friends their own age. Hayim Herring is passionate about changing that. He shows the value of connections between people of all ages, shares examples of how he has established those connections in his own life, and gives solid advice on creating your own intergenerational community.

Claire Raines, Co-Author, Generations at Work

Anticipating the Hard Trends that are transforming the future and empowering individuals, organizations, and communities to make wise choices is a strategic imperative. Herring focuses our attention on one Hard Trend that is driving transformational change -the unprecedented reality of having six generations of people alive at one time - and challenges us to replace unhealthy generational conflicts with enriching intergenerational connections. Read this book today!

Daniel Burrus, Techology futurist and bestselling author of Flash Foresight

Rabbi Herring's book is a work of imaginative empathy and a hand of friendship extended across the generations.

Anya Kamenetz, author, The Art of Screen Time

At a time in history rife with rapid technological, demographic, and political change, Connecting Generations provides the reader a timely and valuable set of principles and strategies to help individuals, families, and communities connect in meaningful ways. As a Gen X mother with Millennial and Gen Z kids, and parents of the Silent Generation, I can attest firsthand to the challenges of bridging generational divides. Is ‘friend’ a noun or a verb? Don’t only birds tweet? Isn’t swiping mainly done in anger?! This book helped me not only to contemplate the importance of meaningful connections, but provided my family a roadmap for strengthening them.

Abigail Gewirtz, PhD, LP, Lindahl Leadership Professor, Dept. of Family Social Science & Institute of Child Development