The Death of the Grown-Up,
by Diana West
a review by Adam Pohlman
Diana West has noticed an alarming trend over the last 50 years. In her book The Death of the Grown-Up she describes the rise of the adolescent and the fall of the responsible adult in American culture. "More adults, ages eighteen to forty-nine, watch the Cartoon Network than watch CNN. Readers as old as twenty-five are buying "young adult" fiction written expressly for teens. The average video gamester was eighteen in 1990; now he's going on thirty." (pg. 1)
The first part of the book describes the history, starting in the 40s, of the teenager and the blurring of the line between child and adult. She claims that over time children had less responsibility in the family and became the focus of the culture. Magazines began marketing teenagers and adults began to act like them. The benefits of being an adult were given to children without the responsibility attached to them. "Even as age has been eliminated from the aging process, they have a hunch that society has stamped out more than gray hair, smile lines, and cellulite. What has also disappeared is an appreciation for what goes along with maturity: forbearance and honor, patience and responsibility, perspective and wisdom, sobriety, decorum, and manners-and the wisdom to know what is 'appropriate,' and when." (pg. 4)
As these generations aged (not actually maturing), they had children of their own. "Central to the surrender of the adult, then, was the collapse of the parent." (pg. 57) Because these new parents couldn't own up to their own immaturity, they began to accept and even encourage the same attitude in their children. Parents throughout the country have fought for their children's "right" to never grow up. The attitude of "tolerance" has pervaded our society and is setting our country up for huge failure.
Because of this misunderstanding of tolerance our culture has allowed many dangerous teachings and actions to take place while the "adults" in the country cry "intolerant" if anyone calls for better discernment. Diana West explains in the last couple chapters of the book that Islam is taking advantage of our increasing softness and despite our demand for tolerance is permeating society with their militant intolerance. If we don't move forward and set some boundaries, America is setting herself up for destruction.
While The Death of the Grown-Up gets a little long and somewhat difficult to read as there aren't many natural breaking points and the stories flow together, it created many opportunities to evaluate personal maturity and responsibility. West does discuss Christianity at times, but seems to misunderstand its history and its influence on the human heart. I couldn't help but compare this trend to the operation of the American church. Much of it has become very entertainment oriented and often sensitive to correction. We have allowed the church to be so influenced by the culture that we are losing maturity in discernment and discipleship. Youth ministry and evangelism are more focused on acting like the people we are trying to reach instead of providing an example of what they should become. We have let a false understanding of tolerance permeate into the church and we are at risk of letting all kinds of false doctrine enter while we enjoy our childlike ignorance in entertainment. Throughout the book, Diana West provides a worthwhile read challenging America to consider the risks involved in our perpetual adolescence.