At more than 78 million strong, the Millennials—those born between 1980 and 2000—have surpassed the Boomers as the larger and more influential generation in America. Now, as its members begin to reach adulthood, where the traits of a generation really take shape, best-selling research author Thom Rainer (Simple Church) and his son Jess (a Millennial born in 1985) present the first major investigative work on Millennials from a Christian worldview perspective. Sure to interest even the secularists who study this group, The Millennials is based on 1200 interviews with its namesakes that aim to better understand them personally, professionally, and spiritually. Chapters report intriguing how-and-why findings on family matters (they are closer-knit than previous generations), their desire for diversity (consider the wave of mixed race and ethnic adoptions), Millennials and the new workplace, their attitude toward money, the media, the environment, and perhaps most tellingly, religion. The authors close with a thoughtful response to how the church can engage and minister to what is now in fact the largest generation in America’s history.
The Millennials
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About the Author
Thom S. Rainer is the president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, one of the largest Christian resource companies in the world. Also a respected pastor and researcher, he has written more than twenty books and coauthored the No. 1 best seller Simple Church. Rainer and his wife, Nellie Jo, have three grown sons, are proud new grandparents, and live in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jess Rainer is the Administration and Outreach Pastor of Grace Church in Hendersonville, TN. He is the co-author of The Millennials: Connecting to America’s Largest Generation. He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts from Southeastern Seminary. Jess and his wife, Rachel, have two sons.
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More About the Author
Thom S. Rainer (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, Tennessee. He was founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His many books include Transformational Church, Essential Church, and Simple Church.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In The Millennials, Thom and Jess Rainer take a look at the unique characteristics of the generation born between 1980 and 2000. Examining this generation, the Rainers uncover many facets of this group of young Americans that set them apart from their counterparts from the Baby Boom generation and Generation X.
The Rainers do what they do very well. The book is written with an engaging style that keeps the mountains of statistical data from boggling the mind or lulling it to sleep. Thom and Jess intersperse statistical survey data with enough personal interview highlights to keep the text flowing and keep the numbers making sense. At the end of each chapter, the authors offer summaries and conclusions that keep the reader tracking with their findings.
Negatively, this book is a statistically-driven work. If you do not like stats and demographic analysis, you probably will not enjoy this book. You can certainly still benefit from it if you will give it your time, but if numbers make your head spin, this work will not keep your attention.
The authors also acknowledge that no amount of statistical analysis can ever predict what God will do in and through a generation. So, while the work is helpful to show us that those born between 1980 and 1991 (the book limits itself to the older Millennial generation) are looking to make a difference in the world, tend to dislike institutional religion that does not impact the community, tend to shy away from harsh-sounding truth claims, and treasure their relationships with their families, we cannot know for sure what the Lord might do with such a generation. As the authors make clear, this generation is the least churched of any in American history. At the same time, this generation's Christians are as radically committed to Christ as any generation in memory.
The Millennials is an interesting and helpful look at the differences in generations. The book has helpful insights into how churches might want to think regarding this younger generation. While no church should compromise its teaching or the commands of Christ in order to "bring in" the latest generation, a look at the facts of a generation as the Rainers have provided can certainly help church leaders to better understand the thoughts and motives behind those who may be quite different than they themselves are.
The Rainers do what they do very well. The book is written with an engaging style that keeps the mountains of statistical data from boggling the mind or lulling it to sleep. Thom and Jess intersperse statistical survey data with enough personal interview highlights to keep the text flowing and keep the numbers making sense. At the end of each chapter, the authors offer summaries and conclusions that keep the reader tracking with their findings.
Negatively, this book is a statistically-driven work. If you do not like stats and demographic analysis, you probably will not enjoy this book. You can certainly still benefit from it if you will give it your time, but if numbers make your head spin, this work will not keep your attention.
The authors also acknowledge that no amount of statistical analysis can ever predict what God will do in and through a generation. So, while the work is helpful to show us that those born between 1980 and 1991 (the book limits itself to the older Millennial generation) are looking to make a difference in the world, tend to dislike institutional religion that does not impact the community, tend to shy away from harsh-sounding truth claims, and treasure their relationships with their families, we cannot know for sure what the Lord might do with such a generation. As the authors make clear, this generation is the least churched of any in American history. At the same time, this generation's Christians are as radically committed to Christ as any generation in memory.
The Millennials is an interesting and helpful look at the differences in generations. The book has helpful insights into how churches might want to think regarding this younger generation. While no church should compromise its teaching or the commands of Christ in order to "bring in" the latest generation, a look at the facts of a generation as the Rainers have provided can certainly help church leaders to better understand the thoughts and motives behind those who may be quite different than they themselves are.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Joanna
Format:Hardcover
Young adults are often the subject of much stereotyping in the media and by members of other generations. In The Millennials, Thom and Jess Rainer present their findings from extensive interviewing of young adults.
The book presents a fascinating snapshot of the views and priorities of American young adults on a wide variety of topics. In addition to statistics the book quotes extensively from their interviews. Some of the responses in areas like respect for authority will likely come as a surprise. Responses to some other topics like organised religion are predictable but it still may be helpful to hear the conclusions in such to the point terms.
I am somewhat skeptical of some of the conclusions about how the millennial generation is going to change society for the better. While I don't doubt the good intentions of many of the interview subjects, I am not convinced that the intentions will be as well acted on as the authors believe.
I "read" this book in audio format. While the narration was clear and easy enough to listen to, it didn't really work well for me in audio. I think this was mostly to do with all the quotes.
If you are interacting with young adults in the workplace or ministry this could be a good resource to help you understand them better. Others may find it interesting but a bit long.
The book presents a fascinating snapshot of the views and priorities of American young adults on a wide variety of topics. In addition to statistics the book quotes extensively from their interviews. Some of the responses in areas like respect for authority will likely come as a surprise. Responses to some other topics like organised religion are predictable but it still may be helpful to hear the conclusions in such to the point terms.
I am somewhat skeptical of some of the conclusions about how the millennial generation is going to change society for the better. While I don't doubt the good intentions of many of the interview subjects, I am not convinced that the intentions will be as well acted on as the authors believe.
I "read" this book in audio format. While the narration was clear and easy enough to listen to, it didn't really work well for me in audio. I think this was mostly to do with all the quotes.
If you are interacting with young adults in the workplace or ministry this could be a good resource to help you understand them better. Others may find it interesting but a bit long.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
These two take the "Tell, Tell, Tell" approach way too far. This book could have been half as long with as many times as they repeated themselves. I had to hunt to find the new material in each chapter and section. By the time I was 37% of the way into the book, I got tired of searching for new information. It's rare that I don't finish a book, but this one will go in that category.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Somewhat narrow, but OK
A father and son reflect on the Millennials, their traits and characteristics. The personal nature of this book is what made it readable, but as with any book that is too... Read more
Published 1 day ago by Murray Brown
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for understanding the Milennial generation
I enjoyed this book. THe format is great with the interaction between father and son. Fun to read and easy to understand. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Justin Cazel
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great insight to a generation.
I am a Gen X'er so I know a bit about this generation having been a youth pastor to many, but now as a pastor I struggle to connect in some ways to them, and this book has opened... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Don
2.0 out of 5 stars
Just Ok...
This book was recommended to me by a colleague. And, while I did find the statistics interesting many of the conclusions they draw can be deduced by simply being a careful... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Jonathan R. Kelley
3.0 out of 5 stars
Millenial Trends
Reading about the characteristics and values of different generations is a very interesting and timely subject. Read more
Published 11 months ago by L. Williams
3.0 out of 5 stars
Much data, some information
The Millennials by Thom and Jess Rainer examined the traits of America's largest generation, those born between 1980 and 2000. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Tim Lubinus
2.0 out of 5 stars
Actually an Evangelical Message
This book reports on a survey of 1200 Millennials. The study is weak and contains no bibliographic references to the literature. Read more
Published 15 months ago by D. Lucht
1.0 out of 5 stars
Love FEST for Millenials - Save your money and your time
The only people who should read this book are Millennials. It is a pure love fest for their generation. Read more
Published 16 months ago by armywifenmom
4.0 out of 5 stars
Characteristics of our generation...
Deep inside of us we all want to think that we are unique - some special and different than everyone around us. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Joshua Hopping
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Future Isn't Lost on the Young
The biggest generation in America right now, in terms of pure numbers, is the Millennial Generation (aka Gen Y). Read more
Published 16 months ago by tvtv3
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