As a 26 year old I’m not sure whether to be frustrated by or laugh at the fact that every book I’ve ever read about my “generation” calls me something different.
I look forward to eventually reading this.

Tim Clydesdale, a sociologist at the College of New Jersey, observes that young people/emerging adult hold onto their faith, but with out understanding purpose, they tend to put it into a lock box. They value faith, but it doesn’t make sense in the transitioning world so they keep it safe for some day when it might. He reports this in his book The First Year Out.

Amen Joey. And I never know what to do with the 50-70 year olds that it emerging adult paradigms…
@ Scott Will this be one of our book conversations here on the blog?

Joey, those monikers like “Gen Y” and stuff tend to be trendy but “emerging adults” is becoming a consensus of an age group instead of a generation or decade in transition. I think you’ll say Smith and Snell treat you fairly and not as a trend/transition.
Richard, this is our next book. I’ve read it and studied it and want to have a series on it.

Just bought it…looking forward to reading it and following your commentary…thanks Scot!

This sounds interesting. I have been frustrated with some of the conversation about this 18-35 cohort in the past – for reasons that both Joey and Richard allude to. This sounds like it may give some more insight. Time of life arguments – complicated by changing cultural situations are well worth thinking about and through.

Thanks for identifying this book and bringing attention to it! I read Kinnamon and Wuthnow when they came out and found them to have such different descriptions of emerging adults than what Smith found in Soul Searching for the adjacent generation of teenagers. I was thrilled when I found Souls in Transition to continue his excellent research. I’m looking forward to your series on the book.

Looks interesting. Love Christian Smith.

Just bought it. Looking forward to reading it. Thanks for your blog…I enjoy it!

This is so useful to me. I’ve read the other books you mention. We have a great group of young men and women in our church who are deeply committed and making significant contribution

Christian Smith does good work. And stats are sorely needed in an impression-filled field such as that of 19-29s. Got to buy it to figure out what it really means.