"Every generation needs a new revolution." Thomas Jefferson

"For the first time in history, a generation of kids has overtaken their parents in the use of new technology." Peter Eio, Lego Systems

70% of men in their twenties and 71% in their thirties said they would be willing to give up some of their pay in exchange for more time with their families. Only 26% of men over 65 said they would trade pay for more family time. Radcliffe Public Policy Center

"Over the next decade, The Millennial Generation will entirely recast the image of youth from downbeat and alienated to upbeat and engaged- with potentially seismic consequences for America." Neil Howe & William Strauss (co-authors Generations)

"I think it works better to think of corporate diversity as a stir-fry where the cook adds a variety of things-genders, generations, ethnicity. Each retains its uniqueness and contributes flavor to the whole dish. Something wonderful is created that is far tastier, more nutrious and more interesting than any one part." Claire Raines, Connecting Generations

Generation Me, Next, You, Boomer, Xer, Veteran - you name it - a steady stream of books about the subject just keeps coming. Too many books reinforce the stereotypes and negatives about each generation, which is the last thing anyone needs!

We have tried to select a few that address the controversial topic ("are generation "gaps" real, or important if they exist?") with more balance. More important, we are looking for perspectives that address the impact of generational differences on communication and workplace realtionships.

"Bridging the Boomer-Xer Gap:Creating Authentic Teams for High Performance at Work" by Hank Karp, Connie Fuller (Organization Development Specialist, AG Communication System, Lucent Technologies) and Danilo Sirias (Assistant Professor of Management, Saginaw State University) is an informative work, enhanced with research from nearly 400 surveys, and specifically written to aid business leaders in uniting supervisors and workers from both the Boomer and the Generation X generations. Stereotypes about Boomers and Xers are jchallenged and replaced with strategies for promoting teamwork to bring the generations closer together for a more productive business environment.

Retiring the Generation Gap: How Employees Young and Old Can Find Common Ground by Jennifer J. Deal. Addressing multiple generational issues, Ms. Deal provides summaries of relevant studies and principles that can be applied address them. The book focuses on what can be done to attract, manage, retain and develop leaders for all generations.

"Connecting Generations: The Sourcebook for New Generations" by Claire Raines is a simple and practical book that explores the differences and preferences of the fours generations and the influences that shaped them.

NOTE Check out our other recommended readings on our website. Click on READ ON BELOW!

READ ON...

Filmmakers have been making movies about the "generation gap" for a long time.

One of the best films of recent years to deal with the new realities of the workplace is Good Company Nowadays it's rare to find a movie that pays attention to human weakness as well as strength, and that sees a whole person as having both. When a sports magazine gets bought by a media conglomerate, an ad sales executive named Dan Foreman (Dennis Quaid) finds himself playing second-in-command to Carter Duryea, a hotshot barely half his age (Topher Grace) whose marriage has just fallen apart. One evening Carter invites himself over to Dan's house to escape his loneliness, where he meets Dan's daughter Alex (Scarlett Johansson). The two strike immediate sparks and when they run into each other later in the city, a relationship begins--which they discreetly keep from Dan. Good Company isn't likely to win any awards, but it's honest and honorable; there's a core of truth to its characters and their problems aren't resolved too neatly. Thumbs Up.

The classic, "Rebel Without a Cause" In one of the most influential performances in movie history, James Dean plays the new kid in town whose loneliness, frustration and anger mirrored those of postwar teens - and still reverberate 50 years later. Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo were Academy Award nominees for their achingly true performances. Director Nicholas Ray was also an Oscar nominee for this landmark chosen as one of the all-time Top 100 American Film by the American Film Institute.

Filled with a classic Boomer soundtrack, "The Big Chill" was released in 1983 and since then has become a favorite of those who comprise what is referred to as the "Baby Boomer" generation" but its appeal is by no means limited to that age group. So many of its themes (e.g. nostalgia, disenchantment, sexual frustration, egocentricity) are common to all generations. Starring Kevin Kline, Glenn Close, WIlliam Hurt, Jeff Goldblum, the film holds up well. A must-see.