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The Perennials

The Megatrends Creating a Postgenerational Society

Mauro F. Guillén

St. Martin's Press

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opens in a new window The Perennials Download image

ISBN10: 1250281342
ISBN13: 9781250281340

Hardcover

272 Pages

$30.00

CA$40.00

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In today’s world, the acceleration of megatrends—increasing longevity and the explosion of technology among many others—are transforming life as we now know it.

In The Perennials, bestselling author of 2030 Mauro Guillén unpacks a sweeping societal shift triggered by demographic and technological transformation. Guillén argues that outmoded terms like Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z have long been used to pigeonhole us into rigid categories and life stages, artificially preventing people from reaching their full potential. A new post generational workforce known as “perennials”—individuals who are not pitted against each other either by their age or experience—makes it possible to liberate scores of people from the constraints of the sequential model of life and level the playing field so that everyone has a chance at living a rewarding life. Guillén unveils how this generational revolution will impact young people just entering the workforce as well as those who are living and working longer.

This multigenerational revolution is already happening and Mauro Guillén identifies the specific cultural, organizational and policy changes that need to be made in order to switch to a new template and usher in a new era of innovation powered by the perennials.

Reviews

Praise for The Perennials

“An acclaimed thought leader proposes a new way of looking at shifting demographic patterns . . . in a wide-ranging study, Guillén provides a wealth of insights about how we can get the best from social change."Kirkus Reviews

“Demographic and technological changes have transformed nearly every aspect of contemporary life: how we work, how we shop, and how we learn. Mauro Guillen’s The Perennials offers professionals of every level an invaluable guide to navigating these tectonic shifts—a deeply researched, sharply relevant and necessary read.”—William P. Lauder, Executive Chairman, The Estèe Lauder Companies and Lecturer, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

“In this well-written and refreshing book, Professor Guillen powerfully sets out the case for revisiting what has long been a “given”—the traditional four stages of life. From the urgent need for life-long learning to re-imagining retirement, this book makes us question in a constructive manner the way we normally live our lives. A must read for those seeking greater fulfillment, impact and success.” —Mohamed A. El-Erian, President of Queens’ College, Cambridge, Chief Economic Adviser to Allianz and NYT bestselling author of The Only Game in Town

“Forget about Millennials. It’s time to focus on Perennials. In this insightful and deeply researched book, Mauro Guillen shows the limits of thinking in terms of generations, and the power of looking at society as a more seamless demographic continuum where age really is just a number. And, he provides a guidebook for remaking our key institutions—from education and healthcare to employment—in light of this potent transformation. A must read for leaders in business, higher education, health care and government and for everyone who cares about the future of society and of their own personal development.”—Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class

“We often talk about generational change, but the reality is that life has changed dramatically for every generation. Drawing on his expertise as a leading sociologist, Mauro Guillen challenges sequential models of living and invites us to rethink our careers, our families, and our future plans.”—Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast Re:Thinking

“As life expectancy, technology, and policy change, the possibilities for our lives and careers are changing just as quickly. Our imaginations can barely keep up with the opportunities at our disposal. Mauro Gullien’s The Perennials will open your mind to your own future and show you a new world of adventure.”—Arthur C. Brooks, Professor, Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, and #1 New York Times bestselling author of From Strength to Strength

Reviews from Goodreads

About the author

Mauro F. Guillén

Mauro F. Guillén is one of the most original thinkers at the Wharton School, where he is Professor of Management and Vice Dean for the MBA for Executives Program. An expert on global market trends, he is a sought-after speaker and consultant. He combines his training as a sociologist at Yale and as a business economist in his native Spain to methodically identify and quantify the most promising opportunities at the intersection of demographic, economic, and technological developments. His online classes on Coursera and other platforms have attracted over 100,000 participants from around the world. He has won multiple teaching awards at Wharton, where his presentation on global market trends has become a permanent feature of over fifty executive education programs annually. He is the WSJ bestselling author of 2030: How Today's Biggest Trends Will Collide and Reshape the Future of Everything.

Mauro Guillén