Talking Point # 1 Hines

The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager by Thomas Hines is perceptive readers guide to understanding the 21 century "Teen". Mr. Hines chronicles the issues teens have encountered for over 100 years from marriage, sex, and pregnancy many of which were normal for teens in past eras. To drugs, alcohol, unemployment, social isolation which Hines also highlights modern teens exhibit. First off i would like to note that comparing a teen from the 1950's to teens in the 2008 is fucking ridiculous but who am i. Anyway, Hines implies that teens lack a place in American society because "The Teenager" concept has grown vague. The lack of clear youth roles in society feeds adult suspicion of teens. Hines sad attempt to generalize & categorize the teen population shows how many adults have long since forgotten the fears & challenges ALL young adults face as they make there transition until adulthood. Although Mr. Hines truly might have had good intentions for writing "The Rise and Fall of the America Teenager", but i disagree. You need not look far, all you must do is read the title of the book to grasp a sense of how we (the teens) have fallen so far from grace.