An incredibly challenging book to read, as it looks really closely at a topic that many of us don't want to think about. It took me a really long time to get through it for that reason. But it's a must-read for millennials (and everyone, really). It's part textbook, part how-to guide, part scream into the void.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This was a really great perspective on the millennial experience and is something I haven’t seen before. I would definitely recommend to millennials experiencing burnout or anyone looking for a relaxing interesting nonfiction choice.

As a burned out millennial, this hit a little close. Because of this I found it hard to finish the book. The reality of the promises, recessions, and repeated failures just made it difficult to see this book through.

this book was too long and too many references, couldn't really connect to it - DNF it

please note I will not be leaving a public review for this book as I have not paid for it.
leaving a 1-star as NG doesn't allow to move ahead without a star rating

Frustrating, though at times poignant and inspired, this felt like it ran out of steam halfway through.

As a millennial who is quite familiar with burn out, I expected this to hit much closer to home (really, BE home actually) and finally out to words what my generation has felt like has been a constant bombéeme t of albatrosses, but that’s not quite the case. I think this tried a bit too hard and also falls into the trap of trying to be too relevant with its references. It just doesn’t come across as seriously and fluidly as expected.

I enjoyed the original article about burnout and this book does an excellent job of expanding on the topic. Even more relevant now.

I thought this book was awesome! I could not put it down the entire time I was reading it. There are not so many books like it.

I certainly learned something from this, but there were also sections that felt like a Buzzfeed article (the author originally wrote on this topic for Buzzfeed) or pulled extensively from anecdotes to prove points.

The tone is conversational and approachable which is easy enough to read, but there were sections especially early on which was the new research included in this text compared to their writing for Buzzfeed that verged on academic in nature based on the heavy research utilized in these chapters.

All in, this felt lopsided looking at the early sections of the book compared to the later chapters. We move from academic, research-based writing to anecdotes and personal stories and the tonal shift and style of writing was off-putting.

I received this as an early review copy from NetGalley and Mariner Books. All opinions are my own.

As a former academic and Buzzfeed content writer, Petersen's voice is unique - the author digests a wide body of evidence and presents it in a way that is entertaining for layreaders. Her topic is timely and I appreciate the unique perspective she brings to the topic of burnout.

CAN'T EVEN: HOW MILLENNIALS BECAME THE BURNOUT GENERATION by Anne Helen Petersen was published late last year and received starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus. Petersen profiles millennials (aged roughly 24 to 39), but focuses more on their economic issues – expressing grave concerns about work life balance, wages, and achieving the American Dream. She argues that the burnout is "about a work ethic and anxiety and exhaustion particular to the world I grew up in" (pressures for applying to college, getting a job, living through the Great Recession, etc.). Then referring to the pandemic’s impact, she "invites readers to think of every argument, every anecdote, every call for change, as amplified and emboldened." Sections of the text deal with finances like student debt or the high cost of housing and childcare, a myriad of work issues, and parenting concerns. The tone is upbeat and action-oriented as Petersen advocates for finding that "irrefutable pivot point..., a different way of thinking about work, and personal value, and profit incentives."

Nothing new here, but this book was validating nonetheless. It's very anecdotal and feels like a really long essay, which is what it is based off of.

Petersen explores the idea of burnout in the millennial generation.. Really interesting thoughts and ideas, as well as great research. A bit dry but still valuable.

What a timely, fascinating book. Petersen explores millennial burnout through technological changes and political forces. These have eroded the middle class while increasing demands on our leisure and family lives. If you are at all interested in burnout, class issues in the United States, modern parenting, or the modern job market this is the book for you.

Petersen picks apart the entitled millennial trope by showing how changes in American society have led to a floundering generation.

I took off one star because some of the author’s claims re: class aspiration through leisure felt like a bit of a stretch. She also cites the race of each of the many interviewees but does not clearly tie this information to the many social forces and policies that have had a disparate impact on minorities.

Still, an excellent book, and I highly recommend it.

A book about millennial burnout? Absolutely, sign me up.

Anne Helen Petersen is someone I adore, I love her writing, her articles, her internet presence, her thoughts - and while I appreciated the deeper dive into why my generation has hit the wall, reading this amidst the global pandemic had me questioning if I really needed to know *why* my generation is burned out, and instead, how to frickin fix it. (Turns out, there's really nothing we can do, aside from a coup on capitalism. Let me know if you're interested. ;))

Well written, interesting, but a little shortsighted on the privileges of white women specifically, and the luxuries it affords - even amidst burnout. Would've loved to have seen more in depth coverage for a more diverse audience.

Thank you to Netgalley and HMH for advanced access to this title!

I'm not sure I'm a Millennial, exactly (I'm likely a xennial...), but so much of this was relatable.

Even the conclusion, where AHP talks about her decision not to have kids, hit home.

Even though I’m technically a Gen X’er (or a Xennial), I could relate so much to this book. Sometimes the best support you can get is just knowing that you’re not alone. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.

I really love books that take a sociological look at groups of people. I am smack in the middle of the Gen-X group and work with many millennials and wanted to get some inside knowledge about this group's experience in the world. I appreciate the author's attempt to include a wide variety of sub-groups and her ability to include diverse groups in her stories of lived experiences.

I found my self relating to many of the situations and stories in this millennial book. I wonder if these groups are often more alike than different. I understand that we all have parents that grew up in different eras and were raised under different social norms, political and financial realities, but the more that I study and think about this, I realize that it is VERY challenging to group people into generations rather than taking a phenomenological look at the individual or sub-group realities. The author attempted this, and I think did a good job. I may just be stuck on the generalizations that these types of studies leave the reader thinking about.

#Can'tEven
#NetGalley
3.5 stars

"Can't Even" by Anne Helen Petersen is an interesting examination of burnout culture within the millennial generation. The book addresses the systemic issues within the workforce that create this culture. However, the book focuses too often on middle and upper middle class white millennials. It would have been a more inclusive book if there was a bigger focus on how burnout specifically impacts BIPOC and Queer millennials and if the book was more intersectional in general.

When I saw the description for Can't Even by Anne Helen Peterson, I couldn't wait to read it. As a millennial, I was looking forward to a book that would empathetically capture what it's like to be living through this particular time in history. That said, I found this book to be disappointing--it was whiny and negative and not what I was expecting in the least. In the words of the author herself, when it comes to this book, unfortunately, I just can't even.