Mark C. Perna

I was disappointed in this book. I had hoped it would provide insight into managing and leading workers of a younger generation. But I found it intellectually shallow, and I didn't learn anything that common sense and some experience in that arena hadn't already provided. I was also irritated that it mostly sounded like a 240-page advertising brochure for the author's management consulting services. It may have some value to managers encountering Gen Z or the youngest Millenials in the workplace for the first time.… (mehr)

This book is written to describe the problems of inspired young people in the reality of employment life. The author combines Generations Y and Z into Why. It is probably written from the perspective of a Baby Boomer, who wants to truly help then younger generation of Why's. He sees a sense of unreality when they don't hear the creaking branch of their life. Employers get frustrated, and Perna wants to close the awareness gap. The need is to have education with a purpose and for this generation to develop a competitive advantage. The older generations don't really understand this generation.

My experience with the Why generation as a Silent generation person is not reflective of Perna. In my latter days, I found in my transportation scheduling position that these people were a blessing compared to the older jaded generation. And in retirement I do keep up contact. Maybe for me to get to know a person is more important than the employment task at hand. I would slide into this later.… (mehr)

Why is a potent word as any parent can attest. Parents of toddlers tell you how exhausting hearing that word is, and even the most dedicated parent will occasionally use “because I said so.” Ideally, though, asking why frames a coequal investment by listener and observer. In his book Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations Mark Perna believes the young adults of today are asking Why and we, as older adults, need to become more careful listeners and responders.

The subtitle of the book is descriptive but too long. Like other advice books, it is earnest and encouraging. Other titles that come to my mind include Answering Why? - Why that matters! Answering Why and should we care? These titles capture Perna’s rallying cry. His book is a “man all stations” call out to parents and educators. Community colleges and technical programs are on board with his message but there are plenty of other institutions oblivious to or indifferent to Perna’s concern of preparing young adults to be successful in life.

Perna has devoted his life to examining the traditional ways we have prepared students to become independent adults and found it shortsighted and misdirected. He has developed approaches that look at kids in today’s world. What are the ways we can better prepare them to function independently throughout life? How can we ignore the influence of huge and new forces impacting students today, such as technology and gun violence? To act as if we are operating in a world we knew even a few decades ago jeopardizes the ability of young adults to thrive. It also imperils our own shared future by leaving a society with huge gaps in areas needing workers.

While we read stories about court challenges to elite universities or debates over college admissions requiring SATs, there is a whole other discussion taking place among people like Perna. They are looking at our kids and finding ways we can provide pathways to success for all of them. Perna provides concrete methods he uses to engage and motivate students on a lifelong path of career planning beginning in high school. It basically involves old-fashioned concepts like awareness, goals, and experiences. Active learning, rather than passive, is the key ingredient.

Perna believes we are heading for a crisis. We are not being honest and forthright with students if we don’t prepare them with the skills they will need to function once they leave home, assuming they are even able to do so in today’s risky economy. Getting into college and then figuring out what next is not sufficient any more. And it is incumbent upon adults, educators and mentors to tell them Why this is so and what can be done about it.

There is nothing radical in the concepts Perna addresses but if there’s any passion, it is in his dedication to encouraging others to get on board.… (mehr)

This was one of the books I requested to review for LibraryThing but I did not receive it until just recently. I have no idea where it was for almost two months but I am so glad I finally received it. As a substitute teacher who ultimately desires to teach full time, I spend a great deal of time with students of this generation, too many who question why they are learning what they studying and doing things they feel have no impact or import on their lives. This book provides me with some answers and strategies as to how to make their education correlate directly with their lives and futures. The author also believes, as I do, that simply going to college is not the answer for every student. Having been a substitute teacher at the local BOCES Career & Technical Institute for a year, I know how wonderful these programs can be for students. This is a book I shall keep on my bookshelf to refer to again in the future because of its insights. I plan on checking out the author's free resources available online to gain even more insights and advice. This is a great book for all teachers and businesses that want to reach this new generation of students and future employees.… (mehr)