Summary Of The Defining Decade

The book that I would consider using in a counseling session and support my therapeutic work outside of the sessions is The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter-And How To Make The Most Of Them Now by Meg Jay, PhD. The Defining Decade would be used for the young adult population, but it can also be given to older individuals between 25 to 29 years old. As a beginner youth career counselor, this book would work best for young adults who contemplating their careers. Most of the time, their contemplation begins soon after completing and graduating from college. I would highly recommend The Defining Decade, as a support in my therapeutic work since it stresses to readers that young adulthood is a critical and important developmental life

In each of the chapters, Jay’s reports the struggles and explorations in their twenties that her recent college graduate clients went through. One of the highlights from one of the chapters includes Jay’s analysis of her social media sites like Facebook that have impacted the lives and career expectations of the individuals who have grown up with the tools. Through social media, individuals are able to see constant updates and postings of successes in work and life, which may take a toll on individuals with uncertainty. Jay’s recommendations to the readers is to minimize the evaluation of peers through social media and have the readers focus on themselves instead. Other important points in The Defining Decade, includes psychology’s famous jam experiment, in which one has an array of options to decisions and networking with weaker ties for new career ideas and opportunities. While not all readers will fully relate to Jay’s clients presented in the book, there will be parts of the clients that they will find relatable

Jay did not take into account in external issues that may affect recent college graduates’ unemployment and underemployment. The book does not offer advice about effectively looking for and securing satisfying work when young adults have minimal experience in an extremely difficult economy and recession. While Jay tells the readers to look for satisfying work, she does not tell readers solutions in how to find work. In addition, there was no discussion to the diminishing value of a college degree in today’s work environment. Overall, The Defining Decade, would be an influential resource for all young adults, especially college graduates, who need may need additional motivation to start their careers. This book may not be suitable for everybody since the book was presented towards a privileged, college graduate population based on Jay’s client examples. For young adults who have not attained higher education, have the lack of financial or supportive resources, it may be problematic to utilize the book since they might not see themselves from the client examples. While the book may be tailored to one population of the young adults, the same message can be said to everybody: Your twenties are important in establishing the rest of your adulthood and make the most out of