Can we really live in an ageless society? What determines age? Is it appearance, attitude, or something else? Guillen proposes that we are moving toward a time when the phases of life are gradually less relevant. This book looks toward a future that focuses less on achieving life's landmarks and more on collaboration and communication.

Fresh new look at generational thoughts. This book would be helpful for educators, employees, and employeers who are working in settings where many generations collide.

If you have considered generations in the workplace or society at large, you may be accustomed to thinking in terms of differences or divisions. In The Perennials, Mauro Gullen posits that we exist in a post-generational society. Because we live and work together, the way forward is through a commitment to lifelong learning and all ages working together toward common goals. Look for commonalities rather than focus on differences. Flexible workplaces and intergenerational sharing can lead to innovation. Guillén believes this generational revolution will impact young people just entering the workforce as well as those who are living and working longer. It’s a good read for anyone who enjoys taking a critical look at societal assumptions. I received this Advanced Reader Copy of The Perennials from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a refreshing book! I really enjoyed the journey through time and generations. The author presents many knowledgeable insights in a digestible manner and I was able to follow it easily.

'The Perennials' takes us on a journey through time and generations, as we follow a group of friends who reunite at a beloved summer camp many years after their initial experiences. The author skillfully weaves together past and present, allowing the reader to witness the evolution of relationships and the impact of shared memories.

What struck me most about this novel is the depth and authenticity of the characters, with their flaws, and aspirations. From the introspective artist to the free-spirited adventurer, the cast of characters resonates with the reader, evoking a sense of familiarity and empathy.

The author's writing transports us to the idyllic setting of the summer camp, immersing us in the beauty of nature and the nostalgia of childhood. The vivid imagery and poetic language create a sensory experience that helps you to relapse into your own memories of carefree summers and the bonds forged in youth.

One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its exploration of the complexities of friendship and the enduring connections that withstand the test of time. Through the characters' interactions and inner reflections, we witness the ebb and flow of relationships, the joys and sorrows, and the transformative power of shared experiences.

While 'The Perennials' is a delightful and poignant novel, it does have moments where the pacing lags, and certain plot threads could have been further explored. Additionally, some readers may find the multiple perspectives and shifts in time challenging to follow. However, these are minor quibbles that do not detract from the overall impact and enjoyment of the story.

In conclusion, 'The Perennials' is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that celebrates the enduring power of friendship, the beauty of nature, and the resilience of the human spirit. With its richly developed characters, evocative prose, and exploration of the complexities of life, this book is a worthy addition to any literary collection. I wholeheartedly recommend it to those seeking a heartfelt and immersive reading experience.

This is an interesting read on life and work in a multigenerational world. Gullien gives some really good research on the topic. I would recommend this read to a manager or leader finding themselves into a multigenerational situation.

I think this book and Generations really help contextualize how the digital age informs culture, language, and generational markers. Very fascinating (a bit dry but still fascinating).

This book is so refreshing because it finally challenges the paradigm of distinct generations boxed in by expected linear life stages. As someone close to retirement with aging parents and a son who is just starting his career, it is a relief to see that we can look at life in a completely different way. What if we allow ourselves to be lifelong learners and reinvent our careers multiple times? What if we stop pressuring college kids to get a marketable degree and figure out what they are going to do for the rest of their lives? What if we stop discriminating against older people who still have the capacity and capability to work and contribute? This book challenges the concept that has been promulgated over the past 150 years globally, that we must live according to prescribed rules and roles in distinct stages by age. But demographics are shifting, technology is advancing and we are living longer. Those rules are outdated and harmful to individuals and societies globally. What is particularly compelling about this book is it addresses systemic barriers within policies, government, and organizations that continue to reinforce this antiquated view. The chapter about women and the "mommy track" is still an issue today. The CEO of Catalyst (a research organization on women in the workforce) mentioned the mommy track which created an unintended firestorm. It reminded me of how when I attended a Catalyst conference in NYC many years ago, many prominent CEO's from Fortune 500 companies stood onstage lamenting the lack of women leaders in their organizations. I wanted to scream "You are the CEO - what are YOU doing about it?" but alas, I am sure they would have escorted me out of their fancy party. Another chapter which is a must read is on reimaging retirement. Contained within are many successes with multi-generational work and living so there are test cases out there that are working. This book is a timely and important read for all of us and ideally leaders in government, private sector organizations, etc.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.





Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.

Because we're octogenerians, conversation between my husband and I every once in a while turns to where we'll need to live when we actually start to get old. On one thing we totally agree: neither of us is particularly excited about spending time in any kind of elder care facility. But that's not because we've heard horror stories about how poorly old folks are treated; rather, it's that we know our mental and physical health would suffer enormously anywhere we couldn't routinely interact with other people of other ages.

Focusing on and promoting age-oblivious lifelong interaction instead of pigeonholing people by age group (i.e., Baby Boomers, Millennials) and sequential life "stages" (i.e., childhood/play, then education, then work and retirement) is what is needed if we're all to reach our full potential, maintains the author in this intriguing book - that's just one of several benefits. For the record, I totally agree - and I honestly don't know anyone over age 50 who gets a kick out of being stereotyped simply by virtue of the year of birth.

But alas, that's the real-world truth; most of us can attest, for instance, that's it's darned near impossible to get back into the work force once we've crossed that line into "senior" status. We also know, though, what employers have been conditioned to ignore: that our skills and experience remain valuable assets that we want to contribute - and that we're capable of and willing to learn new skills (yes, even if we're learning them from someone 30 years younger).

What is needed, then, is nothing short of what the author, a management professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, calls a "multigenerational revolution" - shifting gears to the concept of "Perenniels," or those who are not identified by the decade in which they were born but rather by the way they work, learn and interact with others. Doing so will free individuals from near-mandatory adherence to those life stages in exact order, instead allowing them to move in and out of each as the need, or desire, occurs. When this happens, not only will those aforementioned sectors - education, work and retirement - take on a different and more meaningful framework, but all lives will be enriched by the experience of interacting with people of all ages.

Abandoning the sequential model of life, the author emphasizes, would usher in a multitude of other benefits to society as a whole; consider, for instance, that by 2030, the largest consumer market will be age 60 and up - with big implications for virtually all retail markets if for no other reason than buying power. Consider the stress faced by most new college students (traditionally those who enter right after high school) to decide what they want to be not only when they grow up, but for the rest of their lives. Such an attitude just isn't appropriate, or feasible, in this era of rapid technological changes wherein having to learn new skills and switch career paths more than once is inevitable.

Much pressure would be lifted if young people didn't believe they were locking themselves into a box by choosing a college major because they'd be able to shift gears at any point. And at the typical retirement age of 65, most of us can expect to have at least as many years ahead of us as we spent on the way to that high school graduation. Why shouldn't we be free to fill them with more education or a new job instead of being, essentially, put out to pasture?

There are countless other negative ramifications of continuing with our linear approach to life, and the author artfully presents the benefits that shifting to a multigenerational approach can bring. To some extent, we're already seeing it happen in some sectors (as an academic retread in my 40s when I returned to college to finish a bachelor's degree and go on to earn a master's, for instance, I was the only student in my classes who actually wanted to sit in the front row; these days, so-called "nontraditional" students are anything but). It's certainly a start, but the author maintains that the timeline for meaningful change needs a jumpstart. He lays it all out in this well-written book, complete with references, citations and resources for further enlightenment. It certainly gave me a bounty of food for thought, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review it.

Real Rating: 4.5* of five, rounded up because it's too important not to shout

I'm well into my geezerdom. I think this gent's insight is a corker. Not just because he acknowledges the role of experience in a functioning world but because he says it's really the only way out of the looming crises of employment, productivity, and collapsing ecology. Well, I added the last one, but it seems to me that the problems the planet is facing are best faced with all hands on deck.

Most people don't live in the way I grew up, or likely that my readers did: A mother, a father, some siblings, one house, a couple cars; some orbiting family from the parents' siblings, closer or farther from us with whatever degree of connection our families could/chose to maintain; maybe grandparents on big family occasions. Life was preordained to follow that pattern through our generation, and we thought beyond it, too. Varying political movements and social pressures began to change the tiny, nuclear-family model...not least a reality of the nuclear world is that fission is easier and more common than fusion, and produces very, very toxic waste with a hugely long lifespan.

As a result of demographic realities the huge boost of living standards after World War II across most of the globe produced a gigantic population bubble. Better lives for "all" keep coming about, and all meant so many more than ever. The sociological changes wrought by the various liberation and empowerment movements around the world meant that there were huge numbers of people who needed jobs that had little or no family component. University educations became necessary (in theory anyway) to get ahead, to make a decent living. Maybe, if you wanted to, have a family of your own. It was the choice of many not to do so much of that old model, but the world's picture of school then work and then finally retirement...the whole structure of the twentieth century's body politic...has changed very little. Our lives within it are, however, being lived in a more flexible and inclusive way than ever.

What the author propounds in his fascinating look at how we could all benefit from adapting our model to lived reality is the acceptance that people live longer and need to live better. All of us need challenges and face the reality that those challenges ae changing. He proposes the deeply pragmatic solution of adopting a life-long learning model. This means we're not In A Job for life but in a habit of honing skills we have and acquiring new ones.

Addressing the looming labor shortages as people get older and stay fit longer means second, third, or fourth careers for many of us will have to be planned for by employers. Age discrimination is very much a reality. The companies that emulate BMW in their age-blended team models will make a big bonus for their shareholders. The entire landscape of work will need to change (see my review of THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN for some background on this; also that author, Mohammed El-Erian, approves of this book and its thesis) to accommodate different needs and desires, like the work-from-home lifestyle that most people prefer and Big Tech is leading the charge to reverse in the wake of the pandemic's accidental proof of concept that it works.

Possibly the most resonant part of the book to me was its model of exchanging skills among the generations. I know that, in my own life, my Young Gentleman Caller has helped me remain more comfortable with information technology and its many nuances than almost all the people I live among. I know also that my experience has alerted him to some less-than-honorable intentions among his acquaintance. It's a joy to be able to both learn and be taught. And I don't exaggerate when I use the word "joy." In my own life, as in his, learning stuff is a source of real joy for each of us...it's one reason we remain in relationship in supervention of the challenges we face.

The author's thesis is particularly informative of th challenges the world being summoned into being by Big Tech (see review above) being met with effective control. It will take an intergenerational conversation of great depth and serious intent to prevent the dystopic possibilities of surveillance capitalism and totalitarian governance from happening.

Reading these books together was one of the most challenging emotional rides of 2023 for me. There's a lot to be deeply concerned about in the direction that our present system of inaction and wasteful misdirection of energy is following. There are ways to solve it, and this read's author has one of the best structural models for directing growth into sustainable channels I've read. This is largely, I suspect, because I already implement the lifelong learner model of being. It's paid such huge dividends in my own life. Not least by giving me the mental framework and the emotional push needed to recover faculties many like me lose when they have the multiple strokes that I had in January 2023. I'm slower, and quicker to tire, than before my problems got worse; but unlike those whose retirements or simply aging lifestyles aren't focused, I had something to recover for and get back to doing: This. Reading. Thinking about what I've read. Thinking about how to support the changes I want to see and resist the ones I don't want to see effectively. Communicating those thoughts on this little blog I've run for ten years, that still attracts about two hundred viewers on an average day.

I think more people would find ways to do what I've done if they read these two books: the first to learn what's at stake and how to get a handle on it; the second to learn why it's a good use of your time to overcome inertia and restart your mind's journey.
*my blogged review contains links to sources

As I read this book, I couldn't help but reflect on all the changes I've experienced during my own lifetime as well as those of my parents and grandparents. I also wonder what changes the future holds for my children and grandchildren. Some of the current trends make me fearful that we are heading in a backwards direction. I can only hope that the government, schools and businesses will consider and facilitate the ideas presented by Mauro F. Guillen in The Perennials. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy to read and review.

As a septuagenarian, I did the typical linear stages of life: education, career, retirement. I now understand that this model is no longer the one that works best in the present and for the future. That model is obsolete.

I could live long enough to have another career. The changing structure of education possibilities with online learning makes training for another career a real possibility, regardless of age. Corporations need to realize that multi-generational teams offer a much broader variety of skills and problem solving insights. Hiring practices to achieve those teams would allow people of all ages to enter a career.

Guillen gives readers much to think about. Visionaries in education and business would do well to read this book and consider the changes and possibilities he presents.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Guillen's work argues that the traditional, sequential path from childhood, college/marriage, job, and retirement is outdated and penalizing to many, and how a new group, Perennials, that deviates from this traditional model is more conducive to the growing workforce were working together outside a linear path will bring us better into the future.

In addition to examining workforce shifts, Guillen also examines the traditional family dynamic against the shift to the more common single-family home, or even the greatly increasing choice of some to remain childless and live alone. A lot is covered in this relatively short work, and much of it is thought provoking and important to the ever-changing shape of family and workforce.

Many familiar with Guillen's 2030 will have read a bit about the argument made in his new work, but the Perennials greatly expands on his ideas adding to the argument.

Using lots of anecdotal stories and evidence, lots of statistics (that is easy to get lost in), and well-researched information, Guillen's work is something I think everyone should read to get a better understanding of the world and what we will be better served by.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

The megatrends which are creating a postgenerational society are described in THE PERENNIALS by Mauro F. Guillén, bestselling author of 2030: How Today's Biggest Trends Will Collide and Reshape the Future of Everything. Once again, Guillén turns to demographics and technological changes in another thought-provoking work. One of his most appealing proposals is utilizing the ability of people to work well into their seventies. Another is the vast opportunity for lifelong learning and reskilling as people age and new technologies become available. He argues for mutual respect of the varied strengths between age cohorts and begins with examples like the factory floor at BMW. Overall, an uplifting and forward-looking text, THE PERENNIALS is a Next Big Idea Book Club choice for August.

I was not familiar with the author of this book but he has written several and is described as an “expert on global trends.” In this title, Guillen turns his attention to “How long-standing trends are igniting a revolution in the way we live and work at every stage of life.” (this is the subtitle of the book).

Guillen titles his book Perennials to reflect a new model in how and when people work and lead their lives. He notes that there is more overlap in the workplace of people of different ages because of increasing life expectancy and some not retiring at a traditional age. He cites BMW as an example, finding that five different generations are working there. Guillen sees flexibility as there are currently more choices; for example, if there is a model that is not sequential with retirement at a set age, people may do different things at different ages. In some ways, he believes that this will cause less stress to people as, for example, there may be less need to have figured out your whole life path when a teen or young adult. Similarly, those who are in their sixties no longer have to accept retirement as the next step.

A few of the chapter headings will give a flavor of what is discussed. Chapter One is The Four Stations in Life. Chapter Two is Soaring Longevity and Health. Chapter Five is Three Careers in a Lifetime while Chapter Eight is A Game Changer for Women.

This was an interesting read with much to chew on.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

A Multi-generational Approach to Life and Work

Life expectancy has increased substantially as has technology since the 1900’s. The combination of these trends has led to increased opportunity as well as friction between generations. The author points out that the lock step progression through life from school to retirement is no longer satisfactory when people are living long and in many instances healthier lives.

The longer lifespan leads to people wanting education at more than one stage of their lives and not wanting to leave the workforce as quickly as they did in past generations. In the workplace, the author points out how successfully BMW has implemented a multi-generational workplace. It’s also true that with improved communication and access to the internet, people can take advantage of increased educational opportunities even if they are unable to attend the bricks and mortar university or college.

I found this book a timely and exciting read. The changing dynamics of population and aging are obvious all around us. The author has done substantial research to brings some order to what we see happening. I found it quite challenging to think about. My only reservation is that the book is heavy on academic presentation. This will not be a problem for many people, but for the casual reader it may be hard to get into the argument.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for this review copy.

With THE PERENNIALS, Mauro Gullén presents a convincing, actionable approach to deal with the increasing schisms in our society. Taught the traditional boxes of age and demographics and targeted marketing, I found his insights and research an entrancing and exciting proposition for redefining who we are, how we live and work, and what defines a good life. I am deeply excited by the possibilities he shares and while I've found myself naturally moving toward like-minded individuals, this book clarified what I was seeking and finding with people who think and live like perennials, all of us freed from conventional thinking and outmoded ways of boxing up our lives. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Another great book by Guillén. Just like 2030, this book will be a great point of reference for workplace collaborations.

The Perennials by Mauro F Gullen

288 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: August 22, 2023

Nonfiction (Adult), Business, Leadership, Finance, Self-Help, Political, Sociological

The author discusses how the world we know is changing whether we want it to change or not. In the past, we lived in a sequential model where we grew up, got a job, got married, moved into a house, started a family, then retired. He shows us how different generations have value and bring different perspectives to life. He uses an example of BMW. The energy of the younger employees differs from the experience of the older workers but together they make it work.

Now we are seeing lower birth rates and eight to ten generations alive today. Many families are generational households. Companies are changing their marketing to find new customers than they had in the past. Now people do not work one job as a career. They are going back to school to learn other fields and changing careers. Many colleges and universities are advertising programs for people over fifty since people are reinventing themselves at older ages. The problem that has been brought to light is the lack of literacy and financial knowledge. Many people struggle with common interest or reading. These are issues that must be addressed if we are going to compete on the global markets.

The author presents the information in an easy-to-understand format. The information he provided is thought provoking. I can see that we really are in a post generational society. If you like sociology or generational issues, you should read this book.

In The Perennials, Mauro F. Guillen explored the new trends that occurring in the different generations and how times are changing. He defined the term perennials as, “people who are not characterized by the decade in which they were born but rather by the way they work, learn, and interact with others.” He explained how creativity boosts on their twenties and again in their fifties. In their 20’s they rely more on cognitive abilities and when their brain slows down, they rely more on their experience. He looked at BMW’s pioneering and how they choose to approach mutigenerational workplace. They strive to mix over fix generations where they can all collaborate together with their own perspectives and this led to greater productivity and higher job satisfaction. In the book, he also looked at how the common trend is having three careers in a lifetime, how retirement is changing, inheriting, consumer market, and longevity and health.


The book explored the role of the nuclear family structure and how it has changed and fallen. Children used to always move out of their parents’ homes and they would get married and raise their own children. He looked at the history and how divorce and separation is causing more single parent households. There is also an increasing happening of being choosing to live alone all together. They are being described as singletons and some choose to never marry or have children. It also means that living alone is becoming more expensive. There is a trend of seeing the breakdown of the sequential model and the nuclear family. Some of this is related to independence and more self-reliance. He shared how young adults without a college degree are living with their parents. In the past, we believed that parents at some point in life would be empty nesters and this is greatly changing.


I would recommend this wonderful book on the mutigenerational workplace and family dynamic to anyone who is wanting to earn more about what is occurring right now. I loved how he did tons of research for this book and included a number of different studies to clarify the message of this book. I was shocked by reading about the benefits of flex work and how this helped people to feel less stressed and this in fact prevent job burnout. People are also less likely to retire or quit their jobs. I wonder if companies would provide this key feature how much more happiness, we would in turn witness. There should be a fine line balance between work and living your life. Companies could also see less turn over and not waste their times in training someone who doesn’t want to stay. This book is an incredible resource for us to use to learn more about the mutigenerational and the changes that are happening.










"I received this book free from the publisher, St. Martin’s Press for my honest review.”