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The Snowflake Effect: How the Self-Esteem Movement Ruined a Generation
Just about everyone under the age of thirty is an entitled, unhappy, lazy, shallow, egomaniacal monster. At least that's what they say. They, of course, are pretty much anyone over the age of thirty. They are also pretty accurate in their description of us. This has become something of a problem for our society. The Self-Esteem Movement was the catalyst for the shift in cultural norms and values that has allegedly ruined an entire generation. Everyone was suddenly a special and unique little snowflake. Trophies were mandatory. Success became an expectation. We have been corrupted by self-esteem. This warrants discussion, but no ordinary discussion will do. Bear witness as one of these snowflakes attempts to examine the detrimental and lingering impact of the Self-Esteem Movement through topics including television, education, Sigmund Freud, stand-up comedy, region, mental illness, baseball, pornography, and a number of other things that are at least somewhat relevant. You are not special. Neither am I.
280 pages, Paperback
First published July 5, 2014
1 person is currently reading
307 people want to read
About the author
Trey Willis
3 books6 followersTrey Willis isn’t his name at all, but not in that fancy pen name sort of way. His given name is Lionel Elbert Willis III, but he has never been called that by anyone who actually knew him. He was born and raised in rural North Carolina and unapologetically loves his home state. He has been in an embarrassing number of arguments with Ohioans about the Wright Brothers, at least one of which took place in The Smithsonian.
Trey earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and master’s degree in counseling from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. His education in sarcasm hails from Parts Unknown, much like The Ultimate Warrior. His rampant cynicism is entirely self-inflicted. He is a practicing therapist and occasionally an adjunct psychology professor. Now he fancies himself an author.
Trey lives in Wilmington, North Carolina with his wife and daughter. He enjoys living at the beach even though he rarely takes advantage of it. He also has two dogs and a cat, but finds that he is much less fond of them now that he has a child.
Trey earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and master’s degree in counseling from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. His education in sarcasm hails from Parts Unknown, much like The Ultimate Warrior. His rampant cynicism is entirely self-inflicted. He is a practicing therapist and occasionally an adjunct psychology professor. Now he fancies himself an author.
Trey lives in Wilmington, North Carolina with his wife and daughter. He enjoys living at the beach even though he rarely takes advantage of it. He also has two dogs and a cat, but finds that he is much less fond of them now that he has a child.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 18, 2025
In this punchy little book, Trey Willis makes logical, well-researched and largely convincing arguments for why his own Generation Y is essentially selfish, especially when compared to previous generations of North Americans.
He looks at popular culture (including the rise of reality TV) and a sense of entitlement that dominates many younger peoples’ attitudes to society, work and even family. Willis lays the blame for this at the feet of what he pointedly terms "The Self Esteem Movement" that started influencing worldwide populations from California in the 1980's.He also uses scientific studies to show that none of us is innately special.
In fact, he concludes that teacher’s and parent’s attempts to inject children with confidence often end up in creating anxious, needy and insecure young adults.
Willis is just as persuasive when he points out that the right to happiness is not a right at all.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the modern world in its sometimes bizarre complexity.
The author himself explains the book this way:
“Just about everyone under the age of thirty is an entitled, unhappy, lazy, shallow, egomaniacal monster. At least that's what they say. They, of course, are pretty much anyone over the age of thirty. They are also pretty accurate in their description of us. This has become something of a problem for our society. The Self-Esteem Movement was the catalyst for the shift in cultural norms and values that has allegedly ruined an entire generation. Everyone was suddenly a special and unique little snowflake. Trophies were mandatory. Success became an expectation. We have been corrupted by self-esteem.
This warrants discussion, but no ordinary discussion will do. Bear witness as one of these snowflakes attempts to examine the detrimental and lingering impact of the Self-Esteem Movement through topics including television, education, Sigmund Freud, stand-up comedy, region, mental illness, baseball, pornography, and a number of other things that are at least somewhat relevant. You are not special. Neither am I.”
He looks at popular culture (including the rise of reality TV) and a sense of entitlement that dominates many younger peoples’ attitudes to society, work and even family. Willis lays the blame for this at the feet of what he pointedly terms "The Self Esteem Movement" that started influencing worldwide populations from California in the 1980's.He also uses scientific studies to show that none of us is innately special.
In fact, he concludes that teacher’s and parent’s attempts to inject children with confidence often end up in creating anxious, needy and insecure young adults.
Willis is just as persuasive when he points out that the right to happiness is not a right at all.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the modern world in its sometimes bizarre complexity.
The author himself explains the book this way:
“Just about everyone under the age of thirty is an entitled, unhappy, lazy, shallow, egomaniacal monster. At least that's what they say. They, of course, are pretty much anyone over the age of thirty. They are also pretty accurate in their description of us. This has become something of a problem for our society. The Self-Esteem Movement was the catalyst for the shift in cultural norms and values that has allegedly ruined an entire generation. Everyone was suddenly a special and unique little snowflake. Trophies were mandatory. Success became an expectation. We have been corrupted by self-esteem.
This warrants discussion, but no ordinary discussion will do. Bear witness as one of these snowflakes attempts to examine the detrimental and lingering impact of the Self-Esteem Movement through topics including television, education, Sigmund Freud, stand-up comedy, region, mental illness, baseball, pornography, and a number of other things that are at least somewhat relevant. You are not special. Neither am I.”
September 29, 2014
Here is a "voice of reason" in a self-oriented world. Read and you'll see why customer service had disappeared. You may even begin to see the traits in your grandchildren and be appalled. Trey Willis gives you some answers. Maybe you won't like what you read or perhaps be offended. But -- he writes about the real world and how constantly being told "You're Special" has affected business, quality customer service, job performance, education and social and family interactions.
He is of this generation. I commend him for speaking out.
GT
www.gttrickle.com
He is of this generation. I commend him for speaking out.
GT
www.gttrickle.com
July 22, 2017
There are so many reasons to read this. I can't wait to share with my book club.
"students are allowed to take take credit for the positive aspects of their existence, and blame external factors for the negative aspects"
"continue to expect consistent validation. They need to praised, regardless of their efforts, to maintain their motivation to do the bare minimum"
"if the child receives the same level of praise for trying, there is no motivation to work hard enough to succeed"
"she knew that the pain would fade in time, but the lessons I gleaned from them would be lasting"
"students are allowed to take take credit for the positive aspects of their existence, and blame external factors for the negative aspects"
"continue to expect consistent validation. They need to praised, regardless of their efforts, to maintain their motivation to do the bare minimum"
"if the child receives the same level of praise for trying, there is no motivation to work hard enough to succeed"
"she knew that the pain would fade in time, but the lessons I gleaned from them would be lasting"
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews