Sink or swim: a guide to growing up during hard times

Richard Settersten and Barbara E. Ray supply all the sociological data needed to confirm the water-cooler hypothesis that 20-somethings are “failing to launch,’’ staying put in parental homes, delaying marriage, and taking more time to achieve economic independence. Even more troubling, the authors argue that many of these young adults, facing bleak job prospects, burgeoning debt, and meager support from parents, aren’t launching at all but are sinking.

Using statistical data and anecdotal evidence gleaned from 500 interviews, “Not Quite Adults’’ builds a strong case that launching into adulthood has never been more fraught with uncertainty. The authors make several eye-opening points. First, they dispel the notion that today’s young adults lack a strong work ethic. Second, they make it clear that today’s bleak economy disproportionately impacts 20-somethings, especially those from middle-class and poor families. Finally, they convincingly argue that support systems that once helped past generations transition into adulthood are collapsing, as resource-strapped businesses and governments increasingly transfer burdens like health care and training onto individuals.