Jenny Anderson

Rebecca Winthrop

'If you aspire to be the psychologically wise adult of a young person, this book is for you.'

'So many parents want to help their teens become better learners . . . Here is a powerful, practical book that points the way.'

'Every parent of a checked out, overwhelmed, or frustrated middle or high-school student needs to read this book.'

Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better

'Our education systems are shortchanging far too many teenagers. This book is brimming with insights on how to change that. It’s an engaging, evidence-based, and practical read about how to develop a generation of lifelong learners.'

Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential and Think Again, and host of the podcast Re:Thinking

'The Disengaged Teen is an invaluable resource.'

Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project and Life in Five Senses

'Anderson and Winthrop bring clarity to the chaos, providing a practical framework for parents who want to understand their kids.'

Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed

'[The Disengaged Teen] is an empathetic look at how modern teens get lost and a practical guide to helping them get found.'

Scott Galloway, Professor of Marketing, NYU Stern, Host of the Prof G Pod and Cohost of the Pivot Podcast

'Just the book every parent, teacher and administrator needs.'

Kaya Henderson, former chancellor of DC Public Schools and Executive Vice President and Executive Director of the Center for Rising Generations at the Aspen Institute

'Every parent of a child ten or older should read this book.'

'The Disengaged Teen is a compelling, enlightening, must-read book.'

Lisa Damour, author of The Emotional Lives of Teenagers

'The Disengaged Teen offers everything a parent or teacher needs to understand, support, and empower a child's learning.'

Jennifer Brehney Wallace, author of Never Enough

'This book gives parents and educators clear, evidence backed ways to help young people develop the agency they need.'

'The Disengaged Teen may be the most important book of 2025.'

Paul LeBlanc, former president Southern New Hampshire University

'A thoughtful analysis with many wise and practical insights.'

Ron Dahl, founding director center for the developing adolescent and director of the institute for human development at UC Berkeley

Ned Johnson, co-author The Self-Driven Child

'Anderson and Winthrop do a fantastic job of explaining what [engagement] is, how to find it, and present tools for helping kids engage in school and life.'

Jessica Lahey, author The Gift of Failure

Amanda Ripley, author of The Smartest Kids in the World

'The four modes of engagement offer practical ways for parents to both identify and change the behaviors that get in the way of engagement and deep learning.'

Jennifer Fredericks, Professor of Psychology at Union College; editor Handbook of Student Engagement Interventions

'The Disengaged Teen is a compelling read.'

Lord Jim Knight, former schools minister UK

'I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to get smarter about the wonderful but puzzling world of motivating and engaging the next generation.'

Helping Kids Learn Better, Live Better and Feel Better

'Our education systems are short-changing far too many teenagers. This book is brimming with insights on how to change that. It’s an engaging, evidence-based, and practical read about how to develop a generation of lifelong learners.' – Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential and Think Again, and host of the podcast Re:Thinking 
 
A powerful new approach to help your teen move from disengagement to drive. 
 
Adolescents are hardwired to explore and grow, and learning is mainly how they do this. But a shocking majority of teens are disengaged from school, simultaneously bored and overwhelmed. As parents, we can feel powerless and don’t know how to help – until now. 
 
Based on five years of research into why children lose their love of learning, award-winning journalist Jenny Anderson and the Brookings Institution’s global education expert Rebecca Winthrop have created a transformative model that every parent, carer and educator needs to know about. 
 
Identifying four modes of learning that every student goes through – resister, passenger, achiever and explorer – you’ll find out why understanding what these are is crucial to your child’s development and how you can coach them to become a curious, resilient and motivated learner. 
 
With stories from children who have used the tools in this book to become life-long learners, and with clear strategies on how to become your child’s best cheerleader, this book is essential reading for everyone who wants to help young people thrive.

Rebecca Winthrop

Praise for The Disengaged Teen

'If you aspire to be the psychologically wise adult of a young person, this book is for you.'

'So many parents want to help their teens become better learners . . . Here is a powerful, practical book that points the way.'

'Every parent of a checked out, overwhelmed, or frustrated middle or high-school student needs to read this book.'

'If you aspire to be the psychologically wise adult of a young person, this book is for you.'

'So many parents want to help their teens become better learners . . . Here is a powerful, practical book that points the way.'

'Every parent of a checked out, overwhelmed, or frustrated middle or high-school student needs to read this book.'

'If you aspire to be the psychologically wise adult of a young person, this book is for you.'

'So many parents want to help their teens become better learners . . . Here is a powerful, practical book that points the way.'

'Every parent of a checked out, overwhelmed, or frustrated middle or high-school student needs to read this book.'

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