A generation ago, adolescence phased directly into adulthood. Young people completed their education, found careers, married, and settled down, usually before they turned thirty.

Today the rules have changed. A new life stage Odyssey is marked by periods of educational, social, and spiritual exploration. It confuses and worries the parents of millennials, however, who often assume their children lack direction in life.

Adrianne G. Selbst watched her grandchildren navigate the turbulent waters of Odyssey with interest. She s seen how a fluctuating job market makes it difficult to find a lifelong career, while higher education and increased pay allow young women to obtain what they want without a mate. Millennials marry later, live on social media, and value jobs more for skills and experience than stability.

In Odyssey is Emotional, Selbst shares stories of how she, her daughter, and her grandchildren interacted during this pivotal new life stage, interspersed with personal anecdotes that highlight the differences between millennials and previous generations.