[12][13][14][15] In it, he explores the economic, social, and political conditions and institutions that nurtured American millennials and shaped them into a distinct group.

[2][16] Yohann Koshy wrote in the Financial Times that Harris argues that "society conspires to make life worse for young people", that "millennials are producing lots of value at work that is not reflected in job quality or wages", and that much of this applies to Britain too.

He felt that he did not understand his home state or the suburb of Palo Alto until he left it for college on the East Coast, at the University of Maryland.

The book is his history of that city and its role in the 21st century US economy, which is defined by the internet and electronic devices made by people, companies and financial capital in Silicon Valley.

[3] One review of the book said that it was “nominally a history, but it is really a work of grand theory … Marxism” and describes a “capitalist horror show”, with little positive balance to the criticisms of the faults of capitalism.