In late 2019, Guardian Australia opinion editor Bridie Jabour wrote a viral article titled ‘The millennials at 31: Welcome to the age of misery’. Jabour wrote it believing the unique social and economic circumstances millennials grew up in have led them to become the most miserable generation ever. When she set about turning the article into a book, however, she discovered that isn’t actually the case. In this essay collection, Trivial Grievances, Jabour explains why, backing up her discoveries with research and interviews with various academics, and mixing cultural critique with observations from her own life.

Within its pages, Jabour discusses differing views on marriage, whether to have children or not and how the pandemic has affected millennials compared to other generations. She deflates the deceptive allure of travel, explaining why it won’t make you a better person. She examines productivity and burnout, arguing that although we feel immense pressure, we don’t actually have to accomplish something every day.

As a 28-year-old, reading this book was often difficult. I saw myself in many examples and was often cringing as I turned each page. Jabour has taken any beliefs I had that I am unique and different and crushed them between the pages of this book. I am no different to my fellow millennials, but I am also no different to my parents’ generation or that of my grandparents or great-grandparents. As someone with a dedicated Instagram account for my books, the point that hit hardest was when Jabour was imagining how her great-grandchildren will react to her posts: ‘Ugh, why did they post photos of books they read back then?’ / ‘They thought it made them look cleverer than they actually were.’

Overall, I was left with some hope as I turned the final pages of this book. Jabour has reminded me to look for the tiny joys in everyday life and to remember that ‘feeling strong negative emotions is the most powerful motive for change’.

Lucie Dess is the marketing assistant at Readings.