Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #44560 in Books
• Published on: 1998-10-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

Synopsis
Predicts that the U.S. will face a crisis in the next millennium that will threaten the country's survival.

Customer Reviews

It will challenge you
In 1992, Messrs Strauss and Howe published their groundbreaking book, Generations: The History of America's Future, 1584 to 2069, and I was immediately captivated. In 1997, the authors refined their theories with the publication of this book. In this book the authors explain, in a thoroughgoing way, their theory of generational change, and how it has played out throughout American and British history, back to the Wars of the Roses in the fifteenth century.

In the authors' theory, American and British (though mostly American) society goes moves along through a series of four seasons, creating a succession of four archetypal generation-types. Also, as history makes people, people make history, and the constellation of generations interprets the events in their world, reacting in the form of the four seasons. Tracing this march of generations across history, they admirably show the past is indeed prologue, and America is heading towards another seasonal change, as the nation moves once again into a Crisis mentality.

Now, the first complaint that is liable to be leveled against this book is that it posits an inescapably mechanistic view of history. However, the authors are careful to show that human nature can break their suggested cycle, and that it has happened in the past.

Overall, I found this to be a very convincing book, one that has revolutionized my entire view of American history! Yes, I am a convert to the Generations view of history, and cannot wait to see how things are likely to change in the near future. If you want a book that will revolutionize your whole way of looking at history, then I highly recommend that you get this book. It will challenge you and make sure that you never look at events the same.

Astrology at best.
Very poor, Strauss and Howe attribute Anglo-American history to some kind of cycle based on the life span of human beings (80 to 100 years). Each cycle contains 4 turnings, and the events are predictable; as if the western history progressed in an incubator. Completely absent from their analysis are the major intellectual, social and technical advances which changed western civilization and world history. If you like astrology, get this book. The reviews for this book were all 5 stars. I can only deduce, that the same reviewers would find "An Incomplete Education" a 1 star book.

The circle beats a straight line any day!
S & H present us with a cyclical view of current history to counteract our culturally biased linear view, which exalts progress over everything. I particularly enjoyed the rich array of material supportive of seeing history as an extension of nature, which generally moves in cycles (spring, summer, autumn, winter, e.g.). As a Silent Generation elder I have seen three of the secular turnings S & H identify and have little doubt that the fourth is coming right on schedule in the next decade Clearly, our culture is headed for a crisis: few of our major institutions are working very well. I am aware of these things intuitively and don't require mountains of data.. And I'm willing to place my bets on their analysis, along with my investments and my future plans. I have been using the S & H generational analysis in my business, with my children, and in my social life for the past 6 years and found it highly useful, entertaining, and insightful. The Fourth Turning enriches their thesis and drives it into a new way of approaching history. I think this book is a "must read" for every thoughtful person. Alan Gilburg