Generations Book Summary

In 'Generations', Neil Howe and William Strauss explore the cyclical patterns of history as driven by generational dynamics. They categorize generations into archetypes, revealing how each impacts society and culture in distinct ways. The authors dive into the interplay between generations, suggesting that understanding these shifts can provide insight into the future. With rich historical examples and thought-provoking theories, this book invites readers to reflect on their own generational identity. What role will you play in the unfolding narrative of history?

By William Strauss, Neil Howe

Published: 1992

""Each generation is a story, a thread in the tapestry of history, weaving through time, shaping the future with its unique spirit and its shared burdens.""

Book Review of Generations

Hailed by national leaders as politically diverse as former Vice President Al Gore and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Generations has been heralded by reviewers as a brilliant, if somewhat unsettling, reassessment of where America is heading. William Strauss and Neil Howe posit the history of America as a succession of generational biographies, beginning in 1584 and encompassing every-one through the children of today. Their bold theory is that each generation belongs to one of four types, and that these types repeat sequentially in a fixed pattern. The vision of Generations allows us to plot a recurring cycle in American history -- a cycle of spiritual awakenings and secular crises -- from the founding colonists through the present day and well into this millenium. Generations is at once a refreshing historical narrative and a thrilling intuitive leap that reorders not only our history books but also our expectations for the twenty-first century.

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"Each generation is a story, a thread in the tapestry of history, weaving through time, shaping the future with its unique spirit and its shared burdens."

Generations

By William Strauss, Neil Howe