The Fourth Turning An American Prophecy What the Cycles of History Tell Us About America s Next Rendezvous with Destiny

[Page 2] Previous Books by William Strauss and Neil Howe 13TH GEN! ABORT, RETRY, IGNORE, FAIL? GENERATIONS: THE HISTORY OF AMERICA'S FUTURE Also by Neil Howe (coauthored with Peter G. Peterson) ON BORROWED TIME: HOW THE GROWTH IN ENTITLEMENT SPENDING THREATENS AMERICA'S FUTURE (1988) Also by William Strauss (coauthored with Lawrence Baskir) CHANCE AND CIRCUMSTANCE: THE DRAFT, THE WAR, AND THE VIETNAM GENERATION (1978) [Page 4] To Janie and Simona, who share our time And to Eric, Giorgia, Melanie, Nathaniel, Rebecca, and Victoria, who, God willing, will share a time beyond [Page 5] That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. — Ecclesiastes 3.15 [Page 6] Contents 1. Winter Comes Again Part One. Seasons 2. Seasons of Time 3. Seasons of Life 4. Cycles of History Overview: Seven Cycles of Generations and Turnings 5. Gray Champions Part Two. Turnings 6. The First Turning: American High (1946-1964) 7. The Second Turning: Consciousness Revolution (1964-1984) 8. The Third Turning: Culture Wars (1984-2005?) 9. Fourth Turnings in History 10. A Fourth Turning Prophecy Part Three. Preparations 11. Preparing for the Fourth Turning 12. The Eternal Return Acknowledgments Notes [Page 7] CHAPTER 1 Winter Comes Again AMERICA FEELS LIKE IT'S UNRAVELING . Though we live in an era of relative peace and comfort, we have settled into a mood of pessimism about the long-term future, fearful that our superpower nation is somehow rotting