The Fourth Turning: What the Cycles of History Tell Us About America's Next Rendezvous with Destiny

by William Strauss

This dynamic has recurred throughout American history. Roughly every two decades (the span of one phase of life), there has arisen a new constellation of generations—a new layering of generational personas up and down the age ladder. As this constellation has shifted, so has the national mood. Consider what happened, from the late 1950s to the late 1970s, as one generation replaced another at each phase of life: ■ In elderhood, the cautionary individualists of the Lost Generation (born 1883–1900) were replaced by the hubristic G.I. Generation (born 1901–1924), who launched America into an expansive era of material affluence, global power, and civic planning. ■ In midlife, the upbeat G.I.s were replaced by the helpmate Silent Generation (born 1925–1942), who applied their expertise and sensitivity to fine-tune the institutional order while mentoring the passions of youth. ■ In young adulthood, the conformist Silent were replaced by the narcissistic Boom Generation (born 1943–1960), who asserted the primacy of self and challenged the alleged moral vacuity of the institutional order. ■ In childhood, the indulged Boomers were replaced by the neglected 13th Generation (born 1961–1981), who were left unprotected at a time of cultural convulsion and adult self-discovery. Known in pop culture as Generation X, its name here reflects the fact that it is literally the thirteenth generation to call itself American. Viewed through the prism of generational aging, the mood change betwee...