The Fourth Turning Book Summary - The Fourth Turning Book explained in key points

Listen to the Intro

00:00

The Fourth Turning summary

Name: The Fourth Turning
Rating: 4.5 (309 reviews)
Author: William Strauss and Neil Howe

William Strauss and Neil Howe

An American Prophecy

4.5 (309 ratings)

23 mins

Brief summary

The Fourth Turning by William Strauss and Neil Howe is a historical analysis that identifies repeating generational cycles in American history and predicts a coming crisis, which will require a Great Reset to proceed into the next era.

Topics

US History Crises & Scandals

Table of Contents

The Fourth Turning
Summary of 4 key ideas

Audio & text in the Blinkist app

Key idea 1 of 4

What’s in it for me? Look at American history from a different perspective.

First comes the High. In the wake of a Crisis, morale is upbeat, institutions are strong, and communities flourish as individualism weakens.

Then comes the Awakening. People begin to revolt against the old civic order and supplant it with new values.

Next, an Unraveling. Much the opposite of a High, individualism begins to rise while institutions weaken. The new values determined in the Awakening begin to replace the old regime.

Finally, the Crisis. Society is in a state of upheaval. The old social order disintegrates, hardship besets the population, and political and economic trust is at an extreme low. Yet, in its wake, new seeds of social rebirth begin to grow, bringing about another eventual High. And so the story repeats.

These are what Neil Howe and William Strauss call the four Turnings of history: High, Awakening, Unraveling, and Crisis. It’s a model with which we can understand the flux and flow of history –⁠ the way it follows particular patterns that repeat regularly over time. In this Blink to The Fourth Turning by Neil Howe and William Strauss, we’ll take a deep dive into what each of these four Turnings signifies, which generations occupy the roles within them, and how you may prepare for the Turnings to come.

In this Blink, you’ll learn

why time is more like a spiral than a line;
how history shapes the character of each generation; and
how to prepare for a Crisis.

History unfolds in a cyclical pattern.

Humankind is obsessed with time –⁠ measuring it, dividing it, observing it, and most recently, controlling it.

Throughout the course of our species’s history, humans have developed three distinct ways of thinking about time. The first is chaotic time, which was the dominant theory during our primitive days. In this view, historical events occur randomly. There’s no point in trying to determine the causes of events or to try and improve society because history doesn’t follow a path and there’s nothing people can do to influence it.

The second theory of time, which became prevalent during the classical period, was cyclical time. The idea was that events occurred in cycles, much like the rotation of the earth, the orbit of the moon, or the procession of the zodiac. Humans can participate in and shape history by performing the right actions at the right times, thus winning favor from the gods. As such, this theory gives people more agency than in chaotic time.

Finally, the third theory of time –⁠ linear time –⁠ became the dominant force alongside the Western monotheistic religions –⁠ Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In this version of time, history occurs as a straight line –⁠ a story with an absolute beginning and end with events following each other logically. This theory enabled humanity to liberate itself completely from the shackles of fate. People didn’t need to believe anymore that they were powerless in the face of external events because they could influence the story directly.

But linear time also cuts people off from natural cycles and their relationship to something greater than themselves. For example, by suppressing the flow of a river by damming it, we might think we’re stopping a flood cycle. But we may instead be simply ensuring that the cycle is less frequent but more devastating.

No Western nation denies natural rhythms and proclaims its freedom from them more than America. Perhaps for that reason, those rhythms play out even more dramatically there than elsewhere.

Like other Western societies, America follows the saecular cycle, a temporal sequence of a hundred years –⁠ around the length of a human life span. This length of time is called a saeculum, and it contains patterns that repeat. Within each saeculum is a Turning – a span of about 20 years. This corresponds to about the length of one phase of human life, from childhood to elderhood. In miniature, a saeculum is like a year, while a turning is like a season.

All together, the four turnings of a saeculum comprise its four seasons of growth, maturation, entropy, and decay. In the next chapter, we’ll go into more depth as to what characterizes each of these periods.

Every saeculum consists of a High, an Awakening, an Unraveling, and a Crisis.

Winter follows autumn and summer follows spring. Every year, the seasons repeat in the same pattern. You’ll never find winter following summer. In the same way, the Turnings within each saeculum follow a particular pattern every single time they occur.

The pattern begins with a High. You can think of this like the season of spring. A High always follows a Crisis, so the fact that the Crisis has ended means that the nation’s mood is now upbeat and triumphant. Government is powerful and effective, the gap between rich and poor narrows, productivity grows, the economy prospers, and society, in general, becomes more community-minded. On the other hand, Highs are characterized by a conformist culture, with the nation succeeding in public cooperation but failing in personal fulfillment. Additionally, people tend to overlook or ignore injustice, preferring not to rock the boat.

Turnings shape people into four distinct archetypes.

Imagine an average person raised in a warm climate versus an average person raised in a cold climate. Ignore things like skin tone or eye color –⁠ focus on personality. For the warm climate person, you’re probably imagining someone extraverted and gregarious. For the cold climate person, you might be thinking about someone more introverted or conscientious.

The bottom line is: we know that the “season” in which we grow up has an impact on our personality. In the same way, people are shaped by the historical “seasons” –⁠ the Turnings –⁠ that they live through as children and throughout the rest of their lives. The result is that we end up with generations, well-defined groups of people, every 20 years or so. Since the seasons arrive in a fixed pattern, so too do generations.

Prepare for Turnings by acting in accordance with the season.

The saecular winter –⁠ the Crisis –⁠ is a dire period of time. It is unavoidable and inevitable. Does that mean there’s nothing any of us can do about it?

Not necessarily. Just like in farming, there’s always a time to reap and a time to sow. The same is true when it comes to weathering the Turnings of the saecula. The key is to recognize when which behaviors are appropriate. It’s useless at best and dangerous at worst to try and avoid unwanted seasons. Instead, prepare for and accept them. Most importantly, participate in seasonal activities while avoiding unseasonal ones.

Want to see all full key ideas from The Fourth Turning?

Key ideas in The Fourth Turning

More knowledge in less time

Read or listen

Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.

Find your next read

Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.

Shortcasts ^New

We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

What is The Fourth Turning about?

The Fourth Turning (1997) presents a fascinating picture of history, past, present, and future. Though the people of modern Western societies tend to view history as a linear process, the reality might instead be cyclical, repeated regularly and predictably. By studying the ways in which history does indeed repeat itself, we can better prepare ourselves for what is likely to come in the future.

The Fourth Turning Review

The Fourth Turning (1997) is a thought-provoking book that delves into the patterns of history. Here's why it's worth reading:

It presents a unique cyclical view of history, identifying recurring patterns that span generations.
The book provides a fascinating analysis of past events and their implications for the future.
It offers valuable insights into how societies evolve and the potential challenges they face.

Gain a new perspective on history by reading The Fourth Turning.

Who should read The Fourth Turning?

History buffs
Devotees of American politics
Future predictors

About the Author

William Strauss was a social theorist, consultant, author, playwright, and director. He coauthored Generations, 13th Gen, Millennials Rising, and The Fourth Turning with Neil Howe. Their books have influenced such diverse figures as Al Gore and Steve Bannon. He founded the Cappies, a theater awards program for high school students, and he wrote a number of plays and musicals, including MaKiddo and Gray Champions.

Neil Howe is a social theorist, consultant, and author. He has written or cowritten a number of books on generational trends, application-oriented books, and academic studies on aging. He’s the cofounder, with William Strauss, of three consulting companies: Hedgeye, Saeculum Research, and LifeCourse Associates, all of which work to apply their generational theory.

Categories with The Fourth Turning

History

Book summaries like The Fourth Turning

The Mastery of Love

Don Miguel Ruiz with Janet Mills

A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship

The classic text that proves the power of positive thinking

8 min

4.3

The Power of Myth

Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers

From ancient myths to Han Solo

Short Life Advice from the Best in the World

The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela

A Brief History of Humankind

28 min

4.4

The Richest Man in Babylon

George S. Clason

Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century

The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

14 min

4.1

The Science of Getting Rich

Wallace D. Wattles

Your Master Key to Success

11 min

3.9

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Robert Pirsig

An Inquiry into Values

The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions

A Dystopian Novel on the Perils of State Control & New Technology

A Guide for Occupants

29 min

4.5

The Saad Truth about Happiness

Gad Saad

8 Secrets for Leading the Good Life

14 min

4.2

Leading an Inspired Life

Jim Rohn

Timeless Wisdom and Practical Strategies to Find True Fulfillment

The Secret to Achieving More with Less

18 min

4.4

Stealing Fire

Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal

How Silicon Valley, the Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work

Meditations, Thoughts, and Wisdom for Living an Authentic Life

Mindful lessons on love

From Effectiveness to Greatness

A Financial History of the World

How Napoleon Conquered Europe and Changed the World

A landmark work in the field of biology and evolution

One of the most important philosophical texts ever written

21 min

4.5

8 Secrets to Powerful Manifesting

Mandy Morris

How to Create the Reality of Your Dreams

Gary Keller and Jay Papasan

The surprisingly simple truth behind extraordinary results

18 min

4.6

The End of the World Is Just the Beginning

Peter Zeihan

Mapping the Collapse of Globalization

21 min

4.4

Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself

Joe Dispenza

How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One

A Philosophical Tale About the Failures of Government Coercion

What the Rich Teach Their Kids about Money – That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not!

Timeless reflections in defense of Christianity

31 min

4.7

Own Your Past Change Your Future

John Delony

A Not-So-Complicated Approach to Relationships, Mental Health & Wellness

18 min

4.6

The China Study

T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell

The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-Term Health

A Study of Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks

Observations on the Nature, Theory and Strategy of War and Combat

20 min

4.3

Happy Sexy Millionaire

Steven Bartlett

Unexpected Truths about Fulfillment, Love, and Success

17 min

4.4

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

Joseph Murphy (Ian McMahan revised)

Unlock Your Master Key to Success

Regicide and Revenge in one of the World's Most Famous Tragedies

Tap Into Your Infinite Potential and Unlock the Keys to Abundance

Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles

17 min

4.3

Unreasonable Hospitality

Will Guidara

The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect

Opening Ourselves to Real Love and Intimacy

The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know

22 min

4.6

Podcasting Marketing Strategy

Daniel Rowles and Ciaran Rogers

A Complete Guide to Creating, Publishing, and Monetizing a Successful Podcast

21 min

4.2

Where Good Ideas Come From

Steven Johnson

The Natural History of Innovation

18 min

4.2

The Hero with a Thousand Faces

Joseph Campbell

Understanding the Hero’s Journey Through Psychology and Mythology

16 min

4.5

People ❤️ Blinkist

Sven O.

It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

Thi Viet Quynh N.

Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

Jonathan A.

Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

Renee D.

Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.