I'm reading "The Fourth Turning:What the Cycles of History Tell Us About America's Next Rendezvous with Destiny" by William Strauss and Neil Howe.
Explains why generations differ and act like they do as well as value what they do. There are four basic generation types - Prophet, Nomad, Hero, and Artist.
* A Prophet generation grows up as increasingly indulged post-Crisis children(the lastest being Boomers), comes of age as the narcissistic young crusaders of an Awakening, cultivates principle as moralistic midlifers, and emerges as wise elders guiding to the next Crisis.
* A Nomad generation grows up as underprotected children during an Awakening(Gen X), comes of age as the alienated young adults of a post-Awakening world, melows into pragmatic midlife leaders durring a Crisis, and ages into tough post-Crisis elders.
* A Hero generation grows up as increasingly protected post-Awakening children(Gen Y, remember Baby on Board signs?), comes of age as the heroic young teamworkers of a Crisis, demonstrates hubris as energetic midlifers, and emerges as powerful elders attacked by the next Awakening.
* An Artist generation grows up as overprotected children during a Crisis(Yet to be born), comes of age as the sensitive young adults of a post-Crisis world, breaks free as indecisive midlife leaders during an Awakening, and ages into empathic post-Awakening elders.
This cycle repeats over and over each millennia.
Steve
