Neil Howe

Neil Howe is an American author and historian who focus on social changes and trends. Howe holds a master’s degree in History from Yale University, and a doctorate in Financial History from Stanford University. Since the mid-1990s, Howe has emerged as a leading public intellectual, penning such bestselling works as The Fourth Turning, Generations, and Millennials Rising.

In The Fourth Turning, Howe and co-author William Strauss argue that American history is effectively divided into four distinct lifecycles or “turnings.” Each turning follows a particular pattern of economic and cultural change: high, unwinding, costume, and foresee. According to Howe, a society moves along this cyclical path from the euphoric high of a new initiating era, to the depressing low of an unraveling era, to the post-crisis foundation of a new costume era, and then back to a new high of foresight.

Howe and Strauss apply their theories of historical cycles to their analysis of the generations, namely the post-World War II “Baby Boomers,” Generation X, the Millennial Generation, and the upcoming “Homeland Generation.” Through a variety of concrete examples and statistical evidence, Howe and Strauss show how generational cycles both shape, and are shaped by, larger social and political trends.

In his popular book Generations: The History of America’s Future, 1584 to 2069, Howe outlines a theory of four generations that he believes each society moves through over the course of its history. These generations include, in order, the Hero, Idealist, Reactive and Civic generations. Each of these generations is marked by particular characteristics, tendencies, and orientations, each of which is both heightened, and challenged, by the generational cycle.

Howe’s Millennial Rising: The Next Great Generation similarly ties larger social forces to the present crop of young people. Through demographic profiling and insightful analysis, Howe and his co-author, Melanie Kenderdine, show how Millennials are set to lead society in new directions, beginning in the early 2000s. The Millennials, according to Howe, have a unique combination of patience, adaptability, and open-mindedness that make them particularly well-suited to the challenges of the contemporary Western world.

In a number of other works, including Mapping the Millennial Mind and The Age Curve, Howe applies his theories of historical generations to a consideration of the challenges and possibilities of today’s rapidly changing world. Through these works, as well as through his ongoing writing and speaking engagements, Howe offers an invaluable resource to those seeking an in-depth look at the unprecedented changes now unfolding around us.

Whether one agrees with the conceptions of history put forth by Howe and Strauss, or with Howe’s specific applications to the present moment, there is no question that Neil Howe is one of the world’s most important and influential social thinkers. His commitment to understanding the complexities of history and its impact on the lives of contemporary citizens is at the heart of all his works. For those seeking guidance and understanding in the midst of our rapidly changing times, Neil Howe is an authoritative guide.