William Strauss

William Strauss is an American author best known for his works in history, business, and politics. He is best known for his two books, “The Fourth Turning” and “Generations,” which both use generational cohort analysis to explain American trending culture. In addition to writing about history, Strauss was an expert in the field, playing a crucial role in the development of the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C.

Born in Chicago in 1947, Strauss attended Yale University where he completed an undergraduate degree in French Literature before continuing to earn a master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. It was during his studies at Harvard that Strauss met Neil Howe, his future co-author of the books “Generations” and “The Fourth Turning.” The two first collaborated on a play about the American Revolution, which they later adapted into the book “Liberty’s Kids.”

Throughout his career, Strauss has worked in many different fields, including as a professional speechwriter, strategist and policy organizer. In 1993 he wrote his first book, “Generations,” with co-author Neil Howe. The book was an instant success, quickly becoming a bestseller. The book’s success cements Strauss' association with the concept of generations, an idea most Americans were unfamiliar with at the time. In “Generations” Strauss and Howe advanced the idea that there are specific generational archetypes in America and that with each generation, the cycle of changing societal trends continues.

Building on the foundation of “Generations,” Strauss and Howe published “The Fourth Turning” in 1997. The book details the historical recurring cyclic nature of American history, explaining that when certain generational cohorts come together in a certain order, alternating periods of growth and decline will result. Additionally, Strauss and Howe raise the idea that the end of each cycle will be marked with a period of crisis. The idea of a fourth turning has become a popular thought in the United States and is still actively discussed in the media today.

In addition to his pursuits in history and writing, Strauss was an active advocate in the campaign to build a memorial to honor World War II veterans. As the chairman of the World War II Memorial Campaign, Strauss worked tirelessly to ensure that a memorial to commemorate the sacrifices made by World War II veterans would be created. Finally, in 2004, Strauss was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Bush of the United States for his unwavering dedication to the project.

Outside of his work in history and politics, Strauss has also written a contemporary business book, “Leadership: The Art of Empowering Others.” In this book, he provides leadership advice for managers and executives. He draws on philosophies from amazing leaders such as President John F. Kennedy and General Colin Powell. Additionally, Strauss provides real-world business examples to illustrate enablement, motivating and inspiring readers to follow his lead in leadership.

William Strauss is an American author and historian who has uniquely contributed to American culture and history through both his writing and advocacy. He is best known for his generational cohort research and co-writing the books “Generations” and “The Fourth Turning.” His work in establishing the National World War II Memorial and his writing on leadership have enabled Strauss to work on a wide array of fields and contributing to the public discourse and education in the United States.