Comments on: The Fourth Turning

By: Harold Jarche

Harold Jarche — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:08:51 +0000

I agree that it’s not sound science, just an interesting idea that can start some conversations and allow you to look at things differently. I wouldn’t base on my business model on this book, Benjamin.

By: Benjamin Baxter

Benjamin Baxter — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 09:05:04 +0000

I found their research to be broadly generalized if not inaccurate, especially the further their history goes back. They understand the Boomers marvelously, but everyone else is a caricature perversely molded to fit their hypothesis, or appropriately vague like a barely applicable horoscope. This especially includes Victorian generations and those before them,

I knew it was a poor sign when the authors’ biographies included such tidbits as the number of volumes previous works had sold, rather than any worthwhile academic work.

By: Tory W

Tory W — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:54:32 +0000

To Sebastian Curry, if you are referring to liberal socialism in the context of social programs (infrastructural building, social programs, etc), this in fact is part of the cause the highs that are referred to in the book (i.e. – we can do anything, social order, etc.). Now, if you were to have said “social liberalism”…, well that’s the first sign of an unraveling. However, the piousness of those former social liberals (the current bible bangers) pushes us right on in to crisis. I think in part this is due to a guilty conscience. You know…, sort of when politicians and ministers preach piety and fidelity and then turn around and get caught with gay hookers or trying to get head in a airport bathroom.

By: Sabastian Curry

Sabastian Curry — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:16:43 +0000

The Fourth Turning is a general view of the cyclical theory of human systems. It has to do with thermodynamics and the build up and reduction of the energy in the system. Humans do not have control over the cycles, and socialism is not the answer. In fact liberal socialism is what causes the downturn as society is looted, afterwhich “honest” workers must come in and fix what decadence caused.

By: Virginia Yonkers

Virginia Yonkers — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:46:48 +0000

So far all the “languages, cultures, and technologies” that I am fluent in has not helped me a lick! In fact, I am repeatedly told that I don’t have correct skills for this economy (I need to be a math or science specialist) and that my background is too broad. I just hope that that changes soon also!

By: Jon Husband

Jon Husband — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:13:23 +0000

I first read The Fourth Turning about a decade ago, and have re-read it several times over the past decade.

I still chuckle when thinking about when I recommended it to Dave Pollard. he read it, and wrote a blog post about how he got so mad that he “threw it against the wall”, disliking it intensely since he thought it was trying to be (in his words) “a prophecy”.

He’s since come around

Heavy-handed writing style, but very interesting premise, very comprehensive research, a damned good track record so far and IMO good advice in the last couple of chapters.

For the record< i don’t think 911 or the ciurrent economic crisis are “the trigger”. but I think we are clearly in the late stages of “The Unravelling”. I suspect we will find that all the current efforts to deny reality and re-inflate the credit-driven bubble will take us into the real triggering crisis the book suggests or prophesizes that we will have to confront.