Society Archives

The Second Turning: America’s Consciousness Revolution

How did the assassination of John F. Kennedy affect America? How did parenting styles change after the 1950s? What reenergized the Republican Party? According to historian William Strauss and consultant Neil Howe, Anglo-American history goes in phases, which they call Turnings. Each Turning has its own characteristics. They say that the Second Turning is an awakening of sorts, and they call the most recent one “the Consciousness Revolution.” Read more to learn about Second Turnings in general and America’s most recent Second Turning, from 1964 to 1984.

What Is the Fourth Turning? Strauss and Howe’s Theory of Crisis

What is the Fourth Turning? Was the Third Reich a Fourth Turning? How do crises transform nations? In The Fourth Turning, historian William Strauss and consultant Neil Howe explain how Anglo-American history follows a pattern of four 15- to 25-year periods, called Turnings. The Fourth Turning, they say, is a Crisis. Continue reading to learn about Strauss and Howe’s theory of the Fourth Turning and their predictions for America’s next one.

Peak States: The 4 Elevated States of Mind Explained

What is a peak state of consciousness? What are the four different altered states that you can achieve? In their book Stealing Fire, Stephen Kotler and Jamie Wheal explore the concept of peak states and place them in a historical context. They claim that altered states of consciousness are subjective experiences that are different from normal consciousness, while peak states occur at the high end of the spectrum. Read on to learn about the four types of peak states, according to Kotler and Wheal.

Technology and Human Values: How to Make the Connection

Is there a connection between technology and human values? How can we design technology to better reflect society’s values? For the most part, User Friendly by Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant argues that technology has driven us away from basic human values. However, they believe that technology can be reprogrammed to better fit into people’s lives and help society improve. Continue reading for more on how we can insert human values into our gadgets.

Why the Cybersecurity Industry Is Short by 700,000 Workers

What’s behind the cybersecurity industry worker shortage? Why is it a problem? What can be done to fix it? In the second quarter of 2022, fifty-two million data breaches occurred globally. But at a time when the cybersecurity industry has its hands full, it also finds them tied: More than 700,000 cybersecurity positions are unfilled across the US and by 2025, there will be enough vacant jobs to fill 50 NFL stadiums. Below, we’ll examine why there’s a cybersecurity industry worker shortage and what can be done about it.

The Fourth Turning Predictions: Were Strauss & Howe Right?

Does history follow a pattern? If so, can we make solid predictions about the future? In The Fourth Turning, historian William Strauss and consultant Neil Howe explain how Anglo-American history follows a pattern of four 15- to 25-year periods, called Turnings. They wrote during a Third Turning, and they made predictions about the Fourth. Keep reading to learn the Fourth Turning predictions they made and how accurate they turned out to be.

Advancements in Psychology Offer New Ways to Heal & Grow

What are some recent advancements in psychology? How are they creating new opportunities for psychological healing and growth? According to Stephen Kotler and Jamie Wheal, advancements in psychology are uncovering the mysteries of peak states of consciousness. This cultural shift toward exploring human potential began decades ago and has led to a more open-minded approach to psychological study. Read on to learn how recent advancements in psychology are revealing the potential of peak states of consciousness.

Humans Are Addicted to Technology—Here’s What to Blame

Why are people today addicted to technology? Why do we need to get rid of the “Like” button? Humans are addicted to technology, and there’s no arguing against that. User Friendly by Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant has an answer for why: user-friendliness makes it impossible to do anything without relying on technology. Find out why user-friendly design isn’t always such a good thing.

Michelle Obama on Racism and Mental Health

How does racial discrimination affect one’s mental health? What psychological problems are victims of racial discrimination likely to suffer from? Discrimination occurs when a person is different from the majority in some way and is treated poorly because of those differences. In her book The Light We Carry, Michelle Obama writes that being discriminated against on the basis of superficial differences (e.g. race) makes people self-conscious and primes them to behave in ways that are acceptable to others. Here’s what Michelle Obama has to say about racism and mental health.

The Fourth Turning: Book Overview & Key Takeaways

How do different generations function in society and react to societal changes? How did predictions about America’s future made in 1997 turn out? In their book The Fourth Turning, William Strauss and Neil Howe explain that human history is characterized by a cyclical progression through four “Turnings,” which the authors liken to seasons. Identifying these Turnings can help us understand the past and possibly predict the future. Continue reading for an overview of this insightful book.