bernieanderson 's review for:

The Fourth Turning: What the Cycles of History Tell Us About America's Next Rendezvous with Destiny by William Strauss, Neil Howe

1.0

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I read this book on the recommendation of someone else I read. Had no real idea what it was about other than it took this "amazing unique paradigm" of history. As I read I had three primary thoughts:

1. This is poorly written.
2. This is poorly researched and doesn't use proper historical research methods (Something I had to us in order to write my Masters dissertation)
3. This is incredibly Ameri-centric and sometimes a little racist. (The author discounts the native and black American experience a number of times.)

I started skimming because the author repeats himself so much. As I read the apocalyptic ending I kept thinking -- this sounds like Q-anon conspiracy nonsense circa 1997.

The cyclical theory of history is not unique. It's been around for a long time. It's not a "new paradigm" and many historians reject this particular view. Time and history are too nuanced to force it into patterns. The author does a lot of forcing.

When I finished - kind of wishing I hadn't wasted the time I did on this - I found out that this is one of Steve Bannon's favorite books.

That explains everything.

This book is bunk. Don't waste your time.
I now feel like I need a shower.