Drawn to our grandparents

A friend recently said that he identifies more with his grandparents than his parents. I agreed, and with some more thought I think I know why. A brief overview of the four turnings model of Anglo-American history, if you’re not already familiar. Quotes are taken from the book, focusing on the last two cycles. I suspect historians would hate the four turnings idea, but it’s been a very useful mental model for me. First Turning: High an upbeat era of strengthening institutions and weakening individualism, when a new civic order implants and an old values regime decays Reconstruction and Gilded Age (1865-1886) American High (1946-1964) Second Turning: Awakening a passionate era of spiritual upheaval when the civic order comes under attack from a new values regime Third Great Awakening (1886-1908) Consciousness Revolution (1964-1984) Third Turning: Unraveling a downcast era of strengthening individualism and weakening institutions, when the old civic order decays and the new values…