THE FINDING OF THE “MAYFLOWER” | Rendel Harris, Read & Co. (1920), 58p

"The Discovery of the Mayflower" by Rendel Harris is a captivating account of how the remains of the famous ship that transported the Pilgrims to America were discovered in a quiet corner of England. As a historian and lecturer, Harris weaves a fascinating tale of detection, intrigue, and revelation that keeps readers engaged until the end.

The book’s preface lifts an infamous essay from G.K. Chesterton titled “They Myth of the Mayflower,” where he notes that the Puritan Pilgrims were religiously intolerant and fled to American shores to establish a more rigid commune of intolerance.  Within short order, it clashed violently with the Quakers.

In 1920, Harris stumbled upon an old barn in Jordans, Buckinghamshire, which locals claimed contained timbers from the Mayflower. Intrigued, Harris began investigating the claim, using his extensive knowledge of maritime history and the Pilgrims' journey. His research led him to believe that parts of the barn were constructed using wood from the Mayflower.

HUNTER GATHER’S GUIDE TO THE 21st CENTURY | Heather Heying & Bret Weinstein, Swift Press, (2022), 301p.

Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein's "Hunter Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century" offers a refreshing and insightful perspective on how humans can thrive in today's rapidly changing world. As evolutionary biologists, the authors bring a unique lens to the table, drawing upon our species' history to provide practical advice for navigating the complexities of modern life.

The book is divided into four parts, tackling a distinct aspect of human existence. Part One, "Understanding Ourselves," delves into the evolutionary roots of human behavior, shedding light on why we act the way we do. From the role of dopamine in motivation to the importance of community, the authors provide a compelling explanation of our innate drives and desires.

Part Two, "Navigating the World," applies the same evolutionary framework to explore how our surroundings shape our actions and decisions. Topics range from the impact of urbanization on mental health to the influence of social media on our relationships. Throughout this section, Heying and Weinstein challenge readers to question their assumptions about the world around them.

In Part Three, "Building Resilience," the authors focus on strategies for cultivating individual resilience in adversity. They advocate for physical exercise, mindfulness, and creativity, all of which help us adapt to an ever-changing environment. This section also includes valuable discussions on managing stress, building meaningful relationships, and finding purpose in life.

Finally, Part Four, "Rethinking Society," takes a step back to examine the larger structures that govern our society. Here, the authors critique contemporary institutions such as education, healthcare, and government while offering proposals for positive change. Their arguments are well-supported and thought-provoking, encouraging readers to rethink their assumptions about the systems that shape our lives.

SIZE: How it Explains the World | Vaclav Smil, William Morrow Publishing (2023), 304p.

​In "Size: How It Explains the World," author Vaclav Smil embarks on an intriguing journey to explore the significance of scale in various aspects of our lives. From the nanoscale to the global level, this book delves into the impact of size on biology, technology, society, and the environment. As an energy and environmental science expert, Smil brings his unique perspective to reveal the profound effects of scaling on our world.

The book begins with an introduction to the concept of scale and its importance in understanding various phenomena. Smil effectively illustrates how size influences everything from materials’ strength to transportation systems’ efficiency. He presents fascinating examples, such as the fact that spider silk’s strength-to-weight ratio is more significant than steel’s, highlighting the remarkable properties of natural materials.

BOOKS | THE FOURTH TURNING IS HERE | Neil Howe, Simon & Schuster, (2023) 587p.

If you read only one book this year, make it this one.   

Neil Howe’s theory interprets history as a series of repeating cycles, commonly referred to as the “Saeculum” view.  This perspective suggests that history operates in cycles, each spanning approximately a long human life (80 to 100 years). 

At any moment, about four generations coexist, each influencing and shaping events. 

In Howe's model, a Saeculum comprises four distinct turnings, or generational eras, each lasting approximately 20-22 years (roughly the time it takes for a new generation to come of age).  These turnings are:

• High – A post-crisis era of strong institutions, societal unity, and collective confidence.  Society has a strong belief in the importance of community and collective action.  This period often follows a crisis and sees the rebuilding or solidification of societal structures.
• Awakening – A time of cultural or spiritual renewal.  This is when the younger generation begins to rebel against established norms, leading to a societal focus on individualism and self-expression.
• Unraveling – An era of increasing individualism and weakening institutions.  The societal fabric starts to wear thin, leading to increasing disunity and strife.  The established order is increasingly challenged, and there's a feeling of being adrift or without a clear direction.
• Crisis – A decisive era of secular upheaval, where a new one replaces the old order.  This period can include major events like wars, revolutions, or financial crashes.  The outcome of this turning determines the values and direction of the following High.

According to Howe's model, we are in the middle of a Crisis period that should last another decade.  The good news remains that a high will follow a Crisis as spring follows winter. 
However, these Crisis periods (Glorious Revolution, American Revolution, Civil War, WWII) are not easy.  During a Crisis period:

• Institutional Crisis: Existing institutions appear weak and are distrusted.  They either get significantly reformed or replaced.  They feel they aren't effectively solving society's most pressing issues.
• Sense of Urgency: There's a widespread perception that a crisis threatens the survival of the society or way of life.  This might manifest as economic distress, wars, social upheaval, etc.
• Community Cohesion: Despite, or perhaps because of, the Crisis, people come together.  They often become more collective-minded and willing to sacrifice individual goals for the greater good.  This starkly contrasts the individualism that typifies the Unraveling phase that precedes the Crisis.
• Strong Leadership: The society looks for and sometimes finds forceful leaders with a new vision to guide the nation through the Crisis.  These leaders might implement sweeping reforms.
• Decisive Action: Society feels pressured to take decisive action to resolve the Crisis.  This might involve wars, revolutions, or other significant endeavors that require collective effort.
• Cultural Shift: The values, norms, and priorities of society often undergo a significant transformation during this period.
• Resolution and New Order: By the end of the Crisis, the critical issues are typically resolved, though not always in a way that all members of the society find satisfactory.  The resolution then sets the stage for the next High period.

Because the interplay of generations follows an observable pattern, Howe and others see specific personas that emerge and become hallmarks of generations.   Think of the oft-noted phrase, "Hard times create strong men.  Strong men create good times.  Good times create weak men.  And weak men create hard times. “

These turnings are not just chronological periods but are also associated with generational archetypes that play specific roles:

• Prophet – Born during a High, they grow up as the increasingly indulged children of the post-crisis era, come of age during an Awakening, and become the elderly leaders during a Crisis.  (Boomers)
• Nomads – Born during an Awakening, they grow up as under-protected children, come of age during an Unraveling, and become midlife leaders during a Crisis.  (Gen X)
• Hero – Born during an Unraveling, they grow up as increasingly protected post-Awakening children, come of age during a Crisis, and become elderly leaders during the subsequent High.  (Millennial)
• Artists – Born during a Crisis, they grow up as the overprotected children of the post-crisis world, come of age during a High, and are the midlife leaders during an Awakening.  (Homeland or Gen Z)

There is undoubtedly a greater probability than zero that we will experience a major war, internal conflict, or massive recession in the next ten years.   Understanding forces that might drive these periods of events is always helpful, as are reflections that lend themselves to greater preparation, resiliency, and grit to thrive amidst such adversity. 

Nevertheless, history is not predetermined.  We make choices.  Howe's work, particularly when looking at the attributes of generations or historical events, has - by necessity- some amount of cherry-picking involved.   Additionally, given the vagaries of technology and human interactions, straight-line trends seldom self-execute without unpredictable swerves and curves.

Grab a copy of this tome, consume, reflect and prepare. 

​A study outline can be found here. saeculum_matrix.pdf