Printable Biography of William Strauss

For the past two decades, William Strauss has been a leading authority on American generations-and a noted playwright and theater director.

Along with co-author Neil Howe, Strauss has written four books, all best sellers widely used by businesses, colleges, government agencies, and political leaders of both parties. Their first book, Generations, is a history of America told as a sequence of generational biographies. Generations has been photographed on Bill Clinton's White House desk, quoted approvingly by Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich, and cited by economic forecasters from Harry Dent to David Hale. Vice President Gore sent a copy to every Member of Congress, calling it, "the most stimulating book on American history I have ever read."

Strauss's second book with Howe, 13th-Gen, remains the top selling non-fiction book on Generation X. The Fourth Turning, forecast a major mood change in America shortly after the new millennium. A change much like what actually happened, after September 11, 2001. The Fourth Turning reached as high as #10 on the amazon.com list.

The most recent Strauss-Howe book, Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation, has been widely quoted in the media, for leading the argument that today's teens and kids are new, very post Generation-X, and on the whole doing better than most adults think. Previously, with Lawrence Baskir, Strauss coauthored two books about the Vietnam War: Chance and Circumstance: the Draft, the War, and the Vietnam Generation, and Reconciliation after Vietnam. Around that time, he served on the staff of the U.S. Senate and President Ford's White House.

In theater, Strauss is co-founder and director of the Capitol Steps, a professional satirical troupe that has performed over 6,000 shows and released 21 albums. He has also written two musicals, "MaKiddo" (a parody of The Mikado) about gifted teenagers and pushy parents) and "StopScandal.com", an original musical about teens, technology, and politics. Both musicals have been performed by numerous schools, and "StopScandal.com" has been presented off-Broadway, at the Maverick Theatre. Strauss is currently writing a play, "Reversal", about a time warp.

Most Requested Topics:

Generations