Deutschland im Abstieg: Zahlen, Zyklen und unbequeme Wahrheiten

The Fourth Turning is a book by William Strauss and Neil Howe, detailing a theory of social generational cycles in American history and the history of other developed countries. It elaborates on types of recurring eras in American history called turnings, each lasting around 20–25 years (one generation). These turnings comprise a four-part cycle of recurring mood eras: The High, The Awakening, The Unraveling, and The Crisis. The authors claim that a Crisis began in 2008 and will end around 2030. Strauss and Howe have discussed their book in numerous media outlets, including a cover story in U.S. News & World Report in 1996. The book has been compared to the cyclical theories of Giambattista Vico, Pitirim Sorokin, and Arthur Schlesinger.

Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.