The prominent poll-taker and social analyst describes how the dominant norms of American society have shifted from self-denial to self-fulfillment, and how this is related to the era of economic expansion which is now ending. He bases his thesis one-third on life histories derived from interviews, one-third on survey data, and one-third on intuition. His intuition and optimism suggest that a third set of norms devoted to a better community life is emerging. Let us hope.