Niall Ferguson's book, "The Square and the Tower," critiques the baby-boomer generation, suggesting they have largely forgotten historical lessons about the relationship between conflict and social equality. According to the author, a lack of understanding regarding the role of unregulated networks in reducing inequality has developed, with the baby boomers distancing themselves from the context of wars and revolutions that historically have led to significant societal changes.

The text argues that it is not peaceful societal structures that have driven equality but rather the upheavals and crises, such as wars and hyperinflations, that have expropriated wealth and led to reforms. This perspective emphasizes the complexity of the social dynamics in history and the necessity of learning from past conflicts to understand current inequalities.