A while back someone was telling me about a book that describes
generations and their behaviours.  I don't think the book talks
specifically about the heart family or ther hilton family but those
are two really good examples.  The idea is that one generation is
tired of being broke and the grand children of that generation end up
makeing a silly amount of money. . . at some point the great (ore
great great) grandchildren are left toatlly broke, become alcoholics,
abusive and this goes on for a few generations until one generation
decides to go out and make a lot of money or stop abuse or whatever. 
But the point of the book is that these behaviours are cyclical.  I'd
like to know the name and author of this book.

There is the saying:  "Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations".
Dad made a pile, the kids lived in luxury, and the grandchildren are
back working in shirtsleeves  - or worse.
It sounds like a theme in many family novels.

With a search on the phrase: "shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves"  (including "")
you can find about 400 sites, some references to novels, others to
articles and books on the generation problem.

http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item.jhtml?id=4811&t=bizhistory
http://store.43folders.com/books-10777-157660151X-Family_Wealth_Keeping_It_in_the_Family_How_Family_Members_and_Their_Advisers_Preserve_Human_Intellectual_and_Financial_Assets_for_Generations

Read the reviews on the second site.

Good luck.

I think the second link is what I was looking for.  I have ordered it.
 Thanks for the leg work!

:-)   Glad to have been of help, Myoarin

I'll take that as an answser.  But I don't know how to.

HI Elraitan-ga,
Glad that you liked my suggestion.  Only official G-A Researchers can
post an "answer" so this is a freebie.
If you really want to do something good, look at this question and
send a donation  (address in Jeff's comment near the bottom:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=705199

Regards, Myoarin