Social forecasting, future studies Books

Book SynopsisA guide to long-term thinking: how to envision the far future of Earth.We live on a planet careening toward environmental collapse that will be largely brought about by our own actions. And yet we struggle to grasp the scale of the crisis, barely able to imagine the effects of climate change just ten years from now, let alone the multi-millennial timescales of Earth's past and future life span. In this book, Vincent Ialenti offers a guide for envisioning the planet's far future—to become, as he terms it, more skilled deep time reckoners. The challenge, he says, is to learn to inhabit a longer now.Ialenti takes on two overlapping crises: the Anthropocene, our current moment of human-caused environmental transformation; and the deflation of expertise—today's popular mockery and institutional erosion of expert authority. The second crisis, he argues, is worsening the effects of the first. Hearing out scientific experts who study a wider time span than a Facebo

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Book SynopsisA roadmap for humanity to create the next era of civilisation.

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the future of food tourism in 2075 and beyond. It uses the principles of multiple futures to demonstrate, analyse and examine different paths that food tourism may take using scenario planning. It is timely given the issues of global food supply, climate change and the rise of food tourism as the core of the experience economy.

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Book SynopsisThree Horizons is a simple and intuitive framework for thinking about the future. The framework explains how people often manage to disagree so violently about their visions of the future and how to achieve them - and it offers a practical way to begin constructive conversations about the future at home, in organisations and in society at large. The three horizons are about much, much more than simply stretching our thinking to embrace the short, medium and long term. They offer a co-ordinated way of managing innovation, a way of creating transformational change that has a chance of succeeding, a way of dealing with uncertainty and a way of seeing the future in the present. In this beautifully illustrated book, Bill Sharpe introduces the Three Horizons framework as a prompt for developing a 'future consciousness' - a rich and multi-faceted awareness of the future potential of the present moment - and explores how to put that awareness to work to create the futures we aspire to.Trade Review"One of the very difficult issues in futures work is how do you get from a map of some possible futures - a set of future landscapes - to knowing what to do. One of the things that Three Horizons does is it gives you a relatively explicit way of knowing what to do." Andrew Curry, The Futures CompanyTable of ContentsIntroduction PART I: THREE HORIZONS A Heated Conversation The Future in the Present The Three Horizons A Shared Future Consciousness PART II: THE PRACTICE OF FUTURE CONSCIOUSNESS Seeing Everything as Patterns Putting Ourselves in the Picture Convening the Future: From Mindsets to Perspectives PART III: JOURNEYS IN THREE HORIZONS Case Studies: Introduction Case Studies Case Studies: Summary Pushing out to Sea PART IV: THE PATTERNING OF HOPE Knowing and Living Stepping into Future Consciousness Hope Transformative Society Navigating on the Open Sea Acknowledgements Notes Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThe Worst is Yet to Come explores the disturbing possibility that the current crisis of neoliberal capitalism isn't going to spawn an emancipatory renaissance, but a world that is much, much worse. Wealthy CEOs see it. They've been purchasing isolated bunker-retreats in New Zealand for when the shit goes down. Our politicians know it too, and are frantically transforming the liberal state into a militarized machine. Scientists are either uselessly decrying the looming eco-catastrophe or jumping on the opportunity to conduct ever-reckless experiments with the human genome. The animal kingdom is retreating from the scene in terrible silence, preferring the swift demise of the abattoir's bolt-gun than witnessing what is about to happen. Yet some of us are still ignoring the warning signs, choosing instead to remain cheerfully optimistic, believing that society has probably hit rock bottom and the only way is up. This book argues the opposite. What if we haven't hit rock bottom and are on the precipice of something much worse? And what if were too late? But this grim prospect isn't submitted in the name of millennial fatalism or hopeless resignation. On the contrary, if our grandchildren are to survive the implosion of capitalism - for the chances we will are fairly slim - then a realistic picture of the nightmare to come is crucial. Only an unwavering attitude of "revolutionary pessimism" will help us to prepare accordingly. For the apocalypse will almost certainly be disappointing.Trade Review"Concise, astute, unapologetic... the book we need in these trying times." — Into the Void"Really excellent… both terrifying and funny.” — Paul Mason"Fascinating." — Guardian

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Book SynopsisIn his bestselling books The Cult of the Amateur and The Internet is not the Answer, Andrew Keen exposed the cultural and social dangers posed by internet technology. What was once seen as a tool for connecting people and providing opportunities is now recognised as a force that is profoundly reshaping our world. In How to Fix the Future, Andrew Keen sets out a compelling manifesto for improving how we live in the digital age. Taking lessons from the world-changing events of the Industrial Revolution, he travels around the globe, from India to Estonia, Germany to Singapore, investigating the best and worst practices in regulation, innovation, social responsibility, consumer choice and education - and shows what we can do to preserve human values in an increasingly digital world.Trade ReviewA visionary critic * Observer *One of the most combative and acerbic commentators on Silicon Valley * Financial Times *In this bracing book, Keen offers tools for righting our societies and principles to guide us in the future. * Walter Isaacson, author of STEVE JOBS *Pacey and chilling... A powerful, frightening read. * Sunday Times, on THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER *The most compelling, persuasive and passionately negative thing I've yet read on this topic. * Kazuo Ishiguro, Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, New Statesman, on THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewRussell is able to shed new light on the future of work, in his own personal, witty and humble manner. A much-needed and highly inspiring perspective. -- David Plink * Chief Executive Officer, Top Employers Institute *The world of 2030 may seem near or far away. Whichever it is, Russell Beck has identified that the interval between now and then will be bursting with change – and the opportunity to benefit from it. With hindsight as our guide, we tend often to approach the future “moving forward looking backwards”. That won’t cut it any longer. The World of Work to 2030 does not map the future – it does something better. It gives us an algorithm for approaching the inevitable uncertainty with confidence and competence. The secret to future-proofing lies at the margin between science and art, and Russell Beck shows us the skills and talents we’ll need to prosper in a world where constancy is ever elusive. Focused, flexible, fast, friendly and fun – by 2030 it needs to be “the way we do things round here”. -- John Mark Williams * Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Leadership *Russell Beck aims to challenge our thinking with how we work and he certainly does that with The World of Work to 2030. The book is jam packed with insightful tips, many of which I will be applying at my company. I found the section on recruitment particularly inspiring. In a world where companies are struggling to attract and retain talent, Russell’s novel approach to carrying out a simple task such as writing a job advert could be game changing in attracting ‘best fit’ employees. The World of Work to 2030 is a handy, easy to navigate guide. If you want to best prepare yourself, your current and future employees to confidently embrace and succeed in a rapidly changing, complex and global work environment, then this book is for you. -- Gabrielle Cummins * CEO and Programme Director, Beat 102-103, Ireland *Russell Beck has surpassed his aim to provide a grounded, relevant and practical book on the most significant topic for the greatest number globally. His insights, personified along with empirical evidence, both informs and inspires the reader to face the future by taking action. Russell casts his own leadership shadow by lighting the way for all business professionals who need to confront the changing workplace landscape. The book is a joy to read in its style, insight and inspiration. -- Danny McCoy * CEO, Irish Business and Employers Confederation *The author gives us hope that despite ChatGPT, and all things AI, we humans have a lot to offer the future world of work…it’s compelling and thought-provoking. People will increasingly demand meaningful purpose to their work – we can leave the rest to robotics! -- Ali Williams * Chief Commercial Officer, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust *This is a book that covers so much ground – effortlessly. Everything you need to know about the world of work in 2030, and, more importantly, how you (and your business) can respond positively to the challenges and opportunities outlined. -- Mark Hallas * CEO, Crimestoppers *The World of Work to 2030 is an essential read for both business and HR leaders. It’s a dive into the crystal ball depicting a future already upon us, alongside practical and pragmatic advice on how to future-proof our own careers and thrive. -- Adrian Seligman * Executive Board Member/CCO, Top Employers Institute *Russell has a savant-like ability to spot the patterns ahead of the rest of us. His insight into the way the world is changing is both frightening and explosive, but also an essential read for anyone who wants to shape their future. -- Stewart Angus * Regional Chief Executive Officer Europe, dnata Airport Operations *Russell’s book is both a balanced and insightful glimpse into the near future and also a powerful call to action for educators to think hard about how schools are preparing young people for a dynamic and volatile future in which opportunity and uncertainty abound. Education provides the mechanism for inspiring young people with a curiosity and wonder about the world, but also the skills and self-regulation needed to thrive in uncertain times. We are no longer preparing young people to match a job description – we are enabling the development of a skillset which can be applied to jobs that do not yet exist and for ways of working that are yet to imagined in a truly global and interconnected world. Russell’s book brilliantly synthesizes the complexity of the fourth industrial revolution into a framework that makes sense and which provides a roadmap for all of us. -- Ceri Jones * Headmaster, Caterham School (TES Independent Senior School of the Year 2023) *This book offers a practical yet visionary perspective on the future of work. Tackling the subject with a touch of humour and a healthy dose of “scary” scenarios, making it an enjoyable read for anyone interested in the evolving world of work and their place in it. -- David Vincent * Managing Director, EMEA, Randstad Sourceright *Since reading this book I have been using many examples and ideas presented as thought food for my management team and all those who will listen. I found Russell’s considerations for The World of Work to 2030 both compelling and challenging, and I know that he will resonate to a wide audience. It is clear that our leaders and mangers of the near future are going to face some tough decisions and have to adapt to new horizons, this book will definitely help them prepare. -- Michael Brooksbank * Managing Director Europe, Chauvet *Russell writes from deep insights into the practicalities of work and the realities of careers and businesses. This is not a book of lofty theories, but a map to guide us through a world of work that is arriving faster than many are prepared for. The reflective questions at the end of each section make this essential reading and an ongoing reference. -- Aileen Dempsey * Advisory Council Member, Design Management and Leadership Consultant *The World of Work to 2030 – wow, what a thought-provoking and inspiring read. Written in a way that pragmatically sets out the current world as it is now and then opens your mind, heart and soul to the future. Not just for business people of all specialisms, but for anyone invested in themselves and their future. Each chapter provides practical insight and deep-thinking questions that challenge, inspire and unlock potential. It underpins how much fast-paced change is and will continue to be the norm and that the future, despite technological advances, is truly human. Read this book, it will open your mind to the possibilities available and the potential impact you can make, now and into the future. -- Michelle Reid * Director of performance culture and delivery, Institute of Occupational Medicine *As an educationalist, employer and a parent, interested in the future of our workforce and our world, this book is gripping. It’s thought provoking, challenging yet easy to read for busy people. To be honest, this blew my mind! Highly recommended! -- Laurence Frewin * Principal and CEO, South Devon College *The world is changing and evolving faster digitally now more than at any point in human history and this is having a major impact on how people now work. This book is packed with mind-blowing facts and challenges one’s thinking and assumptions on how the working world will look in only a few years from now. This book has questioned my thought process on ways of working for my team and what my workforce will look and feel like in 2030. From the Boardroom down, for anyone managing people, dealing with people, in any way, this is a must-read book. -- Alan Haynes * Chief Executive Officer, All Aboard Shops Ltd *As an educationalist, this is a fascinating and thought-provoking read. Russell Beck not only outlines the challenges in this rapidly changing world, but also shapes a series of well-crafted questions for us to reflect on. A school’s curriculum is the vehicle to develop the skills that Russell highlights as necessary for the future and, as such, it is an essential read for those in education. -- Cheryl Weyman * Chief Executive Officer, Academies for Character and Excellence (ACE) *Russell Beck’s insightful, practical guide to the future of work is genuinely ground-breaking – a must-read for current and potential leaders. Whereas we used to live in a world of relative stability punctuated by exceptional events (9/11, the global financial crisis) today we live in predominantly uncertain times, with stability now the exception rather than the norm. In these unfamiliar times – with new opportunities emerging alongside challenge and change – the ability to proactively navigate and shape the future is essential. Russell Beck’s well-researched, engaging and practical “Future of Work” shows how. -- Jeremy Kourdi * Founder of Expert Leader, Former Senior Vice President, The Economist *The future is uncertain and crystal balls are in short supply. While no one can provide all the answers, The World of Work to 2030 takes a step in the right direction. Russell Beck offers insights into how quickly our world is changing with solid examples of how these changes are impacting various industry. The author outlines the considerations we’ll all have to make in our businesses, along with highlighting the seismic shifts globally that will affect us all. The book served to inform, educate, enhance this reader’s knowledge and remind him to keep focusing forward. -- Mark Cunning * Chief Executive Officer, iRadio Ireland *

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Book SynopsisWith clarity, conscience, and courage, global-systems pioneer Jorgen Randers and his distinguished contributors map the forces that will shape the next four decades. Forty years ago, The Limits to Growth study addressed the grand question of how humans would adapt to the physical limitations of planet Earth. It predicted that during the first half of the 21st century the ongoing growth in the human ecological footprint would stop-either through catastrophic "overshoot and collapse"-or through well-managed "peak and decline." So, where are we now? And what does our future look like? In the book 2052, Jorgen Randers, one of the coauthors of Limits to Growth, issues a progress report and makes a forecast for the next forty years. To do this, he asked dozens of experts to weigh in with their best predictions on how our economies, energy supplies, natural resources, climate, food, fisheries, militaries, political divisions, cities, psyches, and more will take shape in the coming decades. He then synthesized those scenarios into a global forecast of life as we will most likely know it in the years ahead. The good news: we will see impressive advances in resource efficiency, and an increasing focus on human well-being rather than on per capita income growth. But this change might not come as we expect. Future growth in population and GDP, for instance, will be constrained in surprising ways-by rapid fertility decline as result of increased urbanization, productivity decline as a result of social unrest, and continuing poverty among the poorest 2 billion world citizens. Runaway global warming, too, is likely. So, how do we prepare for the years ahead? With heart, fact, and wisdom, Randers guides us along a realistic path into the future and discusses what readers can do to ensure a better life for themselves and their children during the increasing turmoil of the next forty years.Trade ReviewChoice- In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Limits to Growth (CH, Nov'73), Randers (climate strategy, BI Norwegian Business School) forecasts changes in population, consumption, energy use, emissions, quality of life, and climate over the next 40 years. As one of the original contributors to Limits to Growth, the author's current forecast is based on the ‘overshoot and collapse’ scenario. Regional scenarios highlight the distribution of benefits and costs from climate change across the globe, underscoring the distinct consequences on the developed and developing world. The author emphasizes that shortsighted decision making associated with democracy is ill suited to handle climate change, given its long-term outcomes. A novel feature of this work is the inclusion of predictions from more than two dozen experts working in ecology, political science, industry, and economics. These individual contributions are woven into the larger story to provide comparison with the author's predictions. Overall, this work is accessible to a general audience; however, Randers's limited analysis and justification of model assumption restrict the usefulness of this book as a stand-alone text. It could be useful in conjunction with some formal texts on globalization, economics, and the environment. Summing Up: Optional. General readers and undergraduate students.Publishers Weekly- Randers has made it his life's work to caution the world about the dangers of unfettered expansion, and to seek out solutions to current and prospective problems. Beginning with The Limits to Growth in 1972, he has explored possible scenarios for our social, economic, and environmental future. In this global study, Randers presents a forecast for the next 40 years, supported by ‘statistical data, anecdotal stories, impressions from traveling the world…formal analyses of particular developments,’ and short essays by a variety of experts. While he discusses his own opinions—such as his belief that the world economy must shift its focus from ‘fossil-fuelled economic growth’ to ‘sustainable well-being’ — the enormous amount of information and speculation here function additionally as an excellent springboard for a timely discourse. And open and informed conversation seems crucial to Randers's project—indeed, he posits that unchecked climate change is not a technological problem, but a political one. Randers and his colleagues present a portrait of the future that is radically different from today, but not entirely bleak: while he believes that the worst of his predictions are possible, he humbly asks his readers to ‘help make my forecast wrong.’"This thoughtful and thought-provoking book will be inspiring, and challenging, for all who really care about our common future."--Gro Harlem Brundtland, former prime minister of Norway; leader, World Commission on Environment and Development"A sober, cogent, and courageous assessment of a future not dictated by fate, or economics, or limits to technology, but by the most egregious leadership failure in history. But there is still time to change course...just enough time and no more."--David W. Orr, Oberlin College, author of Down to the Wire: Confronting Climate Collapse"Read 2052 and get the views of a great futurist-one with a fine track record of being right."--Paul R. Ehrlich, author of The Dominant Animal "This is an extraordinary and profoundly important book. Randers' mastery of many fields is impressive, and he presents his 'best guess' future with clarity and force. As a result, he provides a challenging template against which we can judge our own expectations for mid-century."--James Gustave Speth, author of America the Possible"An unconventional and lucid explanation of the likely macroeconomic developments of the world over the next forty years."--Lord Nicholas Stern, author, The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change; chair, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics "With clarity, conscience, and courage, global-systems pioneer Jorgen Randers and his distinguished contributors map the forces that will shape the next four decades. Their sobering but far from despairing insights will encourage all who strive in applied hope to build a society worthy of nature's legacy and humans' potential."--Amory B. Lovins, chairman and chief scientist, Rocky Mountain Institute; senior author, Reinventing Fire; coauthor, Natural Capitalism "It's too late to wonder how different and refreshingly breathable the world would be if everyone had listened hard to Jorgen Randers 40 years ago. The question now is if we'll heed him this time. Here's our chance. Please seize it, everyone."--Alan Weisman, author of The World Without Us and Gaviotas Table of ContentsPreface: what will the future bring Part 1: Background. Worrying about the future Five big issues toward 2052 Part 2: My global forecast The logic behind my forecast Population and consumption to 2052 Energy and CO2 to 2052 Food and footprint to 2052 The nonmaterial future to 2052 The Zeitgeist in 2052 Part 3: Analysis Reflections on the future Five regional futures Comparison with other futures What should you do? Closing words

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Book SynopsisCounterpointing Los Angeles's central role in America's fantasy life - the city has been destroyed no less than 138 times in novels and films since 1909 - with its wanton denial of its own real history, Mike Davis creates a revelatory kaleidoscope of American fact, imagery, and sensibility. Drawing upon a vast array of sources, Ecology of Fear meticulously captures the nation's violent malaise and desperate social unease in an era of climate change and social change. With savagely entertaining wit and compassionate rage, this book conducts a devastating reconnaissance of our all-too-likely urban future.With a new 2021 afterword taking stock of LA's 21st century.Trade ReviewGraced with a bold political and environmental vision, much splendid phrasemaking and a multitude of facts...A truly eccentric contribution. * New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisA ground-breaking analysis from one of the world's foremost experts on global trends, including answers on how COVID-19 will amplify and accelerate each of these changesTrade ReviewWe do not know what the world will look like in 2030. But we do know the underlying trends that will shape it, argues Guillén of the Wharton School. This thought-provoking book illuminates the most important: demographic shifts, notably the African baby boom; the changing nature of ageing and retirement; the emergence of a new global middle class; the rise of women as entrepreneurs and leaders; the challenges to cities; “more cell phones than toilets”; the sharing economy; and the future of money. It is fun. Enjoy -- Martin Wolf * Financial Times Best Books of 2020 *

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Book SynopsisThis book envisions the future of tourism in an economy that is largely automated.Robonomics' is the term given to this economic system that relies on robots, artificial intelligence and automation technologies for the production of goods and delivery of services instead of human labour. The volume examinesthe unique technological, socioeconomic and political situation that such an economy will create, and reflects on how tourism is then produced, consumed and paid for. The chapters explore some controversial solutions to the challenges of the robonomic economic system, such as redefinition of human rights, robot rights and universal basic income schemes. The chapters also consider the transition to a robonomic tourism ecosystem and the adjustments and innovations that will be required of consumers, industry and society.

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Book SynopsisPolitics in the Twentieth Century was dominated by a single question: how much of our collective life should be determined by the state, and what should be left to the market and civil society?Now the debate is different: to what extent should our lives be directed and controlled by powerful digital systems - and on what terms?Digital technologies - from artificial intelligence to blockchain, from robotics to virtual reality - are transforming the way we live together. Those who control the most powerful technologies are increasingly able to control the rest of us. As time goes on, these powerful entities - usually big tech firms and the state - will set the limits of our liberty, decreeing what may be done and what is forbidden. Their algorithms will determine vital questions of social justice. In their hands, democracy will flourish or decay.A landmark work of political theory, Future Politics challenges readers to rethink what it means to be free or equal, what it means to have poweTrade ReviewThe most interesting exploration yet of the political realities in the digital era. * Matthew d'Ancona, Books of the Year 2018, Evening Standard *He steers a course to the future that is as convincing as it is shocking. * Bryan Appleyard, The Sunday Times *An impressive feat of intellectual organization ... To have written it all down so lucidly, engagingly and succinctly is a formidable achievement. * Raphael Behr, The Guardian *A work of clarity and effortless genius which is a must for anybody seeking to understand the impact of modern technology on our body politic now and in the future. * Robert Rinder Evening Standard *[Susskind] has tremendous talent and the book is very readable. * Tim Stanley, The Telegraph *The tone of this book is as refreshing as the originality of insight. Susskind contends that "that there are causes for both optimism and pessimism, but what the future requires above all is vigilance. * Paschal Donohoe, The Irish Times *Future Politics is a riveting book that sparkles with great ideas ... It is chock full of facts and the book combines knowledge of politics and technology in a unique and fascinating way. * Catherine Balavage, Frost *Superb and necessary book. * Nick Cohen, The Observer *Future Politics should be essential reading for those with the will to anticipate the future challenges facing defence and society. * Wavell Room *Brilliant ... detailed research, colourful examples, and a pacy, upbeat style ... Future Politics will remain relevant for several years. All elected officials should read it as a matter of urgency. * Jamie Bartlett, Catholic Herald *Future Politics challenges readers to rethink what it means to be free or equal, what it means to have power or property, what it means for a political system to be just or democratic, and proposes ways in which we can - and must - regain control. This is no less than a call for a fundamental change in the way we think about politics. * Dominic Lenton, Engineering & Technology *...rigorous and thoughtful book ... * David Patrikarakos, Literary Review *Brilliant and ground-breaking ... It is essential reading for anyone who wants to get to grips with the profound and far-reaching impacts of digital technology on politics. * Paradigm Explorer *Original and thought-provoking, this ground-breaking book challenges us to develop new policies for new times. * Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 2007-2010 *Few understand politics. Even fewer understand technology. Susskind is that rare soul who understands both - and more importantly, how the latter will change the former. Whether correct or not - and I believe he is correct - there is no better glimpse into our shared future than this book. * Lawrence Lessig, Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership, Harvard Law School *This book crackles with ideas, sparking new thoughts with every page. And it is superbly organised, too. It's difficult to help people understand the past, but to help understand the future is a real achievement. Terrific. * Lord Finkelstein, Associate Editor, The Times *From Arendt to artificial intelligence, from Machiavelli to machine learning, Susskind seamlessly weaves modern technology with classic theory to present a tour de force introduction to the future-explaining with erudition and humor the powerful digital systems that will govern our lives. * Beth Simone Noveck, Professor in Technology, Culture and Society, New York University Tandon School of Engineering *Only an elite can control the power of computation, dispersed in space, integrated in the cloud, and enabled to operate on ever bigger data. What are the implications for freedom, democracy, and justice? Jamie Susskind offers a pathbreaking exploration of the challenge that these issues pose for our political thinking and practice. It's a must-read. * Philip Pettit, L. S. Rockefeller University Professor of Politics and Human Values, Princeton University, and Distinguished University Professor of Philosophy, Australian National University *This brilliant and ground-breaking book ... is essential reading for anyone who wants to get to grips with the profound and far-reaching impacts of digital technology on politics. * David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer *Future Politics' is intelligently written and utterly compelling in its treatment of a subject too often ignored by today's politicians and academics. * Luke Geikie, SF2 Concatenation *Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I. THE DIGITAL LIFEWORLD 1: Increasingly Capable Systems 2: Increasingly Integrated Technology 3: Increasingly Quantified Society 4: Thinking Like a Theorist Part II. FUTURE POWER 5: Code is Power 6: Force 7: Scrutiny 8: Perception-Control 9: Public and Private Power Part III. FUTURE LIBERTY 10: Freedom and the Supercharged State 11: Freedom and the Tech Firm Part IV. FUTURE DEMOCRACY 12: The Dream of Democracy 13: Democracy in the Future Part V. FUTURE JUSTICE 14: Algorithms of Distribution 15: Algorithms of Recognition 16: Algorithmic Injustice 17: Technological Unemployment 18: The Wealth Cyclone Part VI. FUTURE POLITICS 19: Transparency and the New Separation of Powers 20: Post-Politics

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Book SynopsisThe remarkable progress in algorithms for machine and deep learning have opened the doors to new opportunities, and some dark possibilities. However, a bright future awaits those who build on their working methods by including HCAI strategies of design and testing. As many technology companies and thought leaders have argued, the goal is not to replace people, but to empower them by making design choices that give humans control over technology.In Human-Centered AI, Professor Ben Shneiderman offers an optimistic realist''s guide to how artificial intelligence can be used to augment and enhance humans'' lives. This project bridges the gap between ethical considerations and practical realities to offer a road map for successful, reliable systems. Digital cameras, communications services, and navigation apps are just the beginning. Shneiderman shows how future applications will support health and wellness, improve education, accelerate business, and connect people in reliable, safe, and trustworthy ways that respect human values, rights, justice, and dignity.Trade ReviewThe book will be of interest to anyone interested in AI-including software engineers, designers, computer scientists, policymakers and philosophers -- and our future. Its writing style is accessible, and consequently can be read by both experts and novices. It may also be useful for pedagogical purposes. * Gloria Andrada, Metascience *does a great job in promoting HCAI, putting human and societal needs center stage in the design and application of AI, and in presenting and discussing several very practical ideas * Marc Steen, Prometheus *Your new book, Human-Centered AI, is the most balanced, pragmatic and optimistic analysis of artificial intelligence that I've read. You lay out a comprehensive guide to building reliable, safe, and trustworthy applications that feature both high levels of human control and high levels of automation. A critical part of your argument is that if we want to achieve a flourishing and humane future it's essential for us to understand that computers are not in fact people, and vice versa. * John Dalton, Fidelity Center for Applied Technology Newsletter *The authors approach could not be more important as a moral and normative position on the development of the field, and should be taken as a starting point for public policy discussion... the book is essential reading and its fundamental argument constitutes a moral imperative. * David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer *A focus on developing AI that helps people will dissolve much of the fear of lost jobs and machine control... Few books on AI discuss the importance to good design of applying the right sort of pressure to the corporate owners of AI systems to push them into social fairness. This one does. * Wendy Grossman, ZDNet *This book combines persuasive arguments with catchy lists and phrases it also is meticulously researched with extensive citations and well-written for a broad audience , HCI NewsThis expert believes we can create AI systems that can have both high levels of automation and human control... Shneiderman provides guidelines covering visual design, previews of expected actions, audit trails, near-miss and failure reviews, and others that can help ensure reliability, safety, and trustworthiness. Basically, by acknowledging the limits of both human and artificial intelligence, designers and developers of automated products can find the right division of labor between humans and AI. * Ben Dickson, thenextweb.com *the book [is] especially relevant to AI researchers and developers...Expanding the variety of inputs into AI design will be essential to achieving Shneiderman's transformative vision of a more human-and humane-future. * Angelique Taylor, Issues in Science & Technology *The book is well-structured and a delight to read. The coverage is comprehensive. But it will be controversial. AI scientists and engineers, and anyone concerned about the scientific, social, ethical, legal or philosophical impacts of AI should engage with the theses of Human-Centered AI, even if it is to contest them at times. * Alan Mackworth, University of British Columbia, Canada *From design metaphors to the much needed governance structures, this new book by Ben Shneiderman is a tour de force into the increasingly important topic of human-centred AI. Going beyond the many benefits and dark possibilities, the book provides a fresh vision of AI as a supertool for human wellbeing. A must read. * Virginia Dignum, Umeå University, Sweden *Intellectually re-positioning the practice of AI is the most important social movement of our age. Human-Centered AI is a moral imperative. The graveyard of AI products is replete with well-intended systems centered on the technology. Don't make the same mistake—adopt an HCAI mindset. * Sean McGregor, Founder and Project Lead, the AI Incident Database (Partnership on AI), USA *For many years, the debate surrounding AI has been all about a dystopian or utopian-driven future. Ben Shneiderman, in his informative and timely new book presents a fresh look on the future of AI; one that considers how to empower and augment humans rather than automate and replace them. Throughout the book, that is illustrated with convincing case studies, he presents a new discourse that rethinks the benefits of AI advances from a human perspective. A truly trailblazing work that is both provocative and persuasive, inviting academics, policy-makers, industry researchers and the general public to engage with a new, forward-thinking paradigm of where humans meet AI. * Yvonne Rogers, University College London, UK *A critical call for AI to be human-centered...offers insightful lessons and practical takeaways. * Avi Parush, Management and Business Review *Human-Centered AI makes a case for AI systems that amplify and extend human abilities and performance. * Gloria Andrada, Metascience *Table of ContentsPart I: What Is Artificial Intelligence? 1: Dreams and Nightmares 2: Alchemy, Astrology, and AI: Lessons from the Past 3: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs! 4: Stories that Shape the Future: Self-Efficacy and Control 5: Getting Beyond AI to Human-Centered Thinking Part II: Human-Centered AI: Empowering People, Expanding Possibilities 6: Introduction 7: Defining Reliable, Safe And Trustworthy Systems 8: Two-Dimensional Framework for RST Systems 9: Prometheus Principles and Examples 10: Skeptic's Corner Part III: AI's Two Grand Goals: Human Emulation and Useful Applications 11: Introduction 12: Two Goals for AI Researchers and Developers 13: Intelligent Agent and Powerful Tool 14: Simulated Teammate and Tele-Operated Device 15: Autonomous System and Supervisory Control 16: Humanoid Robots and Mechanical-Like Appliances 17: Skeptic's Corner Part IV: Governance Structures for Human-Centered AI 18: Introduction 19: Reliable Systems Based on Software Engineering Practices 20: Safety Culture Through Business Management Strategies 21: Trustworthy Certification by Independent Oversight 22: Skeptic's Corner Part V: Where Do We Go from Here? 23: Stopping AI-Driven Misinformation and Criminals 24: Supporting Environmental Protection, Social Justice And Human Rights 25: Compassion in Caring for Our Older Adults 26: Beyond Robots: Notbots and Newbots 27: Frontier Thinking to Chart the Future Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe first decade of the twenty-first century marked the demise of the current world order. Despite widespread acknowledgement of these disruptive crises, the proposed response from the mainstream remains the same. Against the confines of this increasingly limited politics, a new paradigm has emerged. Fully Automated Luxury Communism claims that new technologies will liberate us from work, providing the opportunity to build a society beyond both capitalism and scarcity. Automation, rather than undermining an economy built on full employment, is instead the path to a world of liberty, luxury and happiness. For everyone.In his first book, radical political commentator Aaron Bastani conjures a new politics: a vision of a world of unimaginable hope, highlighting how we move to energy abundance, feed a world of nine billion, overcome work, transcend the limits of biology and build meaningful freedom for everyone. Rather than a final destination, such a society heralds the beginning of history.Fully Automated Luxury Communism promises a radically new left future for everyone.Trade ReviewIn 100 years' time many of the ideas in this book will be mainstream, while kindergarten students laugh at our mainstream economic textbooks. Bastani's genius is to see the future with crisp clarity, unafraid of the consequences of being right. -- Paul Mason, author of PostcapitalismOne of the most important books to come out of the British left in recent years. Incredibly ambitious and wide-ranging, but also well-written and readable, it provides a fascinating glimpse into a future beyond scarcity and beyond capitalism. Not simply a set of predictions about an unknowable future, it is a call to action to those seeking to bring an entirely new world into being. -- Grace Blakeley, New StatesmanThe debate is no longer about tinkering with our current broken social order, but replacing it: this fascinating book is an absolutely critical contribution, and a must-read for all those who aspire to build a new society. -- Owen Johns, author of The EstablishmentAt a time when our horizons have shrunk, when instead of striving for a better world we look backward to old comforts, Aaron Bastani calls us to dream and struggle for the type of society finally fit for humanity to live as humans should.' -- Bhaskar Sunkara, author of The Socialist ManifestoA startlingly sunny and audacious manifesto that reads the extremity of current political, economic, and environmental crises as a sign of the scale of opportunity for radical change...[Bastani] gamely reclaims the stuff of dystopia for a more buoyant vision . . . Bastani's arguments rest on the conviction that the major problems that face citizens are political in nature-and thus that their only possible solutions will be political, too -- Lidija Haas * Harpers *Angry and lyrical, uncompromising and vivid, Imperial Intimacies is a daughter's reckoning with the bitter legacies of slavery and colonialism as they come to shape the lives of families and individuals, their dreams and desires. A deeply searching and often moving book, it made me think again about the writing of family history and about what it means to be British. -- Alison Light, author of Common PeopleBastani writes with pace, economy and infectious enthusiasm ... There are more ideas crammed in here than in a whole shelf of standard politics books. And in today's fraught world, the time to read whole shelves of politics books may have passed. -- Andy Beckett * Guardian *Fully Automated Luxury Communism offers a hopeful vision of a possible future, one that, with its blend of utopian energy and careful argumentation, is worth taking seriously. * Vector *Attempts to take the word back to Marx's post-work, post-scarcity future. -- Sarah Jaffe * Bookforum *A startlingly sunny and audacious manifesto that reads the extremity of current political, economic, and environmental crises as a sign of the scale of opportunity for radical change...[Bastani] gamely reclaims the stuff of dystopia for a more buoyant vision. -- Lidja Haas * Harpers *A rising young leftwing provocateur . . .There are more ideas crammed in here than in a whole shelf of standard politics books -- Andy Beckett * Guardian *[Fully Automated Luxury Communism] is a provocative ... reckoning with the end of market capitalism, and what might follow ... in outlining the benefits of decarbonised economies, worker-owned businesses, people's banks, planet taxes and universal basic services, Bastani is starting to put flesh on the spectre that might one day haunt Europe again. -- Gavin Jacobson * New Statesman *In outlining the benefits of decarbonised economies, worker-owned businesses, people's banks, planet taxes and universal basic services, Bastani is starting to put flesh on the spectre that might one day haunt Europe again -- Gavin Williamson * New Statesman *Jeremy Corbyn's new left ... do not wish only to manage capitalism. They want something more. They are something more. And this book is an attempt to explain what that more is. * Times *[Bastani's] limpid prose, fuelled by an infectious revolutionary elan, adroitly synthesises ... big ideas for lay readers and deftly elucidates the continued relevance of Marx's writings... [Fully Automated Luxury Communism] serves as a vital broadening of our political horizons * Morning Star *A feisty manifesto . . . proposes a blueprint for a new society; one in which advanced technology will free humanity from the necessity to work * New Internationalist *An entertaining ... romp through some of the most profound innovations and developments that could, if managed under the aegis of socialism, transform the way in which we live our lives. * Quietus *A stimulating intervention ... fascinating on the dazzling possibilities of the present * New Humanist *A knowingly provocative ... utopian manifesto ... a refreshing departure from the the usual forecasts of machine-led jobpocalypse. * Times Literary Supplement *It's a manifesto that imagines life in a post-capitalist world where automation has replaced manual labour, and it applies the theories of Marx to show how this could save us from dystopia. Its a pretty audacious book.' -- Gruff Rhys * Observer *

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Book SynopsisOur society has a technology problem. Many want to disconnect from screens but can''t help themselves. These days we spend more time online than ever. Some turn to self-help-measures to limit their usage, yet repeatedly fail, while parents feel particularly powerless to help their children. Unwired: Gaining Control over Addictive Technologies shows us a way out. Rather than blaming users, the book shatters the illusion that we autonomously choose how to spend our time online. It shifts the moral responsibility and accountability for solutions to corporations. Drawing lessons from the tobacco and food industries, the book demonstrates why government regulation is necessary to curb technology addiction. It describes a grassroots movement already in action across courts and legislative halls. Groundbreaking and urgent, Unwired provides a blueprint to develop this movement for change, to one that will allow us to finally gain control.Trade Review'Gaia Bernstein's Unwired offers a compelling roadmap for tackling one of our most pressing problems: the irresistible pull of technology. Over the course of our lives, we and our children will spend between fifteen and twenty years glued to our screens. As Bernstein shows, though, there are regulatory remedies at hand to help us retain our time and our wellbeing.' Adam Alter, Professor of Marketing and Psychology, NYU Stern School of Business, author of Irresistible and Drunk Tank Pink'In this important and powerful book, Gaia Bernstein shows us how to reclaim our power and our humanity from the Big Tech cartel that have intentionally addicted us to their devices and platforms.' Nicholas Kardaras, Ph.D., Author of 'Glow Kids' and 'Digital Madness", former Clinical Professor, Stony Brook Medicine'Unwired is a compelling, accessible, and vital intervention into the overuse of technology. Instead of offering overly simplistic self-help strategies that are doomed to fail, Professor Bernstein rightly targets the manipulative design of technologies and the need for us to work together to hold the tech industry accountable. This book vividly blends personal stories with the latest research and lessons from history to paint a clear picture of our struggle with screens and what it's going to take to improve things. Everyone should read this book.' Woodrow Hartzog, Professor of Law at Boston University and author of Privacy's Blueprint: The Battle to Control the Design of New Technologies'Inviting and intelligent, Gaia Bernstein's extraordinary book masterfully combines honest personal reflections about her experiences with the creep of digital tech together with a sobering academic account of our collective public struggles to deal with technologies designed to addict, manipulate, and even control our behavior. Throughout, Bernstein maintains a can-do attitude that inspires change.' Brett Frischmann, The Charles Widger Endowed University Professor in Law, Business and Economics, Villanova University School of Law'Unwired is a powerful rejoinder to voices that would seek to minimize the threat technological manipulation poses to human freedom. But Gaia Bernstein goes beyond a mere accounting of the harms and proposes systemic changes that can help us take back control. Comprehensive in its scope and clear-eyed in its analysis, Unwired is an indispensable guide to the landscape of digital technology reform. Anyone who cares about the future of technology should read this book.' James Williams, author of Stand Out of Our Light'This trenchant clarion call rings loud and clear.' Publishers Weekly'Mixing expertise and passion, the author sets an agenda to rein in the tech behemoths that have run rampant for years.' Kirkus Reviews'Bernstein is shrewd about the political maneuvers and public relations options available to industries challenged for doing harm to the general welfare. At the same time, she shows that imposing some control or countermeasures … has been possible in the past, and might be in the future.' Scott McLemee, Inside Higher Ed'Unwired exists to be used: an agenda for social change through legal action. It is a knife, not a brush. But it'll be of much more than academic value to those of us whose parenting years were overshadowed by feelings of guilt, frustration and anxiety, as we fought our hopeless battles, and lost our children to TikTok and Fortnite.' Simon Ings, New Statesman'Bernstein … doubts that addicted users … can will themselves out of their habits. Instead, she argues, regulatory intervention of the supplying corporations will be necessary.' Harvard Magazine, Off the ShelfTable of ContentsPrologue; Part I. The Price of the Illusion of Control; 1. Becoming the Choice-Makers; 2. Addiction, Our Children, Our Bonds; 3. Invisible Chains; Part II. Who Are the Choice Makers? 4. Clouds of Smoke; 5. The Food Wars; 6. The Privacy Phoenix; 7. Lessons from Battling Titans; Part III. Fighting for Choice; 8. The Art of Redesign; 9. The Tools of Awareness; 10. The Ground is Burning; 11. The Achilles Heel; 12. Acupuncture for Change; Epilogue.

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Book Synopsis*Can you find the way to Davy''s bar? *Do you know the Doughnut principal? *How do you make a Chinese contract? The changes which Charles Handy foresaw in THE AGE OF UNREASON are happening. Endless growth can make a candyfloss economy, and capitalism must be its own sternest critic. Handy reaches here for a philosophy beyond the mechanics of business organisations, beyond material choices, to try and establish an alternative universe where the work ethics can contain a natural sense of continuity, connections and a sense of direction. We are now a world of shareholders, but everyone has a stake in the future. With warmth, wit and the most challenging insights, Charles Handy seeks to turn paradox into real progress.Trade ReviewIf you are part of, think about, care about or are in any way influenced by the world of work, and who is not, this powerful and moving book is for you -- Sir Graham Day * Financial Times *A necessary and important contribution to our understanding of the way we live now -- Hamish McRae * Director Magazine *

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Book SynopsisCharles Handy is a writer and broadcaster. His books, including The Empty Raincoat, have sold over one million copies around the world. He was named as Business Columnist of the Year in 1994. He has been, in his time, an oil executive, a business economist, a Professor at the London Business School, and Chairman of the Royal Society of Arts.Trade ReviewHe makes difficult stuff seem easy * Management Today *'In this very readable book Handy makes you think more about the impact of these diverse changes on the whole world of human endeavour, not just the world of work. * Human Resources Magazine *You will find yourself constantly returning to the book and quoting extracts to collegues...This latest offering is a joy to read. It is one of those rare things, a book by a management author that you want to devour at one sitting. * Ambassdor *This is an ambitious treatment of the future of everything. * Canary *It is classic Handy...It is entertaining, thought provoking, humanistic and wise in equal measures. * FMX *

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisTRUST IS FUNDAMENTAL TO EVERY ACTION, EVERY RELATIONSHIP, EVERY TRANSACTIONAND IT MATTERS NOW MORE THAN EVER BEFORE...In this ground-breaking book world-renowned trust expert Rachel Botsman reveals that we are at the tipping point of one of the biggest social transformations in human history. We might have lost faith in institutions and leaders, but millions of people travel in cars with total strangers, exchange digital currencies, or find themselves trusting a bot. We still trust: but not the way we used to.If we are to benefit from this radical shift, we must understand how trust is built, managed, lost and repaired in the digital age. In the first book to explain this new world, Botsman provides a definitive guide of this uncharted landscape - and explores what''s next for humanity.''Brilliantly describes how the established trust framework is undergoing a radical transformation as digital technologies take root in every fTrade ReviewBeautifully-written . . . the thesis is completely compelling. This is an important book -- Andy Haldane, Chief Economist, Bank of EnglandThis is that admirable and all too rare book that gives you "an idea to think with" that helps to put new things in place: from Brexit, Donald Trump, and Blockchain to Facebook and your discontents. Who Can You Trust is a primer for a new world that sets you up to be a better citizen, consumer, and parent. In the new world of decentralized trust you need to think about who you trust, why you trust, and what that really means for what kind of new society we are building. A beautifully written, clear eyed book...I learned so much. About so many things I wanted to know. So quickly -- Sherry Turkle * Abby Rockefeller Mauzé Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology, MIT, and author of Alone Together *Profound . . . will cause you to think deeply about your business, your relationships and your life -- Don Tapscott, bestselling author of 16 books, including 'Blockchain Revolution'Trust affects everything - from neighbourliness and shopping to democracy. This fascinating and well-researched study of the shifting tides of trust shows both the power of new technological solutions and the often surprising problems they bring in their wake. Every reader will gain new insights into one of the great issues of our time -- Geoff Mulgan, Chief Executive, NESTAA timely and accessible framework for understanding what trust is, how it works, why it matters and how it is evolving. It is an important primer to the obstacles and opportunities we face as a society if we are to repair and redefine trust across socioeconomic, political and cultural divides. The stakes are high. -- Rebecca MacKinnon * Washington Post *Extremely thought-provoking . . . a must-read for anyone interested in how the world works - and will work in the future -- Will Dean, co-founder and CEO of Tough MudderSome people can educate and others can entertain; in Who Can You Trust, Rachel Botsman does both. Read it for insight or escape as it takes you on both journeys -- John Eales, most successful captain in the history of Australian rugbyThrilling. Brilliantly exposes the central paradox of the IT revolution - that it connects us while keeping us apart. Rachel Botsman encourages us to take responsibility for the kind of world we want to live in, and to preserve society's most fragile asset: trust -- Hugh Mackay, Social Scientist and best-selling author of sixteen booksTimely, lucid and beautifully written. This is one of the most important books you'll read this year -- Richard Glover, Columnist, Sydney Morning Herald, ABC Radio BroadcasterThis book perfectly walks the reader through the past, present, and future of trust as we know it. Rachel Botsman's expertise on this topic is unmatched. It's an absolute must-read for business leaders and everyday consumers alike -- Nick Shapiro, Global Head of Trust & Risk Management, Airbnb and former Deputy CIA Deputy Chief of StaffBotsman rightly challenges us in this new era to ask the compelling questions about who, why and how we trust. Highly recommended -- Tim Costello, CEO World Vision AustraliaIn Rachel Botsman's capable hands, the concept of 'trust' - and its changing shape over the ages - becomes clear and accessible. Utterly compelling -- Dr Simon Longstaff, Executive Director of the Ethics CentreSharp, penetrating, and obsessively researched, this book will open your eyes to a phenomenon that is as important as it is impossible to ignore. -- Leigh Gallagher, Senior Editor, FortuneAn absorbing, story-filled narrative that will leave readers with a new understanding of the phenomenon that drives life in our digital age * Kirkus Reviews *A sharp, thoughtful, sometimes-surprising account of how we build trust with strangers now. * Kirkus Reviews *In a time when people are doubting experts, suspicious of the media, and losing faith in government and business, Rachel Botsman is here with a lucid analysis of what it takes to build and rebuild trust. Trust me: this is a book you need to read -- Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of GIVE AND TAKE, ORIGINALS, and OPTION B with Sheryl SandbergRachel Botsman's eye-opening, timely book delves into the unfolding crisis of trust spreading throughout the world. She brilliantly describes how the established trust framework is undergoing a radical transformation as digital technologies take root in every facet of our lives. Read this book and you'll be ready for a revolution in trust that rewrites the rules of human interaction -- Marc Benioff, Chairman & CEO, SalesforceBook of the Month -- October * Financial Times *This is a book that every adult reader should pick up to gain some perspective on how reliant we have become on technology, and how we can afford to approach it with more skepticism * The Literary Journal Review *Botsman has found a rich theme here and a fascinating way of interpreting the technological change * Wall Street Journal *Top 10 Business Bestseller * 800 CEO Read *Top 5 Tech Book of the Year * WIRED *In her witty new book technology author and TED celebrity Rachel Botsman tells us why it did not work. Who Can You Trust? reveals some deep truths * Spectator *Botsman guides the reader on an enjoyable accessible, but cautiously skeptical, tour through this hugely transformative, but barely recognized, shift in our sometimes-irrational approach to trust * Winnipeg Free Press *As Botsman drives deeper and darker, she sheds more and more light, her book [is] rapidly becoming brilliant * Dialogue *

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Book SynopsisA Financial Times book of the monthIt has never been more important for business leaders to look to the future. Yet, when we are living through some of the most uncertain times we have ever faced, it can feel daunting to know where to start. In Future-Proof Your Business, applied futurist Tom Cheesewright will reveal industry techniques and tools to help you: - Scan the near horizon for incoming shocks- Look to the far future to define long-term strategy- Accelerate decision-making in your business- Delegate power to the front line, speeding your response- Streamline your organisation so it''s agile and can adapt to changeIn our uncertain times, leaders who keep their focus on the future will be the ones who prevail.Trade ReviewA Financial Times book of the month * The Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisA compelling argument that the Internet of things threatens human rights and securitySobering and important.Financial Times, Best Books of 2020: Technology The Internet has leapt from human-facing display screens into the material objects all around us. In this so-called Internet of thingsconnecting everything from cars to cardiac monitors to home appliancesthere is no longer a meaningful distinction between physical and virtual worlds. Everything is connected. The social and economic benefits are tremendous, but there is a downside: an outage in cyberspace can result not only in loss of communication but also potentially in loss of life. Control of this infrastructure has become a proxy for political power, since countries can easily reach across borders to disrupt real-world systems. Laura DeNardis argues that the diffusion of the Internet into the physical world radically escalates governance concerns around privacy, discrimination, human safety, democracy, and national securityTrade Review"Sobering and important"—John Thornhill, Financial Times Best Technology Books of 2020“[A] very well researched and impeccably written text. While dense in terms of the information and discussion provided, particularly in the sections concerning the technical areas, The Internet in Everything remains easy to read and the lines of argument and discussion are clear and succinct. I do not hesitate to recommend this volume to political scientists, security practitioners and scholars as well as the interested public.”—Courteney J. O’Connor, LSE Review of Books"This brilliant and essential book does nothing less than alter our paradigm for thinking about the internet—from communications and indirect control to communications and direct control. The internet is even more powerful—or more dangerous—than we think."—Anupam Chander, author of The Electronic Silk Road: How the Web Binds the World Together in Commerce “This is a must-read. If you have limited time, read Chapters 1 and 8 at least. ‘All of the policy issues in two-dimensional digital space have leapt into three-dimensional real-world space and have added new concerns around physical safety and everyday human activity.’”—Vint Cerf, Internet Pioneer"The Internet isn't just about communication anymore, Laura DeNardis explains in this important new book. Digital networks can now directly affect and manipulate our physical world--even our own bodies. And when the Internet is embedded in everything, everything becomes a potential object of surveillance and control. DeNardis shows us why we need a new politics of privacy and security as the Internet gets physical."—Jack M. Balkin, Yale Law School“A crucial read for understanding the unseen but powerful mechanisms and standards which shape security and policy issues impacting everyone.”—Marietje Schaake, Member of European Parliament 2009-2019“With more things than people connected to the Internet, we enter a cyber-physical world of opportunities and threats. Laura DeNardis is the perfect guide to this strange new world.”—Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Harvard University and author of The Future of Power

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Book Synopsis''A fascinating book . . . Bhaskar is a reassuringly positive and often witty guide''Observer''A fascinating, must-read book covering a vast array of topics from the arts to the sciences, technology to policy. This is a brilliant and thought-provoking response to one of the most critical questions of our age: how we will come up with the next generation of innovation and truly fresh ideas?''Mustafa Suleyman, cofounder of DeepMind and Google VP''Have big ideas and big social and economic changes disappeared from the scene? Michael Bhaskar''s Human Frontiers is the best look at these all-important questions.''Tyler Cowen, author of The Great Stagnation and The Complacent Class''Michael Bhaskar explores the disturbing possibility that a complacent, cautious civilization has lost ambition and is slowly sinking into technological stagnation rather than accelerating into a magical future. He is calling foTrade ReviewA fascinating, must-read book covering a vast array of topics from the arts to the sciences, technology to policy. This is a brilliant and thought-provoking response to one of the most critical questions of our age: how we will come up with the next generation of innovation and truly fresh ideas? -- Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder, DeepMind; Google VPHave 'Big Ideas' and big social and economic changes disappeared from the scene? Michael Bhaskar's HUMAN FRONTIERS is the best look at these all-important questions -- Tyler Cowen, author of THE GREAT STAGNATION and THE COMPLACENT CLASSMichael Bhaskar explores the disturbing possibility that a complacent, cautious civilisation has lost ambition, and is slowly sinking into technological stagnation, rather than accelerating into a magical future. He is calling for bold, adventurous innovators to go big again. A fascinating book -- Matt Ridley, author of HOW INNOVATION WORKSMichael Bhaskar deftly delivers big ideas about big ideas ... HUMAN FRONTIERS is an admiring stroll through the history of ideas and an impressive display of innovation erudition -- Safi Bahcall, author of LOONSHOTS: NURTURE THE CRAZY IDEAS THAT WIN WARS, CURE DISEASES, AND TRANSFORM INDUSTRIESMichael Bhaskar's HUMAN FRONTIERS is a greatly welcome contrast to both doom-and-gloom and overly boosterish views of humanity's future. It combines a masterful breadth of social perspective with an impressive grasp of our problems and potential solutions. Visionary and convincing -- Christine Peterson, co-founder, Foresight InstituteBhaskar wants us to believe that big ideas, sometimes seized upon in an instant, propel humankind's progress. The thesis is boldly and elegantly stated; the examples work in its favor. This important book demands our answer -- Margaret C. Jacob, University of California, Los AngelesSweeping in scope and thought-provoking throughout, HUMAN FRONTIERS is vital for understanding every aspect of Big Ideas: their origins, their role in societal progress, and how we can make more of them ... A paean to curiosity, HUMAN FRONTIERS is essential reading for understanding how science and progress works, and how it can work in the future -- Samuel Arbesman, Scientist in Residence, Lux Capital; author of OVERCOMPLICATED and THE HALF-LIFE OF FACTSThe world's big ideas are slowing down, but it needn't be that way. Bhaskar brilliantly shows how we can do better. If you loved books like HUMANKIND and SAPIENS, you'll love HUMAN FRONTIERS -- David Bodanis, author of EINSTEIN’S GREATEST MISTAKE and THE ART OF FAIRNESSIdeas through history often reconfigure our world. But is this vital process slowing down and stagnating? With infectious enthusiasm and verve, Michael Bhaskar addresses these questions by taking us on an exhilarating grand tour of the history and future of big ideas. Bhaskar's inspiring call to arms, shining a bright and unflinching light on the challenges we face, is itself a reason to feel hopeful -- Ziyad Marar, author of JUDGED: THE VALUE OF BEING MISUNDERSTOODFull of fascinating stories and surprising insights, HUMAN FRONTIERS is one of the most exciting and thought-provoking books I've read in years. Only a genuine polymath like Michael Bhaskar could write a book as big and bold as this -- Roman Krznaric, author of THE GOOD ANCESTOR: HOW TO THINK LONG TERM IN A SHORT-TERM WORLDthe most important book that I have read in a long time. With a broadside of explosive arguments, superb examples that effortlessly jump from big science to literature and back again, and an unputdownable writing style, Michael Bhaskar explains why our civilization appears to have run out of big ideas. An essential read -- Mark Piesing, journalist and author of N-4 DOWN: THE HUNT FOR THE ARCTIC AIRSHIP ITALIAA brilliant, and brilliantly readable, survey of the frontiers of human ingenuity and how we might, just, think our way through the big challenges of the century ahead -- Professor Sir Geoff Mulgan, UCLA fascinating book . . . Bhaskar is a reassuringly positive and often witty guide * Observer *

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Book SynopsisThe Future of the City Centre: Global Perspectives debates future directions. It looks beyond the post-industrial, post-commercial, and post-retail city centres to examine differing visions of the future form and function of the urban core. This theme and the related sub-topics will assist the development of future city models and help to contextualise urban change.The in-depth research covers not only urban form and the re-use of the built heritage but also the provision for cultural events and different forms of entertainment that will offer vitality, together with visitors and responsible tourism. City authorities are starting to realise that structural changes are happening in city centres, as their influence is declining, and therefore new forms of governance will be needed. The book is based on an international research network hosting four symposia over 24 months. They took place in four cities in four different continents to encompass a world view of developed and developing countries. This book offers theoretical and practical perspectives from leading thinkers, academics, and practitioners, drawing on thematic issues explored across four international cities: Newcastle, UK; Newcastle, Australia; Pretoria-Tshwane, South Africa; and JoÃo Pessoa, Brazil. It draws on a wider set of global examples to reveal the shared issues and pressures being brought to bear on city centres and the diversity of responses being undertaken to ensure their long-term future.The book includes illustrations from cities around the world, and it is directed at academics, students, and professionals in architecture, planning, urban design, the built environment, geography, economics, sociology, and cultural studies.Table of ContentsIntroduction The City Centre: Its Future Role and Significance Managing City Centre Change Newcastle upon Tyne UK Newcastle NSW Australia Pretoria-Tshwane South Africa João Pessoa Brazil Image and Visions Public Realm Social Change Economic Competitiveness Multi-level Governance Mobility, Movement and Access Culture and Heritage Innovation and Higher Education Conclusions and Future Scenarios

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Book SynopsisThinking about the future is essential for almost all organizations and societies. States, corporations, universities, cities, NGOs and individuals believe they cannot miss the future.Table of Contents Contents Preface 1. Introduction: The Future Has Arrived Part 1 - A Brief History of the Future 2. Past Futures 3. New Catastrophic Futures Part 2 - Complex Systems and the Future 4. Time and Complex Systems 5. Innovating Futures 6. Methods for Making Futures Part 3 - Future Scenarios 7. Manufacturing Future Worlds 8. Cities on the Move 9. Climates 10. Conclusion: The Future of Futures References Index

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Book SynopsisRecords International Futures Forum's (IFF) learning over seven years on how to take effective and responsible action in a world we do not understand and cannot control. This book includes case studies from around the world, generated by the work of the IFF. It is suitable for managers and organisational and political leaders.

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Book SynopsisThe fashion business has been collecting and analyzing information about colors, fabrics, silhouettes, and styles since the 18th century - activities that have long been shrouded in mystery. The Fashion Forecasters is the first book to reveal the hidden history of color and trend forecasting and to explore its relevance to the fashion business of the past two centuries. It sheds light on trend forecasting in the industrial era, the profession's maturation during the modernist moment of the 20th century, and its continued importance in today''s digital fast-fashion culture. Based on in-depth archival research and oral history interviews, The Fashion Forecasters examines the entrepreneurs, service companies, and consultants that have worked behind the scenes to connect designers and retailers to emerging fashion trends in Europe, North America, and Asia. Here you will read about the trend studios, color experts, and international trade fairs that formalized the prediction pTrade ReviewA welcome contribution to the under-researched area of fashion prediction through ‘a series of cultural biographies of influential forecasters and forecasting entities’ ... Includes excellent full-colour photographs and particularly fascinating reproductions of archival materials ... These books are exceptional collections of essays, timely in their arrival and inspirational in terms of the continued broadening scope of work to be done on US and global fashion. * Journal of Design History (joint-reviewed with The Hidden History of American Fashion) *Through carefully chosen case studies, the book provides a detailed blueprint of the development of fashion forecasting from its humble beginning in nineteenth century Paris, into a mature and complex service business in the age of big data and digital innovation. The Fashion Forecasters effectively weaves together personal narratives with archival sources, and will be of interest to academics, students, and those interested in the past, present and future of colour and trend prediction in the fashion industry. * The Design Journal *The intuition, “sixth-sense”, and impeccable taste of fashion forecasters is well worth this book’s insightful analysis. How they predict who will wear what - and when - is the intriguing story of this comprehensive anthology. -- Mary Westerman Bulgarella, Co-editor of Colors in Fashion, and Costume Colloquium Advisory Committee Coordinator, Italy/USAFor a field that is obsessed with the future, there is much to be learned from the past, as editors Blaszczyk and Wubs provide an engaging overview of the history of forecasting, giving overdue credit to the industry’s originators. Meticulously researched with excellent first-person accounts, The Fashion Forecasters untangles the web of current forecasting influences and creates a clear vision for its future. -- Lorynn R. Divita, Baylor University, USATable of ContentsList of Illustrations List of Tables Acknowledgments 1. Beyond the Crystal Ball: The Rationale Behind Color and Trend Forecasting Regina Lee Blaszczyk and Ben Wubs Part I: When Paris Led and America Followed 2. The Rise of Color Forecasting in the United States and Great Britain Regina Lee Blaszczyk 3. Tobé Coller Davis: A Career in Fashion Forecasting in America Véronique Pouillard and Karen J. Trivette Part II: Going International 4. From Window Dresser to Fashion Forecaster: David Wolfe of the Doneger Group Tells How He Got Started in Trends 5. What Do Baby Boomers Want? How the Swinging Sixties Became the Trending Seventies Regina Lee Blaszczyk 6. The View from Paris: Nelly Rodi and the Early Days of French Trend Forecasting 7. Fibers, Feathers, and the Future: Ornella Bignami on the Importance of Materials 8. Fashion Prediction and the Transformation of the Japanese Textile Industry: The Role of Kentaro Kawasaki, 1950–1980 Pierre-Yves Donzé 9. Interstoff’s Fashion Table: The Internalization of Fashion Forecasting at the World’s Most Important Fashion Fabric Fair Ben Wubs 10. The Role of the Pitti Uomo Trade Fair in the Menswear Fashion Industry Mariangela Lavanga Part III: The Digital Imperative 11. Looking Behind the Scenes of Swedish Fashion Forecasting Ingrid Giertz-Mårtenson 12. Trending Online: Valerie Wilson Trower Discusses Stylesight in the Asia Pacific Region 13. Fast Fashion, Fast Futures: Catronia McNab on WGSN and the Global Digital World Part IV: Conclusion 14. Fashion Futures Regina Lee Blaszczyk and Ben Wubs Select Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisOUT NOW: the new book from the bestselling authors and hosts of the wildy popular ''The Skeptics Guide to the Universe''__________Our predictions of the future are a wild fantasy, inextricably linked to our present hopes and fears, biases and ignorance. Whether they be the outlandish leaps predicted in the 1920s, like multi-purpose utility belts with climate control capabilities and planes the size of luxury cruise ships, or the forecasts of the ''60s, which didn''t anticipate the sexual revolution or women''s liberation, the path to the present is littered with failed predictions and incorrect estimations.The best we can do is try to absorb from futurism''s checkered past, perhaps learning to do a little better.In The Skeptics'' Guide To The Future, Steven Novella and his co-authors build upon the work of futurists of the past by examining what they got right, what they got wrong, and how they came to those conclusi

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Book SynopsisFeaturing contributions from an international array of futurists, The Future Starts Now provides fascinating insights and guidance into how society and business will transform in the years to come.The future is an uncertain, uncomfortable prospect for employees, employers and society at large. A flurry of unprecedented events have proven that, despite what some politicians and economists may tell us, the future is not set in stone. In light of this uncertainty, The Future Starts Now looks toward the various innovations and technologies that may shape our future. Authors Theo Priestley and Bronwyn Williams have brought together the world''s leading futurists to articulate and clarify the current trajectories in technology, economics, politics and business. This is a comprehensive history of tomorrow, exploring groundbreaking topics such as AI, privacy, education and the future of work. While the guidance, insight and predictions are fascinating foTrade ReviewA fascinating and profoundly inspiring read that offers both practical advice, dazzlingly provocative and exciting ideas and that is a joy to read. A collection of the finest minds, in their very best form, doing the most valuable of things in offering us clarity, wisdom, inspiration and guidance. -- Tom Goodwin, consultant, speaker and author of 'Digital Darwinism'The future isn’t what it used to be. It is now open to the dreamers, thinkers and creatives to create the future that benefits us all. Theo and Bronwyn have personally curated the thoughts of those who care about a brighter, more prosperous future for everyone. The future starts now… with you. -- Brian Solis, digital anthropologist, futurist and author of LifescaleA mind-blowing journey that challenges the reader, with essays both fascinating and challenging. -- Michael Dolbec, Executive Managing Director, GE VenturesA wonderful compendium from some of today’s most thoughtful futurists, ethicists, economists, technologists, and researchers. If you are curious about what the future holds, this is the place to start. -- Dave Evans, CIO, Computer History MuseumBronwyn and Theo have extracted and curated a treasure trove of scenarios, ideas and strategies for succeeding in an increasingly uncertain tomorrow. Devoid of shtick or snake oil, this book is an indispensable tool for the modern business leader. -- Mike Stopforth, Director, Beyond BinaryA necessary wake-up call! We need to be asking these tougher questions, as part of honest and pragmatic conversations, with a broad range of voices, to avoid sleepwalking into an inhuman future. -- Ed Greig, Chief Disruptor, DeloitteDizzying, provocative and smart analysis on what should matter to humankind, today and tomorrow. Factual, contemporary and realistic, this story encourages positive thinking about the decisions we must take to deliver on the promise of a better future. -- Martin Jetter, Chairman, IBM Europe, Middle East & AfricaThe Future Starts Now offers diverse narratives of the future: positive and negative, fearful and hopeful, social and technological. In particular, by emphasising social change and empowering to shape our own future in the present, it provides a contemporary view of foresight. -- Tanja Schindler, Futurist and Founder, Futures SpaceWhether you are pessimistic or optimistic about the future… read this book! -- Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten, Founder & CEO, TNWWith excellent essays exploring topics as diverse as education and Mars, this is an inspirational read for anyone aspiring for a pragmatic utopia! -- Stefan Ferber, Co-CEO & CTO, Bosch.IO

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Book SynopsisDrawing up alternate ways to “make a living” beyond capitalism To live in this world is to be conditioned by capital. Once paired with Western democracy, unfettered capitalism has led to a shrinking economic system that squeezes out billions of people—creating a planet of surplus populations. Wageless Life is a manifesto for building a future beyond the toxic failures of late-stage capitalism. Daring to imagine new social relations, new modes of economic existence, and new collective worlds, the authors provide skills and tools for perceiving—and living in— a post-capitalist future. Forerunners: Ideas FirstShort books of thought-in-process scholarship, where intense analysis, questioning, and speculation take the leadTrade Review"This lucid and penetrating study not only lays bare the critical features of our decaying social order and its historical roots, but also provides valuable guidelines for the task of ‘seizing our autonomy back’ in a world of justice, freedom, communal life, and human dignity. Perceptive and enlightening, and a ray of light in dark times."—Noam Chomsky

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Book SynopsisWho will lead the transition from fossil fuel–dependent societies into renewable energy futures? Energy transition is crucial to the struggle against climate change. But even while embracing the death of fossil fuels, some want to preserve the current social and political order. Futures of the Sun explores the competing eco-stories being offered by people intent on shaping the transition to fit their vision and version of a renewable society. Imre Szeman explains how and why key players are working hard to make sure a greener, cleaner future will look much like the world we live in today. He examines the rhetoric, ideology, and politics of liberal nationalists intent on fighting a war against climate change, billionaire solar entrepreneurs who believe only in themselves, and the populist far right who want no change at all. Offering possible new critical and political avenues, Szeman reveals how those on the environmental left can ensure their visi

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Book SynopsisIn The Future Is Analog, David Sax points out that the onset of the pandemic instantly gave us the digital universe we'd spent so long anticipating. Instant communication, online shopping, virtual everything. It didn't take long to realize how awful it was to live in this promised future. We craved real experiences, relationships, and spaces and got back to real life as quickly and often as we could.In chapters exploring work, school, religion, and more, this book asks pointed questions: Is our future inevitably digital? Can we reject the downsides of digital technology without rejecting change? Can we innovate not for the sake of productivity but for the good of our social and cultural lives? Can we build a future that serves us as humans, first and foremost?This is a manifesto for a different kind of change. We can spend our creativity and money on building new gadgets-or we can spend them on new ways to be together and experience the world, to bake bread, and climb mountains. All we need is the clarity to choose which future we want.

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Book SynopsisLean Logic is David Fleming’s masterpiece, the product of more than thirty years’ work and a testament to the creative brilliance of one of Britain’s most important intellectuals. A dictionary unlike any other, it leads readers through Fleming’s stimulating exploration of fields as diverse as culture, history, science, art, logic, ethics, myth, economics, and anthropology, being made up of four hundred and four engaging essay-entries covering topics such as Boredom, Community, Debt, Growth, Harmless Lunatics, Land, Lean Thinking, Nanotechnology, Play, Religion, Spirit, Trust, and Utopia. The threads running through every entry are Fleming’s deft and original analysis of how our present market-based economy is destroying the very foundations—ecological, economic, and cultural— on which it depends, and his core focus: a compelling, grounded vision for a cohesive society that might weather the consequences. A society that provides a satisfying, culturally-rich context for lives well lived, in an economy not reliant on the impossible promise of eternal economic growth. A society worth living in. Worth fighting for. Worth contributing to. The beauty of the dictionary format is that it allows Fleming to draw connections without detracting from his in-depth exploration of each topic. Each entry carries intriguing links to other entries, inviting the enchanted reader to break free of the imposed order of a conventional book, starting where she will and following the links in the order of her choosing. In combination with Fleming’s refreshing writing style and good-natured humor, it also creates a book perfectly suited to dipping in and out. The decades Fleming spent honing his life's work are evident in the lightness and mastery with which Lean Logic draws on an incredible wealth of cultural and historical learning—from Whitman to Whitefield, Dickens to Daly, Kropotkin to Kafka, Keats to Kuhn, Oakeshott to Ostrom, Jung to Jensen, Machiavelli to Mumford, Mauss to Mandelbrot, Leopold to Lakatos, Polanyi to Putnam, Nietzsche to Næss, Keynes to Kumar, Scruton to Shiva, Thoreau to Toynbee, Rabelais to Rogers, Shakespeare to Schumacher, Locke to Lovelock, Homer to Homer-Dixon—in demonstrating that many of the principles it commends have a track-record of success long pre-dating our current society. Fleming acknowledges, with honesty, the challenges ahead, but rather than inducing despair, Lean Logic is rare in its ability to inspire optimism in the creativity and intelligence of humans to nurse our ecology back to health; to rediscover the importance of place and play, of reciprocity and resilience, and of community and culture. ------ Recognizing that Lean Logic’s sheer size and unusual structure could be daunting, Fleming’s long-time collaborator Shaun Chamberlin has also selected and edited one of the potential pathways through the dictionary to create a second, stand-alone volume, Surviving the Future: Culture, Carnival and Capital in the Aftermath of the Market Economy. The content, rare insights, and uniquely enjoyable writing style remain Fleming’s, but presented at a more accessible paperback-length and in conventional read-it-front-to-back format.Trade ReviewChoice- "The late author, who passed away suddenly in 2010, was a prominent UK Green Party theorist and advocate. This book—thoughtfully edited by his protégé Chamberlin—represents the distillation of a life's work. Fleming is best known for introducing the economic concept of "Tradable Energy Quotas" (TEQs), which aims to plot the means for a vast reduction of carbon emissions and energy consumption. Even though the book is laid out in a dictionary format, it is best viewed as a series of interconnected essays. The overall goal is to detail the self-destructiveness of the market economy's dependence on sustained growth and at the same time paint a picture of a much less dynamic economy of the future. The notion of "lean logic," i.e., thinking small and local, exemplifies the public policies that he predicted will emerge pursuant to the implosion of the market economy. Fleming claims an optimistic vision, yet the stark overhaul of existing social ties he foresees has a strong chiliastic bent. His idea of the market economy is the polar opposite of the recent work of Deirdre McCloskey, Bourgeois Equality: How Ideas, Not Capital or Institutions, Enriched the World (CH, Oct'16, 54-0926). Nonetheless, this is a welcome work with a distinctive and well-articulated point of view. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels.”“A monumental achievement, David Fleming’s Lean Logic is an encyclopedic guide to the crisis of industrial civilization. I challenge anyone to read as much as a page of it without finding at least one insight worth serious reflection. Individuals, families, and communities will find it invaluable as a guide to navigating the troubled waters of the future.”--John Michael Greer, author of The Long Descent and After Progress“The only scientific question left to us: how can we ensure a future for humanity? That includes: how do we free ourselves from capitalism, the form of social organisation that is destroying us? And how do we create something else? This book is a thoughtful and imaginative contribution to the debate about humanity’s future.”--John Holloway, sociologist; author of Change the World Without Taking Power and Crack Capitalism“David Fleming’s eye was sharp, and his words had a way of getting right to the heart of the matter. This book is remarkable and scintillating; the product of a truly original mind.”--Paul Kingsnorth, cofounder, The Dark Mountain Project; author of The Wake“In my words it's half encyclopaedia, half commonplace book, half a secular bible, half survival guide, half . . . yes, that's a lot of halves, but I hope you get the picture. I have never encountered a book that is so hard to characterise yet so hard, despite its weight, to put down. Lean Logic is neither a policy manifesto nor a dry technical guide. It's an incredibly nourishing cultural and scientific treasure trove.”--John Thackara, founder and director, Doors of Perception; author of How to Thrive in the Next Economy“David Fleming was a walking encyclopaedia of ecological knowledge and wisdom. His brilliance, good humour, and deep insight were legendary and unforgettable. His writing, too, was of the highest calibre—witty, entertaining, profound, informative, and transformative. These books of his give us the opportunity to savour the great treasure that was his mind. To read them is to gain a superb education in ecology from one of the greatest masters in the field.”--Dr. Stephan Harding, resident ecologist, Schumacher College; author of Animate Earth"A splendid smorgasbord, Lean Logic provides rare insight into some of the key issues of our time! Fleming's underlying vision of a future founded in a reclaimed richness of community, culture, and conversation is both heartening and timely."--Helena Norberg-Hodge, author of Ancient Futures; director of The Economics of Happiness“David Fleming predicts environmental catastrophe but also proposes a solution that stems from the real motives of people and not from some comprehensive political agenda. He writes lucidly and eloquently of the moral and spiritual qualities on which we might draw in our 'descent' to a Lean Economy. His highly poetic description of these qualities is neither gloomy nor self-deceived but tranquil and inspiring. All environmental activists should read him and learn to think in his cultivated and nuanced way.”--Roger Scruton, writer and philosopher; author of over thirty books, including Green Philosophy“This is an extraordinary book, uncategorisable, driven by a great rolling intellectual curiosity. Fleming fathomed the depth of the mess in which we find ourselves and left us clues as to how we might find our way through that mess.”--Dougald Hine, cofounder, The Dark Mountain Project“David Fleming’s lifework is nothing less than an encyclopedia of the timeless art of living, encompassing the art of building enlivening communities, the art of allowing the economy to serve life and creativity, and the art of unmasking invisible brainwashing. Fleming has written a guide to becoming an authentic individual and to recognizing toxic relationships on every level of material and personal exchange. This is a serious guide to health on every level of relationships and at the same time a deeply humorous read. Whether the breakdown of technical civilisation will come (as Fleming is convinced) or humanity will just carry on muddling through as always, this encyclopedia of manners, grace, and style will make the reader’s life more wonderful and thus inevitably help to build a saner society.”--Andreas Weber, PhD, author of The Biology of Wonder“David Fleming was the soul of provocative, exciting, and creative thought, and it was always a thought-provoking and pleasure-promoting experience to meet him. Amongst many virtues, his approach to climate change and ecology embraced the commons. Seeing this as a solution, with collective decision-making leading to a better future, was at the heart of his work. I am sure that Elinor Ostrom, who won a Nobel Prize for her work on the commons, would have appreciated David's comment that putting government in charge of commons was like placing the fox in control of the chicken coop. It is so sad that David is no longer with us, but his words are; these books are full of insight and enjoyment. I hope his laughter and enlightenment spread far and wide through new readers as well as those of us familiar with his thoughts already.”--Derek Wall, author of Economics After Capitalism and the forthcoming Elinor Ostrom’s Rules for Radicals“For me originality, passion, commitment, and sincerity are the words which describe David Fleming. All these qualities are present in his writing. His lifelong championing of Tradable Energy Quotas, one of the very few instruments which promote sustainable consumption in a progressive rather than regressive way thereby combining environmental gain with a simultaneous transfer of resources from richer to poorer people, propels him to an honoured place in the pantheon of green campaigners.”--Tim Yeo, former UK Minister for the Environment and Chair of the House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Select Committee“Our current public discourse on such problems as resource depletion, climate change, and the economy is often hopelessly muddled; this book brings light and transparency. David Fleming didn’t tell us what to think but rather how to avoid cognitive fallacies that masquerade as reason. Lean Logic is an instant classic that was many years in the making, and it should be essential reading for environmentalists, economists, policy makers, and anyone who wants greater clarity in understanding the most important issues of our time.”--Richard Heinberg, senior fellow, Post Carbon Institute“David Fleming gives a remarkable overview of our present situation and of possible future scenarios. His writing is clear, witty, insightful, and wise. Lean Logic is a delight to dip into, and every time I do so I feel refreshed. It is a work of genius.”--Rupert Sheldrake, PhD, author of The Science Delusion

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Book SynopsisThought the science of the future was all hoverboards and space travel? Think again. Every day, scientists come up with the ingenious solutions and surprising discoveries that will define our future. So here, Jim Al-Khalili and his crack team of experts bin the crystal ball and use cutting-edge science to get a glimpse of what's in store. From whether teleportation is really possible (spoiler: it is), to what we'll do if artificial intelligence takes over, What's Next? takes on the big questions. And along the way, it'll answer questions like: Will we find a cure to all diseases? An answer to climate change? Will bionics make us into superheroes? Touching on everything from genetics to transport, and nanotechnology to teleportation, What's Next? is a fascinating, fun and informative look at what's in store for the human race.Trade ReviewA collection of mind-boggling essays that are just the thing for firing up your brain cells * Saga *Praise for Aliens: 'A brilliantly sharp collection * Observer *[Aliens] goes far beyond the what and the where and the when of extraterrestrial-hunting to the biggest conundrum of all: why bother? ... This book is always lucid and sometimes unexpectedly beautiful * The Times *With a handsome cover sprinkled with green glitter, and pages wittily edged in matching green, this is an ideal stocking-filler for keen alien-fanciers * Daily Mail *Accessible and fun ... an utterly fascinating glimpse into all our potential futures -- Doug Johnstone * Big Issue *

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Book SynopsisIn the late 1960s the world was faced with impending disaster: the height of the Cold War, the end of oil, and the decline of great cities throughout the world. Out of this crisis came a new generation of thinkers, designers and engineers who hoped to build a better future, influenced by visions of geodesic domes, walking cities, and a meaningful connection with nature. In this brilliant work of cultural history, architect Douglas Murphy traces the lost archeology of the present-day through the works of thinkers and designers such as Buckminster Fuller, the ecological pioneer Stewart Brand, the Archigram architects who envisioned the Plug-In City in the '60s, as well as co-operatives in Vienna, communes in the Californian desert, and protesters on the streets of Paris. In this mind-bending account of the last avant garde, we see not just the source of our current problems but also some powerful alternative futures.Trade ReviewNo one warns you that when you get old eras that you lived through are, to the next generation, history. And it is salutory to have one of the wilder fringes of that history recounted with the acuity, sympathy and fluency Douglas Murphy brings to it. The cast is extraordinary: oddballs, philosophers, seers-and a few frauds. -- Jonathan MeadesIn Last Futures, such one-time commonplaces as three day weeks, the elimination of labour, geodesic domes, walking cities, space colonies and industrialised housing are removed from dimwitted 'where's my jetpack' nostalgia and put back into history. In so doing, Douglas Murphy performs the useful service of making clear when the ideas of the unrealised futures of the 1960s and 1970s were stupid and wasteful, and when they were exceptionally smart-serious solutions to problems we still haven't solved, and problems we seem intent on making considerably worse. Last Futures is the Silent Running to contemporary architecture's The Fountainhead. -- Owen Hatherley, author of Landscapes of CommunismA fluent, chronological narrative in which oddities from the recent past form sequences in an unfolding drama . Murphy deploys his storytelling with great effect. * Architecture Today *Murphy tells the story of this counter-revolution pithily and well . A fresh and haunting way of explaining what happened to the radical '60s and '70s as a whole, in Murphy's view quite possibly the last chance the west had of creating a decent and environmentally sustainable society. -- Andy Beckett * Guardian *Provocative and compelling. * Macleans *Murphy's chief virtue is the faculty with which he connects the dots between various, seemingly unconnected developments in architecture and theory with the ecological, financial, and military crises of an earlier era, holding a mirror onto our own anxious epoch of globalized precarity labor and anthropogenic climate change. -- Anna Khachiyan * Metropolis *Murphy outlines both some well known and some intriguingly novel suggestions for why the enthusiasm for 'omni-infrastructural' utopian frames went away.[Last Futures's] motley quality is in no way a fault of Murphy's approach, but rather a real advantage of his method as a cultural historian. A strength of Murphy's book is that he depicts both the general outlines and some of the juiciest details of these complex historical moments without distilling them into a deceptively linear chronology or a progression of mere styles. -- David Wittenberg * Los Angeles Review of Books *Last Futures is to the end of mid century experimentalism what the Zapruder film is to the death of Kennedy: a weird and gripping replay, full of period grain, each frame posing questions about whether things could have been played our differently. * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisHow do you predict something that has never happened before? There's a useful calculation being employed by Wall Street, Silicon Valley and maths professors all over the world, and it predicts that the human species will become extinct in 760 years. Unfortunately, there is disagreement over how to apply the formula, and some argue that we might only have twenty years left. Originally devised by British clergyman Thomas Bayes, the theorem languished in obscurity for two hundred years before being resurrected as the lynchpin of the digital economy. With brief detours into archaeology, philology, and overdue library books, William Poundstone explains how we can use it to predict pretty much anything. What is the chance that there are multiple universes? How long will Hamilton run? Will the US stock market continue to perform as well this century as it has for the last hundred years? And are we really all doomed?Trade Review‘Thoroughly entertaining reading and it’s not hard to foresee a future in which readers everywhere will find it impossible to put down.’ * E&T Magazine *‘a fun and energetic romp through a mishmash of philosophical and cosmological ideas… an engagingly written foray.’ * The Inquisitive Biologist *‘A fascinating sweep through so many interesting and important insights into how we can understand our future, masterfully knitted together.’ -- Bobby Duffy, author of The Perils of Perception‘One of the best science writers of our time has taken on one of the most interesting and important subjects of all time – how to predict the future under great uncertainty… A gripping read.’ -- Michael Shermer, author of Heavens on Earth‘A very interesting and definitive book on this subject.’ -- J. Richard Gott, astrophysicist and author of The Cosmic Web

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Book SynopsisIf there is anything that distinguishes us from animals, it is our ability to understand that such a thing as the future exists and our willingness to try and look into it. But how have people through the ages gone about making predictions? What were their underlying assumptions, and what methods did they use? Have increased computer power and the newest algorithms improved our success in anticipating the future, or are we still only as good (or as bad) at it as our ancestors? From the ancients watching the flight of birds to the murky activities of Google and Facebook today, Seeing into the Future gives us an insight into the past, present and future of prediction.Trade Review"What will the weather be like tomorrow, next week, next year? Will there be another war, famine, global pandemic? Will the stock market rise or fall? In Seeing into the Future, military historian and theorist Martin van Creveld provides an overview of some of the myriad methods humans have devised over the millennia to foretell what is to come, from the ancients’ use of prophecy and astrology to today’s mathematical algorithms. In addition to delving into when, where, why, and how those techniques originated, he discusses such questions as why prediction is so difficult, whether modern humans are any better at making predictions than our ancestors were, and whether knowing the future is a good thing." * Physics Today *"Van Creveld summarizes this book by considering just how accurate these models can be, and indeed how accurate they should be. Any real ability to foresee the future is, he suggests, likely to be just as dangerous as past rulers thought they would be when they sentenced prophets and mystics to the flames or the axe! . . . This is an interesting book on a topic which we have all pondered at some time, and provides a great deal of food for thought." * Magonia Review of Books *"Creveld covers a broad range, from tribal shamans to Greek sibyls, Israeli prophets, the Prophet Muhammed, Hildegard of Bingen, Nostradamus, and contemporary mediums. In addition, Creveld describes such systematic approaches to prediction as omens, numerology, and the Bible and looks at the contemporary use of mathematical models, artificial intelligence, war games, algorithms, and the Delphi method, which solicits predictions from a number of people, all using their preferred methods for assessing the future. . . . Recommended." * Choice *"Creveld’s new book, Seeing into the Future, examines the principal methods that have been used for looking into the future throughout history. . . . Creveld’s original emphasis on the historical methods of prediction enriches previous scholarship. The book explores a number of predictive methods prevailing over time: speculation, deduction, extrapolation, polling, and modelling. . . . Creveld’s historical overview could have modified Abraham Lincoln’s aphorism: the best way to predict your future is to engineer it." * Technology and Culture Journal *"Martin van Creveld’s Seeing into the Future is a widely informed and deeply thoughtful examination of a critical area of human concern. Anyone seeking insight into the futurology and forecasting, with its manifold involvements in religion, sociology, science, and practical affairs will profit from this instructive and insightful work." -- Nicholas Rescher, distinguished professor of philosophy, University of PittsburghTable of ContentsPart I: A Mysterious Journey 1 A Villain of a Magician 2 In the Name of the Lord 3 Oracles, Pythias and Sibyls 4 A Dream to Remember 5 Consulting the Dead Part II: Be Sober and Reasonable 6 Searching the Heavens 7 Clear and Manifest 8 On Birds, Livers and Sacrifices 9 The Magic of Numbers 10 Decoding the Bible Part III: Enter Modernity 11 From Patterns to Cycles 12 With Hegel on the Brain 13 Ask, and You'll Be Answered 14 The Most Powerful Tools 15 War Games Here, War Games There Part IV: The Lord of the Universe 16 Looking Backward 17 Why is Prediction So Difficult? 18 Is Our Game Improving? 19 A World Without Uncertainty? References Further Reading Acknowledgements

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Book Synopsis'David Christian's approach to understanding history can help all of us learn to prepare for the future' - Bill GatesA user's guide to the future: from the algorithms in DNA to why time is like a cocktail glass, interstellar migrations, transhumanism, the fate of the galaxy, and the last black hole...Every second of our lives - whether we're looking both ways before crossing the street, celebrating the birth of a baby, or moving to a new city - we must cope with an unknowable future by telling stories about what will happen next. Where is the future, the place where we set those stories? Can we trust our future stories? And what sort of futures do they show us?David Christian, historian and bestselling author of Origin Story, is renowned for pioneering the emerging discipline of Big History, which surveys the whole of the past. But with Future Stories, he casts his sharp analytical eye forward, offering an introduction to the strange world of the future, and a guide to what we think we know about it at all scales, from the predictive mechanisms of single-celled organisms and tomato plants to the merging of colossal galaxies billions of years from now.Drawing together science, history and philosophy from a huge range of places and times, Christian explores how we prepare for uncertain futures, including the future of human evolution, artificial intelligence, interstellar travel, and more. By linking the study of the past much more closely to the study of the future, we can begin to imagine what the world will look like in the next hundred years and consider solutions to the biggest challenges facing us all.Trade ReviewDavid Christian's approach to understanding history can help all of us learn to prepare for the future that lies ahead and the big challenges facing humanity. -- Bill GatesIn this erudite and immersive study, Big History Project cofounder Christian (Origin Story) examines the science and history of "future thinking" and sketches what the distant future might look like... Christian lucidly explains complex scientific, philosophical, and historical concepts. The result is a stimulating look ahead. * Publisher's Weekly *Future Stories is simultaneously entertaining and sobering, and is recommended reading for anyone who may be curious about what's ahead of us. * Shelf Awareness *A fascinating journey... reminiscent of Peter Godfrey-Smith's writings on the octopus... Future Stories is rich with insights... Most dangerous threats arise from technological and economic overreach... Future Stories not only shows how we have approached such choices through history - it helps us to understand the odds. * New Scientist *

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Book SynopsisWe live in powerful times. A rolling crisis that is both real (there are consequences), conceptual (horribly complex to grasp in its multiple dimensions)and existential (shaking the inner foundations of our worlds).These emergencies are not distinct: they are all connected and now hunt in packs. But it is the existential emergency, the human consequences of living in powerful times, that now dominates the scene. That is the subject of this booklet. For it is in the boundless potential of the human system, the ways in which we choose to live our lives in patterns of relationship with other lives, that our hopes for recovery and renewal ultimately lie.''Spaces for Growth'' is both a manual and a rallying call. It explores the settings and the environments we need to discover and to create, as hosts and guides, to enable individuals, groups, organisations, communities, institutions, human beings in all formations to expand, to develop and to grow. In this way we will, together, rise to the occasion.

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Book SynopsisExamines influential factors such as the demographic, political, economic and technological changes, which will affect the tourism, hospitality and events industries. Fully updated and revised, it explores how these changes impact upon future international tourism development, generating plausible ideas and identifying future trends.

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Book SynopsisRenowned political theorist and author proposes a bold new economic paradigm based on the value of sustainability. The Wealth of Nature proposes a new model of economics based on the integral value of ecology.Building on the foundations of E.F. Schumacher''s revolutionary economics as if people mattered, this book examines the true cost of confusing money with wealth.By analyzing the mistakes of contemporary economics, it shows how an economy centered on natural capitalthe raw materials that support human lifecan move our society toward a more productive relationship with the planet that sustains us all.The Wealth of Nature suggests public policy initiatives and personal choices that can help alleviate the economic impact of peak oil. These strategies must address not only financial concerns, but the issues of resource depletion and pollution.Profoundly insightful and impeccably argued, this book is required reading for anyone interested in the intersection of the environment and the economy as we enter the twilight of the Age of Abundance.

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Book SynopsisHave you ever wondered how you can research the future? Trend research is a powerful method to detect and recognise change at an early stage. This DIY guide has been developed to show you the way in the trend research cycle. It will help you to find direction and which corners to take when you are scanning, analysing and applying the trends for any type of challenge or topic. This guide is to be used in combination with the book 'How to Research Trends'. You can use it to challenge yourself or your team to ‘learn-by-doing’. For easy usage, the guide follows the same structure as the book and it has the same colour coding and signage navigation. Don’t just read 'How to Research Trends', get yourself into the action mode! The guide is not linear, it does not have to be followed step-by-step in a rigid manner. You can create your own itinerary. Use it whenever you feel you the need for guidance or inspiration.

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Book SynopsisRavi Menon is the Institute of Policy Studies' 9th S R Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore. This book is an edited collection of his four IPS-Nathan Lectures, delivered in July 2021, and includes highlights of his question-and-answer segments with our virtual audience.Mr Menon examines how Singapore will come under pressure from four tectonic shifts altering the global landscape. Although still relevant, Singapore's guiding ethos of adaptation, meritocracy, and pragmatism may no longer be sufficient. To secure our future, we will need more innovation, inclusion, and inspiration. What does an innovative economy look like? What does it take to create a more inclusive society? What does it mean to be an inspiring nation? How does it all hold together in a refreshed Singapore Synthesis?The IPS-Nathan Lecture series was launched in 2014 as part of the S R Nathan Fellowship for the Study of Singapore. It seeks to advance public understanding and discussion of issues of critical national interest for Singapore.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the Mary Douglas Prize, Culture Section of the American Sociological Association""Dreams of a Lifetime belongs to a particular shelf, one that holds those books that utilize sociology seriously to best capture the pulse of the United States at a particular juncture in time. In this tradition, one can find treatises about loneliness (Riesman, Slater), disconnection (Putnam, Sennett), how people think and feel (Bellah et al.), the life of those on the lower ladders of this society (Sennett and Cobb, Liebow, and more recently Desmond as well as Horschild). A lot has changed since some of these books were published. . . but the impetus remains the same: to explain to ourselves who we are at a particular juncture in time, in a jargon free, yet sociologically informed way."---Claudio E. Benzecry, Sociological Forum

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Book SynopsisPredicting the shape of our future populations is vital for installing the infrastructure, welfare, and provisions necessary for society to survive. There are many opportunities and challenges that will come with the changes in our populations over the 21st century. In this new addition to the 21st Century Challenges series, Sarah Harper works to dispel myths such as the fear of unstoppable global growth resulting in a population explosion, or that climate change will lead to the mass movement of environmental refugees; and instead considers the future shape of our populations in light of demographic trends in fertility, mortality, and migration, and their national and global impact.How Population Change Will Transform Our World looks at population trends by region to highlight the key issues facing us in the coming decades, including the demographic inertia in Europe, demographic dividend in Asia, high fertility and mortality in Africa, the youth bulge in the Middle East, and the balancing act of migration in the Americas. Harper concludes with an analysis of global challenges we must plan for such as the impact of climate change and urbanization, and the difficulty of feeding 10 billion people, and considers ways in which we can prepare for, and mitigate against, these challenges.Trade ReviewAn excellent, succinct guide. * Robert Mayhew, Literary Review *... provides a powerful reminder that debates over immigrations, social welfare, and inequality will intensify in the decades ahead. * Foreign Affairs *Global Change is a major concern of the Martin Institute, and this book is a solid contribution in that area. It presents a comprehensive and balanced treatment of global demography ... The text is [...] enlivened by brief narratives on the life experiences and aspirations of young persons in the various regions. * L. MacK, Population and Development Review *... this paperback dates little from the hardback three years ago: the issues are still germane and the ground Harper covers still hugely relevant. * Jonathan Cowie, Concatenation *Table of Contents1: The Age Narrative2: How Did We Get Here?3: The Grey Burden4: Youth: Peril or Dividend?5: Too Many Children?6: Our Future SelvesAfterwordAppendicesNotes and ReferencesBibliography

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