The future is not what it used to be. In this volatile era, with the world changing rapidly, people are more curious than ever to know what lies ahead.
Will relentless consumerism end up destroying our planet? Or can science and technology allow us to innovate our way out of trouble? Perhaps a greater social consciousness and community-based living will take over — or, conversely, the competition for limited resources may result in everyone fighting for themselves.
Drawing on these four possible futures, Richard Watson and Oliver Freeman invite us to examine critically the risks and opportunities to come. They discuss the key factors, trends, critical uncertainties, and wildcards that will shape the future, guiding us to a greater awareness of long-term problems and possible solutions — and empowering us not only to adapt to what might happen, but also to shape our future and to generate change.
It’s impossible to know for certain what the future holds, but we can remove some of its surprises by engaging in a meaningful debate about the choices we face now. This book shows us how.
‘Thought-provoking glimpses into the future of humankind, with practical advice for uncovering and evaluating the most realistic visions of that future.’
Curt Stager, author of Deep Future: the next 100,000 years of life on Earth
‘A rich, provocative, imaginative, and rigorous guide to thinking about the future’
Peter Schwartz, futurist and co-founder of the Global Business Network
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‘Gaze into this crystal ball.’
Qantas magazine
‘Reads like a slick business lecture but also draws on such diverse sources as E.M. Forster and Blaise Pascal.’
The Age
‘An intelligent and thought-provoking read’
Yen
‘The new classic of scenario planning’
Adam Kahane, director of Reos Partners, author of Solving Tough Problems, Power and Love, and Collaborating with the Enemy
‘The scenarios are richly described and I suspect they will challenge your mental model of the world in 2040 … FutureVision caused me to ponder my own views of the future … a first-class example of solid foresight work.’
Andy Hines, Program Coordinator at the University of Houston’s Graduate Program in Foresight
