25 Things You Need To Know About The Future

by Christopher Barnatt

Will future life consist of designer babies and intelligent robot servants, or will we be consigned to shortages of oil and other natural resources? Outlining the challenges and technologies that will shape our futures, this book examines what the next few decades have in hold.

417 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Christopher Barnatt is an author, futurist, and Associate Professor of Computing & Future Studies in Nottingham University Business School. He runs the websites www.explainingthefuture.com and www.explainingcomputers.com, as well as their YouTube channels at www.youtube.com/explainingthefuture and www.youtube.com/explainingcomputers

Reviews

[Derrick Trimble · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've always been intrigued about futurism and the prospects of whats-around-the-corner. When I flipped through the pages of this title, I thought it would be quite interesting. While I appreciate Barnatt's stern warnings regarding peak oil, peak water, climate change, and resource depletion as the major influences of a dire 2050, I think it is the weight of that analysis that diminishes the prospects of a viable solution.

Despite decades of harbinger messages from the scientific, economic, and social sustainability camps the demand of the urgent, the greedy, and the well-intentioned continue to postpone meaningful change. Barnatt glosses over the human element of widespread conflict that will be ignited and fueled by the increase of scarcity. I suppose an honest analysis of that condition as related to the precipitating conditions he cites, would be even harder to read let alone implement.

A hard headed race are we humans. Seems as a whole we only move toward change when faced by trauma. The top thing of the 25 things we need to know about the future are not scarcity, technology, or new discoveries, but how and if a significant portion of the 7+ billion on the planet can evolve socially to commit to and sustain meaningful change.

[Kerry Rodgers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful!!! Let's see these topics-form a comprehension and build better futures.yes-I agree with the first page! A long life span is what I would like for certain also. "feel free not to waste my time" inorganic life needs clear understanding so why didn't you mention Nature's Preservation at all?!! Consciousness effects me as I am one to be phoning lifeline due to circumstance. So "every physical object is made from atoms" well that described:does that mean that every single ignorant thing is dispelled atoms??? I am halfway through your book not really wanting to hear about genetics if they can just go be apt somewhere. I think you need a follow up book about understanding atoms and what they are doing??? Are they in time or are they just apt?!! Sustaining a better ecological future seems more apparent to me! I have looked over the book and think it is excellent!
I have obtained this book from the library locally where I am regularly.

[Cem Yüksel · Rating 4 out of 5]

25 madde diye başlayınca , kulağa klasik bir kaç maddede başarı ,Kilo verme , para kazanma kitapları gibi gelse de , başlıklar doğru ve okunmaya değer.

[Scream Chaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

让人们都好好的为未来考虑一下,值得大众科普呀,都是作者精选的科学家探讨的热点话题,嗯各行各业的界限在未来也许会模糊,但是不希望大家对未来世界也迷迷糊糊,只知道个人享乐。挺好一本书,希望出点少儿插图版啥的,从娃娃抓起

[Phillip Berrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a long, but a good read.

Not a lot here that I didn't already know, but it contains lots of nice references that I'll probably use when I get around to working on that near future science fiction story I'm planning to write.

Speaking of which, I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who wants to write near future science fiction based on the real world.

Also, it would be a good read for someone who's interested in what the near future might bring.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting examination of the imminent future by "futurologist" Christopher Barnatt. Some of the ideas explored - such as 3D printing of replacement organs - might seem as though they are from science fiction, but Barnatt successfully predicted social networking and online commerce more than 20 years ago.

Equal parts inspiring and depressing, well worth a read for anyone interested or concerned about how life will be 10, 20, 50 or 100 years in the future.

[Hamza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Challenges and Technologies of the future.

[Joe Nerdan · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice content, writing could be a little bit better but is more than readable