The Rough Guide to The Future (Rough Guide Reference) by Jon Turney

by Jon Turney

Find the future now with 50 predictions in The Rough Guide to the Future . Wondering what's really in store for the human race? Is it nanotechnology and gene enhancements, solar power, and carbon capture? Or oil shocks, water wars, food shortages, and mass extinction? The Rough Guide to the Future cuts a clear path through the jungle of scientific research and political debate, steering you around the prophets of doom and the utopian visionaries, to take you on a tour of the likeliest possibilities for the rest of this century — and beyond. It covers 50 predictions from the world's leading futurologists and chronicles predictions from the past along with visions of the future. You'll find out where we go from here with The Rough Guide to the Future .

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Futurism

Paperback

First published November 1, 2010

About the author

Science writer

Reviews

[Kim Zinkowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

B-. Resource rich.

[Am Y · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting something quite different, since this book is part of the "Rough Guide" series, and most of their books are about travel and are presented in a format and writing style completely different from this one.

This book is laid out like a textbook, but didn't feel "textbooky" perhaps due to the compact size, colour scheme, many "info boxes" and such. It was quite comprehensive in coverage, from everything to human population to food to water to energy and a lot more.

The only problem is that content becomes dated very fast. Certain topics the book presents as "predictions", we already know will become fact from the way things are progressing now. Also, if you are a regular reader of news, current affairs, science & tech, finance, et al, there is little this book can tell you that you wouldn't already know from articles you would have read and opinion pieces by experts and other intellectuals.

Still, I found it a good compilation and worthy read, especially if you want to have "everything in one place", and not have to refer to research and news articles over the past 10-year period to come up with the conclusions this book does.

[Freda Mans-Labianca · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm positive some one, some where, will disagree, but I was so bored by this book. It was almost painful how textbook-like it was. Now when you think about that, would you go back and read your history textbook from high school? Probably not. That's exactly what it felt like for me reading this.
The content was another story.
It was decent, relevant and even educational, but like I said, the way it was laid out is hard to get past.

[Catherine]

What I did read was very interesting and a good guide to predicting the future. Sadly I bought this book as I thought it was about the future - and someone had already done the predicting work for me.

[Donatas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some chapters are good and thought-providing, but dry and magazine-like in general ==> average read except for a few good thoughts about development of society and the world