The Dictionary of the Future: The Words, Terms and Trends That Define the Way We'll Live, Work and Talk

by Faith Popcorn, Adam Hanft

In Dictionary of the Future , authors Faith Popcorn and Adam Hanft provide a fascinating "speak preview" of the words and terms that capture tomorrow's innovations and forces of DNA'd -- being bounced from a relationship because your genes don't measure up. Karaoke Managers -- those who get ahead by lip-synching the wisdom of others. Mannies -- male nannies, who are growing in numbers. Admirenvy -- the common condition of admiring something -- or someone -- and being envious at the same time. Pharmacogenomics -- the process of creating customized prescription drugs. Our revved-up world isn't just changing faster than ever before, it's creating new words and new language at breakneck speed. Now, Faith Popcorn, the futurist and trend authority who is known as the Nostradamus of marketing -- and Adam Hanft, author, business strategist and media critic -- have created the first-ever Dictionary of the Future a thought-provoking, entertaining and richly informative collection of hundreds of new, emerging and just-invented words and terms. While traditional dictionaries wait for language to achieve familiarity, Dictionary of the Future is there first, enabling readers to identify the latest trends across all dimensions of the culture. Turn its pages and you see the future taking shape, word by word, idea by idea. Organized by familiar categories such as the arts, corporate America, education, health and technology -- and by provocative rubrics such as "New Behaviors" and "New Structures" -- Dictionary of the Future includes newly minted language such Yogurt Cities -- places with "active cultures" where baby boomers will retire. Chimeroplasty -- molecular messengers that will repair damaged genes. Free-Range Children -- new generation of kids raised without over-programming. Dictionary of the Future is an extraordinary advance look at tomorrow. More than fascinating reading, more than a treat for anyone who loves words, it's filled with valuable insights that can change the way you think about your business, your career, your health and, ok yes, the world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference

414 pages, Hardcover

First published December 12, 2001

Reviews

[Jerry Edward Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the beginning of the 20th century, Faith Popcorn and Adam Hanft could rightly note that there are many and diverse dictionaries available to the reader but none that tried to show the growth and shape of the words of the future. The co-editorial compilers described their effort at "herd[ing] together those words and phrases that are just beginning their long march to acceptance by traditional dictionaries". It is now more than twenty years after the book's publication. How well has the book's twin ambitions fared? A thorough review demonstrates that some of the predicted words and word usages have come about. But not in every case. For example, the predicted use of "downloading" on page 161 speaks in terms of such excess computer activity as to result in the crashing of one's computer. We do today, instead, sense a more or less routine computer procedure. On the same page is the descriptive phrase of "cold water historian". This person may be a cynic, a skeptic, a true denier. But no usage of that phrase as the editors anticipated is to be found in print or on the internet. At least none that I can locate. That's probably the best evaluation of this book. It is a fascinating account of how our language may develop after 2001. But, the book's predictions can be challenged page-after-page. It is still, despite any such failing, a worthwhile book to read after all these years.

[Michael Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m a dictionary junkie, especially those that delve into etymologies and usages. Who better to compile a speculative dictionary of terms on the edge of societal evolution than Popcorn -- whose name I’ve always loved. As a marketing guru, she has a pretty good record -- not perfect, but good -- of identifying up-and-coming trends; The Popcorn Report, now more than a decade old, is still a valuable look at a likely future. And there are any number of interesting trends identified in this volume -- like “wind farms” and “the death divide” and “starter castles” -- that have solidified just in the past few years. Though the actual pop phrases may have turned out differently, like “McMansions” instead of the third example above. Still, this book isn’t as fascinating as it ought to be. It’s rather dry and nerveless with very little of Popcorn’s usual brio.

[Denim · Rating 2 out of 5]

COOL FUTURE WORDS