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The Future: A User’s Guide
A guide for both everyday readers and policymakers on using creativity and knowledge to imagine the best, prepare for the worst and live with surprise.
Widespread pessimism and fear of the future are everywhere. With times to come often seeming threatening and uncertain, this book offers new perspectives and fresh ways of thinking. Futurologist Florence Gaub shows that everyone can influence what lies ahead--in their personal or professional life, or in society. Her ideas are for those who refuse to be paralysed by fear, instead seeing the future as a space full of possibilities.
Gaub explores how humanity's visions of tomorrow have changed throughout history; she explains what the future is, how it works, what disruptions may arise and how to fix them. She draws on insights from neuroscience, psychology and philosophy to show how humans conceive and construct the future, as individuals and as a society.
A bestseller in Germany, this smart, snappy handbook of ideas is an antidote to passive fatalism. It challenges our lack of faith in our own ability to shape what is to come, or how it will affect our lives. After all, we're the only beings who can imagine the future in such detail that we can actually create it. Gaub is a brilliant guide to rediscovering that gift.
Widespread pessimism and fear of the future are everywhere. With times to come often seeming threatening and uncertain, this book offers new perspectives and fresh ways of thinking. Futurologist Florence Gaub shows that everyone can influence what lies ahead--in their personal or professional life, or in society. Her ideas are for those who refuse to be paralysed by fear, instead seeing the future as a space full of possibilities.
Gaub explores how humanity's visions of tomorrow have changed throughout history; she explains what the future is, how it works, what disruptions may arise and how to fix them. She draws on insights from neuroscience, psychology and philosophy to show how humans conceive and construct the future, as individuals and as a society.
A bestseller in Germany, this smart, snappy handbook of ideas is an antidote to passive fatalism. It challenges our lack of faith in our own ability to shape what is to come, or how it will affect our lives. After all, we're the only beings who can imagine the future in such detail that we can actually create it. Gaub is a brilliant guide to rediscovering that gift.
179 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2026
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May 31, 2026
This is a framework, rather than a new set of insights. But given that, it is a worthwhile read. The first part brings together our understanding of why humans think ahead, and what the difference is between planning and dreaming. It could emphasise the importance of potential among humans even more, after all, that is our super power. We can dream of what does not yet exist and bring it about. No mean feat.
The next question is, who gets to decide and control what humans bring about? And that is the anxiety part of the book. What do we do when other humans unilaterally unleash unpleasant and unwarranted evil on our earth? How do we navigate that future?
The best thing about this book is the recognition it gives to the effort, mental and emotional, of thinking ahead. It is not just worrying, instead, envisioning scenarios is a subtle and taxing mental activity and one which we should value. And use together.
The next question is, who gets to decide and control what humans bring about? And that is the anxiety part of the book. What do we do when other humans unilaterally unleash unpleasant and unwarranted evil on our earth? How do we navigate that future?
The best thing about this book is the recognition it gives to the effort, mental and emotional, of thinking ahead. It is not just worrying, instead, envisioning scenarios is a subtle and taxing mental activity and one which we should value. And use together.
Displaying 1 of 1 review