What do you think?
Rate this book
Visions of the Future
"This is an exceedingly long short book, stretching at least fifty thousand years into the past and who knows how many into the future." So begins Visions of the Future, the prophetic new book by eminent economist Robert Heilbroner. Heilbroner's basic premise is stunning in its elegant simplicity. He contends that throughout all of human history, despite the huge gulf in social organization, technological development, and cultural achievement that divides us from the earliest known traces of homo sapiens, there have really only been three distinct ways of looking at the future.
During a period Heilbroner refers to simply as the Distant Past, stretching from prehistory to the appearance of modern nation-states in seventeenth century Europe, there was no notion of a future measurably and materially different from the present or the past. From the Stone Age to the Bronze, Mesopotamia and Egypt to Greece and Rome, and throughout the Middle Ages, a continuum of cultures and civilizations shared one defining expectation--the absence of any expectation of material progress for the great masses of people.
Heilbroner maintains that it was not until the first stirrings of the period he refers to as Yesterday, spanning from roughly 1700 to 1950, that the future entered into human consciousness as a great beckoning force. Capitalism, continually reinvigorated by the seemingly endless forward march of science and an evolving sense of democracy, appeared to promise all levels of society some expectation of a future at least somewhat better than the past. It was this unwavering faith in the superiority of the future that separated Yesterday from the age we have now entered, that of Today. While we are still driven towards tomorrow by the same forces that determined the recent past, the lessons of Hiroshima and Chernobyl, the chaos in the former Soviet Union, the stagnation of the West, and the anarchic rage unleashed in our inner cities and in hot spots around the globe have brought on a palpable anxiety that is quite apart from both the resignation of the Distant Past or the bright optimism of Yesterday.
In a brilliant conclusion drawing together the threat of nuclear blackmail, global warming and the growing commodification of life represented by video games, voice mail, and VCRs, Visions of the Future issues a call to face the challenges of the twenty-first century with a new resolve strengthened by the inspiration of our collective past.
During a period Heilbroner refers to simply as the Distant Past, stretching from prehistory to the appearance of modern nation-states in seventeenth century Europe, there was no notion of a future measurably and materially different from the present or the past. From the Stone Age to the Bronze, Mesopotamia and Egypt to Greece and Rome, and throughout the Middle Ages, a continuum of cultures and civilizations shared one defining expectation--the absence of any expectation of material progress for the great masses of people.
Heilbroner maintains that it was not until the first stirrings of the period he refers to as Yesterday, spanning from roughly 1700 to 1950, that the future entered into human consciousness as a great beckoning force. Capitalism, continually reinvigorated by the seemingly endless forward march of science and an evolving sense of democracy, appeared to promise all levels of society some expectation of a future at least somewhat better than the past. It was this unwavering faith in the superiority of the future that separated Yesterday from the age we have now entered, that of Today. While we are still driven towards tomorrow by the same forces that determined the recent past, the lessons of Hiroshima and Chernobyl, the chaos in the former Soviet Union, the stagnation of the West, and the anarchic rage unleashed in our inner cities and in hot spots around the globe have brought on a palpable anxiety that is quite apart from both the resignation of the Distant Past or the bright optimism of Yesterday.
In a brilliant conclusion drawing together the threat of nuclear blackmail, global warming and the growing commodification of life represented by video games, voice mail, and VCRs, Visions of the Future issues a call to face the challenges of the twenty-first century with a new resolve strengthened by the inspiration of our collective past.
- GenresHistory
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
About the author
Robert L. Heilbroner
171 books120 followersRobert L. Heilbroner (March 24, 1919 – January 4, 2005) was an American economist and historian of economic thought. The author of some twenty books, Heilbroner was best known for The Worldly Philosophers, a survey of the lives and contributions of famous economists, notably Adam Smith, Karl Marx, and John Maynard Keynes.
Written in 1953, The Worldly Philosophers has sold nearly four million copies—the second-best-selling economics text of all time. The seventh edition of the book, published in 1999, included a new final chapter entitled "The End of Worldly Philosophy?", which included both a grim view on the current state of economics as well as a hopeful vision for a "reborn worldly philosophy" that incorporated social aspects of capitalism.
Although a highly unconventional economist, who regarded himself as more of a social theorist and "worldly philosopher" (philosopher pre-occupied with "worldly" affairs, such as economic structures), and who tended to integrate the disciplines of history, economics and philosophy, Heilbroner was nevertheless recognized by his peers as a prominent economist. He was elected Vice President of the American Economic Association in 1972.
He also came up with a way of classifying economies, as either Traditional (primarily agriculturally-based, perhaps subsistence economy), Command (centrally planned economy, often involving the state), Market (capitalism), or Mixed.
He was a trustee of the Economists for Peace and Security.
Heilbroner died on January 4, 2005 in New York, NY at the age of 85.
Written in 1953, The Worldly Philosophers has sold nearly four million copies—the second-best-selling economics text of all time. The seventh edition of the book, published in 1999, included a new final chapter entitled "The End of Worldly Philosophy?", which included both a grim view on the current state of economics as well as a hopeful vision for a "reborn worldly philosophy" that incorporated social aspects of capitalism.
Although a highly unconventional economist, who regarded himself as more of a social theorist and "worldly philosopher" (philosopher pre-occupied with "worldly" affairs, such as economic structures), and who tended to integrate the disciplines of history, economics and philosophy, Heilbroner was nevertheless recognized by his peers as a prominent economist. He was elected Vice President of the American Economic Association in 1972.
He also came up with a way of classifying economies, as either Traditional (primarily agriculturally-based, perhaps subsistence economy), Command (centrally planned economy, often involving the state), Market (capitalism), or Mixed.
He was a trustee of the Economists for Peace and Security.
Heilbroner died on January 4, 2005 in New York, NY at the age of 85.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
October 4, 2026
Picked this book up at a local used book sale. I enjoyed The Worldly Philosophers way back when, so thought this might be interesting.
Almost a proto-Sapiens-like view of history and the future. Ambitious! I personally liked Sapiens a bit better—it’s a much easier read—but there is a ton of juice in here.
Heilbroner breaks history into three buckets + the future.
DISTANT PAST — the first 99% of human existence. Generally static and unchanging. People didn’t think much about the future because it was largely beyond their control.
Two interesting sub-categories: pre-agriculture — no meaningful property rights, and therefore no poverty as we understand it. Poverty is partly a social status. Post-agriculture — agriculture leads to inequality. The organization required to build big things requires hierarchy. Civilization is essentially dependent on “caging” individuals: people lose direct access to sustenance and become servants/workers within larger systems. Can be dehumanizing.
YESTERDAY — generally, the theme is progress. Science and technology. Capitalism and the accumulation of capital. Political will through participatory government. But religion takes a back seat, and in some sense this erodes introspection and probing of the inner life.
TODAY — the theme is anxiety/apprehension. Science and technology are no longer viewed as universally good. What about capacity to destroy? What do they do to the quality and quantity of work? Capitalism brings increasing inequality. The global economy is increasingly difficult for governments to manage for the common good. Government has less control over private economic activity.
TOMORROW — can science and technology be bounded so they don’t suck engagement out of nature and one another? What happens with the commodification of life? Historically, new technology destroys some jobs but creates new industries. What if that stops? Economic displacement becomes a much bigger problem.
An interesting point: capitalism doesn't specify what level of inequality allows for its own survival.
Heilbroner suggests something like a new New Deal: employment-generating public projects—rebuilding inner cities, communities, infrastructure, etc. I love this idea, although it probably takes a major shock for something like this to happen.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO:
1. Build a secure terrestrial base for life—take care of the planet and eliminate gaping inequality.
2. Avoid our warlike/tribal proclivities—reduce tribalism, perhaps through some form of global government (or eventually the abolition of government).
3. Respect human nature—recognize unconscious bias, develop metacognition, and remain open to our own limitations.
Ultimately, I think his vision of the future is interesting because the reward isn't necessarily “progress” anymore. It is openness and potential—versus the feeling of progress in yesterday and anxiety today.
A good read (has aged decently well given growth in AI, etc.!) but would suggest Sapiens as an alternative.
Almost a proto-Sapiens-like view of history and the future. Ambitious! I personally liked Sapiens a bit better—it’s a much easier read—but there is a ton of juice in here.
Heilbroner breaks history into three buckets + the future.
DISTANT PAST — the first 99% of human existence. Generally static and unchanging. People didn’t think much about the future because it was largely beyond their control.
Two interesting sub-categories: pre-agriculture — no meaningful property rights, and therefore no poverty as we understand it. Poverty is partly a social status. Post-agriculture — agriculture leads to inequality. The organization required to build big things requires hierarchy. Civilization is essentially dependent on “caging” individuals: people lose direct access to sustenance and become servants/workers within larger systems. Can be dehumanizing.
YESTERDAY — generally, the theme is progress. Science and technology. Capitalism and the accumulation of capital. Political will through participatory government. But religion takes a back seat, and in some sense this erodes introspection and probing of the inner life.
TODAY — the theme is anxiety/apprehension. Science and technology are no longer viewed as universally good. What about capacity to destroy? What do they do to the quality and quantity of work? Capitalism brings increasing inequality. The global economy is increasingly difficult for governments to manage for the common good. Government has less control over private economic activity.
TOMORROW — can science and technology be bounded so they don’t suck engagement out of nature and one another? What happens with the commodification of life? Historically, new technology destroys some jobs but creates new industries. What if that stops? Economic displacement becomes a much bigger problem.
An interesting point: capitalism doesn't specify what level of inequality allows for its own survival.
Heilbroner suggests something like a new New Deal: employment-generating public projects—rebuilding inner cities, communities, infrastructure, etc. I love this idea, although it probably takes a major shock for something like this to happen.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO:
1. Build a secure terrestrial base for life—take care of the planet and eliminate gaping inequality.
2. Avoid our warlike/tribal proclivities—reduce tribalism, perhaps through some form of global government (or eventually the abolition of government).
3. Respect human nature—recognize unconscious bias, develop metacognition, and remain open to our own limitations.
Ultimately, I think his vision of the future is interesting because the reward isn't necessarily “progress” anymore. It is openness and potential—versus the feeling of progress in yesterday and anxiety today.
A good read (has aged decently well given growth in AI, etc.!) but would suggest Sapiens as an alternative.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review