Thinking the Future: New perspectives from the shoulders of giants

by Clem Sunter, Mitch Ilbury

Do you know how to think about the future? All our decisions are about the future, whether it’s tomorrow, next year or the next decade, yet our choices are often undermined by desires, expectations and common mental mistakes – making assumptions, worrying about things we can’t control, missing signals because we’re distracted by the noise. But if you can learn how to think, you can learn how to look ahead. Isaac Newton ‘If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.’ In Thinking the Future, Clem Sunter and Mitch Ilbury teach us the futurist’s art of decision-making by reimagining seminal concepts from some of history’s greatest thinkers. They encourage foxy, flexible mindsets and reject the popular but misleading self-help tenet that you can decide your fate through the relentless pursuit of a single goal. An uncertain world demands a more dynamic approach. The point is not to forecast one outcome but to plot multiple scenarios of what could happen. Using scenario-planning techniques, we can all harness the power to work towards the future we want, avoid the ones we don’t, and prepare ourselves for the possible risks and opportunities no matter what transpires.

Genres: Business

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2021

Reviews

[Raymond Strodl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have followed Clem Sumter and read all of his Fox series of books.

This latest book with Mitch Ilbury as co author is excellent.

It examines the giants who we follow for direction and focus, to become thinking and insightful when thinking about the future.

It has added to the Mind of a Fox series and included many new concepts that make the process of scenario planning even more relevant and important in this strange new world.

Updated and makes it clear that it this system is still relevant in the curren world we live in.

[Christian Oltra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es un ensayo interesante, entretenido y bien escrito sobre el pensamiento sobre el futuro y la planificación de escenarios. Pero trata, más bien, cuestiones relacionadas con la perspectiva filosófica y, a veces, de modo algo inconexo. Dedica muy poco a la planificación de escenarios.

[Sheldon Carelse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book. This book really teaches you how to make better considered decisions for the future. Highly recommended.

[Tertia Oosthuizen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Well written, based on facts and a must read for all South Africans. This is a killer of conspiracy theories and fake news which we desperately need in SA!