Beyond Knowledge: How Technology Is Driving an Age of Consciousness

by William E. Halal

Beyond Knowledge Exists the Triumph of Human Spirit.An Amazon #1 Bestseller"A Gem; Highly Original Exploration of the Next Stage in Human Evolution"—Hazel Henderson, Global FuturistWorried by autocrats and post-factual nonsense? The out-of-control power of social media? Climate doom and other global threats? As humanity tips into uncharted territory, a post-factual world that defies rationality and knowledge, is it possible to sense what comes next?A former aerospace engineer on Apollo, professor at George Washington University and founder of TechCast, William Halal's latest book draws on historic data to show the Knowledge Age is passing as smartphones, social media, and artificial intelligence automate knowledge. Knowledge is still crucial, but the digital revolution is driving the world beyond knowledge into a new frontier governed by emotions, values, beliefs and higher-order thought. An Age of Consciousness is here, though it's dominated by conflict, disinformation, gridlock and other threats that pose an existential crisis."A must-have strategic resource... if you're wondering where we're headed - this is the perfect guide."- Art Murray, CEO, Applied Knowledge SciencesThis book provides a wealth of evidence showing how a "global consciousness" is emerging to help humanity grow up, transform social institutions to meet this historic challenge, and develop a sustainable civilization - or face disaster. With foresight, hard work, and some luck, we could see the triumph of human spirit, once again.Will these ideas bear out? Can the world envision a global consciousness? Would this resolve today's global crises? What will it take to get there?Read the Amazon #1 bestseller BEYOND KNOWLEDGE to find out!"An intellectual manifesto for our times. The best since Alvin Toffler's Future Shock"-Michael Lee, Executive and Futurist

168 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 6, 2021

Reviews

[Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

William E. Halal’s new book is titled Beyond Knowledge: How Technology is Driving an Age of Consciousness. As the formal christening, Beyond Knowledge, suggests, the topicality and philosophy of Halal’s read stretches beyond the decidedly post-modernist mixing of holistic precepts with workplace methodology. Halal actually believes, with good reason, previously exclusive ideology to left brain and right brain categories is starting to merge. Considering the massive technological, affiliated psychosocial and socioeconomic effects of digitization and innovation in the modern era, we are hurdling towards a cultural singularity. A merging of the so-called ‘professional’ and ‘personal’, a sort of situational democratization for our species that may link us closer together than further us. In many ways, according to Professor Halal, the implications of such a merging prove exciting not only on a tangible, visibly sophisticated plateau, but also for the decidedly more obscure, abstract, and interpretive fields of faith, fringe, and overall belief. “The divide between science and religion is eternal, but attitudes are changing. As we will see, authoritative surveys show that people are leaving organized religion – but at the same time, they are also drawn to believe in some form of ‘higher power.’ This critical trend highlights a move from the dogma of religion toward a growing hunger for the substance of spirituality,” Halal writes in this vein. “…global threat(s) (are) so huge that it seems almost impossible to deal with (them). Without a shift in consciousness based on unity, cooperation and other essential beliefs, there seems little hope. But with a shift to global consciousness, it all becomes possible. The big question remaining is, ‘What should be the new vision, values, principles, and policies?’ There have been many attempts to create such a moral code…All of the nagging problems that now seem insoluble – climate change, inequality, risky finances, terrorism, poverty, war – basically flow out of today’s state of consciousness…The great challenge now facing civilization is to accept this mysterious power of consciousness and use it to guide our complex lives more carefully and with greater meaning. This humble but all-important task is the sacred ground on which an Age of Consciousness is being built.”

In less capable hands, what Beyond Knowledge advocates for could come across as maudlin drivel. But with someone like Halal behind the wheel, the nexus of all points - even the least intellectually tangible, and potentially alienating for a few - stay coherent, grounded, and coming from a place of informed rationale and reason. He juxtaposes potentially flowery rhetoric when it comes to the intriguing concept of a theological and spiritual ‘revolution’ with decidedly left-brain issues affecting the immediacy of the moment. Because of this, the book is able to have the ideological cake, and eat its more interesting components too. It’s rare to find something that can fire on all cylinders, particularly an entry in varied nonfiction subcategories. But Halal isn’t just an expert in what he advocates for, he also is a superb narrator when it comes to actually articulating it…

[Andy Micone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Hallal is the founder of TechCast, a virtual think tech tracking the technology revolution that has been looking into the future for over twenty-five years. In his book The Infinite Resource, Dr. Halal discussed how visionary thinking could serve as an inexhaustible source of competitive advantage. In his new book, Beyond Knowledge, Halal has advanced his thinking to the global scale, discussing how global consciousness, vision, and imagination can overcome the current crises we face.

Halal’s idea is in keeping with Toffler’s wave theory but looks forward past the fourth wave to the seventh wave of consciousness. Rather than present a theoretical framework, his book forwards a set of actionable strategic principles that can function at all levels of society, from the personal to the governmental. Moreover, he does this across a large swath of sociological and technological trends that loom large over human destiny, providing a beacon of clarity through an uncertain epoch.

In a time of polarization, Dr. Halal finds reasons for optimism, pointing to foresight principles that harness the power of human connection, wisdom, and self-actualization that everyone possesses. This book is a map that provides practical ideas for navigating the turbulent waters ahead and should prove a valuable resource for everyone, from thought leaders to individuals who want to be more engaged in the world unfolding around us. I hope others will embrace these intriguing ideas and concepts because, in the future, all of us will need to understand what living in an Age of Consciousness means.

[Cassio Simões · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um livro para refletir

Um livro para refletir sobre os próximos passos da humanidade. Podemos ser simplesmente espectadores da crise ambiental mundial que nos acerca coqueteleira ser partícipes da solução?

[Carlos Roca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Do not goes deep with data. Definitely it will inspire you if you are a “consciuss” innovator.