Two Scholars Tackle the Future

There are so many voices out there, predictors, wannabe prophets, etc., who would look to the future of humanity. Years ago I read a book, used it as a reading, called: The Earth is Flat. That was my introduction to Tom Friedman and I’ve since read more of his books, most recently, Thank You for Being Late. I recommend him as one of the more enlightened observers of our evolving global situation.

Two years ago I stumbled across a book called Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. It was such a nuanced view of history with surprisingly enlightened observations and conclusions. After reading that book I gobbled up his next book as well, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow.

I have linked both Thank you for Being Late and Sapiens so you can go preview them if you are interested. I thought both books were important enough to use in my Advanced Placement class, perspectives useful for teenagers who are training their hearts and heads to deal with the world. You cannot imagine my delight when I found a video where both men are not only talking to an audience but also to each other. They may or may not be Dreamers, but they are Informed observers, informed on steroids. Their thoughts about the future are worth considering as we seek to understand and co-create Our Dream Place.

I really enjoy the mixture of historical and geographic awareness, of science and technology. I recommend a thoughtful watching of the video as well as thoughtful reading of their books. Enjoy and let your brain chew on this.