BOOK REVIEW: ‘The Future: A Very Short Introduction” by Jim Dator in ‘World Futures Review’
Jennifer Gidley PhD
Psychologist * Climate Educator * Futures Researcher * President, World Futures Studies Federation (2009-2017). Adjunct Professor, Institute for Sustainable Futures, UTS. World's Top 50 Women Futurists (Forbes)
The Future: A Very Short Introduction by Jennifer M. Gidley (OUP, 2017)
BOOK REVIEW by Jim Dator, Editor of World Futures Review
in the World Futures Review 2017 Volume 9 (2): 65-71.
BRIEF EXTRACT:
“In [the first] three chapters, [Gidley’s] summary of the long history of ideas about time, the future, preferred futures, utopias and dystopias, progress and chaos, to planning, she skillfully weaves many resources into a fluid, coherent narrative. She offers an excellent summary of a long and complicated story, endeavoring with considerable success to be global and multicultural, not just western-centric…
Gidley provocatively defines futures studies as “the art and science of taking responsibility for the long-term consequences of our decisions and actions today” (p. 136). This definition makes clear that futures studies typically are profoundly values-based…
We all should give Jennifer Gidley a standing ovation. This is an absolutely wonderful source, as a basic textbook about the field, and as a very good short introduction about the futureS for everyone.”
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