2008 State of the Future [Perfect Paperback]

United Nations (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0981894100 | ISBN-13: 978-0981894102 | Publication Date: August 5, 2008 | Edition: 1

The 2008 State of the Future comes in two parts: a 100-page print executive summary and an attached CD containing about 6,300 pages of research behind the print edition and the Millennium Project's 12 years of cumulative research and methods. Some unique features not available in other global assessments include: 15 Global Challenges Prospects, Strategies, Insights; State of the Future Index for the world and nations; Government Future Strategy Units and some potentials for international strategic coordination; Global Energy Collective Intelligence system design options; Environmental Security overview; Real-Time Delphi technique; 700 Annotated Scenario Sets; and much more futures intelligence on technology, environment, governance, and the human condition. This ''report card on the future'' distills the collective intelligence of over 2,500 leading scientists, futurists, scholars, and policy advisers who work for governments, corporations, non-governmental organizations, universities, and international organizations. It is produced by the Millennium Project, which collects, feeds back, and assesses insights from creative and knowledgeable people on emerging crises, opportunities, strategic priorities, and the feasibility of actions. ''Half the world is vulnerable to social instability and violence due to rising food and energy prices, failing states, falling water tables, climate change, decreasing water-food-energy supply per person, desertification, and increasing migrations due to political, environmental, and economic conditions,'' says the report. However, it notes that ''Ours is the first generation with the means for many to know the world as a whole, identify global improvement systems, and seek to improve such systems. We are the first people to act via Internet with like-minded individuals around the world. We have the ability to connect the right ideas to resources and people to help address our global and local challenges.'' The report is a ''global overview of our technological, environmental, social, economic future prospects, strategies to address them -- what the educated person should know about the world and what to do to improve it'' says co-author and Millennium Project Director Jerome C. Glenn.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The 2008 State of the Future continues its excellent annual tradition of providing a comprehensive, insightful, and highly readable review of issues and options facing global decisionmakers. --Mohan Munasinghe, Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, co-winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize

The Millennium Project and its State of the Future report represent best practice on how collective intelligence across borders and sectors can be focused on critical global challenges and opportunities. The enhanced participation of developing nations (especially in Africa) in such futures outlook is essential to our shared future. --Olive Shisana, CEO, Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa

While it is not possible to predict the future, the 2008 State of the Future report enables us to think analytically about crucial global challenges, such as environmental security. --Hans Blix, President, WFUNA, and Former Director-General, IAEA

While it is not possible to predict the future, the 2008 State of the Future report enables us to think analytically about crucial global challenges, such as environmental security. --Hans Blix, President, WFUNA, and Former Director-General, IAEA

The Millennium Project and its State of the Future report represent best practice on how collective intelligence across borders and sectors can be focused on critical global challenges and opportunities. The enhanced participation of developing nations (especially in Africa) in such futures outlook is essential to our shared future. --Olive Shisana, CEO, Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa

About the Author

JEROME CLAYTON GLENN is co-founded and directs the Millennium Project, the leading global participatory think tank supported by international organizations, governments, corporations, and NGOs, which produces the internationally recognized ''State of the Future'' annual reports for the past twelve years. Mr. Glenn has 40 years experience in futures research for government, international organizations, and private industry in science & technology policy, economics, education, defense, space, forecasting methodology, international telecommunications, and decision support systems with the Millennium Project, Committee for the Future, Hudson Institute, his own firm (the Future Options Room), and as an independent consultant. He is the author of over 100 future-oriented articles in such as the New York Times, Nikkei, ADWEEK, International Tribune, LEADERS, Foresight, Technological Forecasting, Futures Research Quarterly, The Futurist, and co-author of State of the Future, editor of Futures Research Methodology (1999 and 2003), author of Future Mind: Merging the Mystical and the Technological in the 21st Century (1989 and 1993), Linking the Future: Findhorn, Auroville, Arcosanti (1979), and co-author of Space Trek: The Endless Migration (1978 & 1979). He keynoted conferences for over 150 corporations, associations, governments, universities, and international organizations; invented the ''Futures Wheel'' forecasting technique and Futuristic Curriculum Development; was instrumental in SALT II section that banned the first space weapon (Soviet FOBS); named by Saturday Review as among the most unusually gifted leaders of America for his pioneering work in Tropical Medicine, Future Oriented Education, and Participatory Decision Making Systems in 1974; was instrumental in naming first space shuttle the ''Enterprise'' and is a leading boomerang stunt man. THEODORE JAY GORDON is a futurist and management consultant, co-founder of the Millennium Project and co-author of the annual ''State of the Future''. He is an expert in several high technology fields, a graduate engineer, a specialist in planning and policy analysis, and an entrepreneur. His current professional activities include consulting on strategy for several major corporations, lecturing, and participating on the corporate boards of Apollo Genetics, the Institute for Global Ethics, Registry Databases, and The Futures Group, the consulting firm he formed in 1971 and led for 20 years. Publications: author of many client reports, technical articles that have appeared in the open literature, and five books dealing with topics associated with the future, space, and scientific and technological developments and issues. He is co-author and co-editor of the annual State of the Future reports and Futures Research Methodology; his most recent technical articles have been in the field of Chaos (1994) and forecasting methodology (Annals of Social Science, 1992); author of the Macmillan encyclopedia article on the future of science and technology (1995). He is currently on the editorial board of several journals including Technological Forecasting and Social Change. ELIZABETH FLORESCU is Director of Research of the Millennium Project of World Federation of UN Associations. She is contributing to the ''State of the Future'' annual reports since 1997, is a co-author of ''Environmental Crimes, Military Actions, and the International Criminal Court'' and ''Analysis of the UN Millennium Summit Speeches'', and is one of the principal members of the team working on the environmental security study.

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 100 pages
• Publisher: Millennium Project; 1 edition (August 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0981894100
• ISBN-13: 978-0981894102
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,069,578 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 2009 is out, buy this only if you want to compare and contrast, September 25, 2009

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Robert D. Steele (Oakton, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 2008 State of the Future (Perfect Paperback)

2009 State of the Future is the one to buy at this point. Buy this only if you want to compare and contrast from one year to the next, otherwise I would suggest going back to 2006 State of the Future for a more cmpelling three year change. My review of the 2009 edition lists some other books I recommend.