Future Minds: How the Digital Age is Changing Our Minds, Why this Matters and What We Can Do About It [Paperback]

Richard Watson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 16, 2010 | ISBN-10: 185788549X | ISBN-13: 978-1857885491

In this absorbing new book, Watson argues that despite the advances of the digital age, it has also robbed us of some of our best ideas; to regain them, he advocates for the benefits of boredom and going solo, among other techniques. Future Minds illustrates how to maximize the potential of digital technology and minimize its greatest downside, addressing the future of thinking and how we can ensure that we unleash the extraordinary potential of the human mind.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A great case for how to think, not what to think in these fast moving and complex times. Watson's message is clear - our innate imagination and human ability to think deeply about life and issues are the best assets we have to deliver us safely to the future. Full of wonderfully inspired quotations, sage predictions and abundance of source material this is a how to that is definately a must have. (Ellen Sideri, Founder + CEO, ESP Trendlab, New York )

About the Author

Richard Watson is an author, speaker and consultant who helps individuals and organizations to think ahead, with a particular emphasis on scenario planning. He is the founder of nowandnext.com, a website that documents global trends, and is co-founder of Strategy Insight, a scenario planning consultancy. His clients have included, among others, IBM, McDonald's, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Virgin, Department of Education, Public Libraries NSW, Ikea, Toyota, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. Richard also writes for a number of business publications worldwide, including Fast Company (US), Future Orientation(Denmark), and Retail Banking Review (Australia). Richard was born in the UK and divides his time, rather unsuccessfully, between London and Sydney. Apart from two future minds (aged 8 and 10), his other interests include old cars, old wine, and fixing things in sheds.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Nicholas Brealey Publishing (November 16, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185788549X
• ISBN-13: 978-1857885491
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #624,598 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars What the Digital age is doing to us and our children November 8, 2010

By Sean the Bookonaut

Format:Paperback

I must admit to approaching this book with a skeptical eye. Technology coverage, especially when it concerns the internet, Facebook, Twitter computer games, is rarely good, mostly sensationalized and misconstrued.

I am also skeptical when anyone is making claims about the future. Lots of people, even experts in their field get things wrong when they try and look too far ahead.

Which was why I was relieved when Richard Watson pitched this book in his introduction as a book of concepts and conversation starters, with 10 key trends as a unifying force.

So the book is no so much a fortune told but thoughts and questions to consider. The book is split into three parts: How the Digital era is changing our minds? Why this Matters? and What can we do about it?

How the Digital era is changing our minds?

This part of the book looks at the effects of the digital world on those who are experiencing it as a normal part of everyday life. Watson labels these children or teens as 'Screenagers' and talks about the subtle shift in attitudes and social existence brought about, by instant connectivity, always available distraction and entertainment.

Not to mention schooling and education. Why bother memorizing facts and remembering the events that lead to World War II when its all available at the press of the button. Watson sees the digital age as altering fundamentally how we experience understand and remember the world.

His concern, is gently presented and he cites a number of examples of the digital world encroaching on our young. From Australia's push to get computers into school, to give every child a laptop to the ever present and ever distracting social networks....

But its not just concerns brought about by online interactions as opposed to communicating in the 'real world'. Watson is concerned that exposing children to the logic of computer devices and educational programs has an effect on the formation of the human brain and one that may be detrimental to creative play and the development of certain areas of the brain.

The rest of us don't escape that net either, and Watson cites a study where the constant interruption bought about by digital devices and connectivity can have a similar effect on our thinking as that brought about by the use of marijuana.

Why this Matters?

This section focuses on the loss of the ability to think deeply about important matters, how ideas and innovations arise, are nurtured and go on to create and impact. Watson discusses the need to create natural thinking spaces, to disconnect from the connected digital world even for a short period of time to allow our brains to mull over (mostly subconsciously) new ideas, problems, solutions. In an always on world we are overloading and overworking our brain, keeping it constantly occupied.

What can we do about it?

Its only fair that if you point out a serious problem, you offer some suggestion as to what the solution or remedy might be. Watson does this in the final section of the book. Most of his ideas involve separating yourself from digital connection and distraction for periods of time.

Not going into work early just to check everything alright, not constantly checking the blackberry while your on holiday with your family. It's hardly groundbreaking stuff, but it's advice followed by very few.

Watson rounds off the book with 10 predictions some of which are straightforward and others which I think may be a bit of a long shot.

My thoughts

The book paints some broad strokes, but on the whole is generally convincing. The skeptic in me wants to go back and look through his comprehensive bibliography.

I can see, however, the effects of screen culture on students who I com across as a relief teacher. They display the ability to use several computer programs to construct a research assignment, but little understanding of the cut and pasted material that they place in it.

And likewise I can feel my own attention span dwindling as I flick from work to, twitter, to email, to a web article and back to work again.

So at least, anecdotally I am with Watson on many of his suggestions. That's not to say I will be running out in the street like some neo-Luddite. But as the book suggests I can see myself slowing down ever so slightly and be thinking a little more deeply about where the digital age is taking me and what its doing to me along the way.

If anything I think the trends he has outlined deserve closer examination. Do we really need to be outfitting all our classrooms wit state of the art touch screens. What value does being constantly connected to Facebook and Twitter bring us.

Watson has an easy, conversational tone, the book was quite pleasurable to read.

Disclaimer: This review is based upon an an advanced reading copy ebook provided by Nicholas Brealey Publishing through Netgalley at no cost to myself. Read more ›

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful guide to digital culture's impact on the brain and human society May 31, 2011

By Rolf Dobelli HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

Author and scenario planning consultant Richard Watson is clearly torn. One minute, he issues warnings about the negative effects of digital technologies on the brain and human society and discusses his fears that people pay insufficient attention to the possible consequences of these effects. The next minute, Watson is positively giddy and excited by the future potential of that same technology. The possibility of controlling machines with your mind, or improving your mental function by popping a pill, sounds like life in a science fiction utopia. But every utopia carries the possibility that it might turn into a dystopia that traps the human spirit: That's Watson primary concern and the insight he offers his readers. getAbstract recommends this book to anyone interested in futurism, cyberculture, digital technology or the ethics of human society.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond the machine and the screen.... February 27, 2011

By Tracy Marks VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

"We have now become so obsessed with asking whether something CAN be done that we have little or not time to consider whether it SHOULD be done," Richard Watson tells us in FUTURE MINDS. In this vitally important book, Watson discusses how digital life is changing our brains, focusing on its effects upon young children, "screenagers," and adults.

The human brain is much more than a machine, Watson points out, and yet we are allowing our brains to be controlled by machines, and as a result, losing our capacity for creative thinking and deep reflection. The consequences are deadening, and potentially destructive to us as individuals and to the future of our society.

In language understandable to the lay person, he explains the basics of brain functioning in regard to information overload, multitasking and high speed shifts in attention leading to distractibility and attention deficit disorder. He also discusses the interior and external environments that detract from or encourage creativity and meaningful thought.

FUTURE MINDS is divided into three parts, as expressed in its subtitle: How the Digital Era is Changing Our Minds, Why This Matters, and What We Can Do About It. Unlike some books which begin to apply recent discoveries in neuropsychology to our current over-reliance upon technological devices, this author also takes a practical approach. With simple but viable suggestions for unblocking and clearing our brains, he encourages us to embrace "slow thinking" and increase our capacity for deep focused thinking so that we are less at the mercy of the machine and the screen, and can become more self-determined.

His message does matter. His book is essential reading.... We in the western world are in danger of losing our humanity and our capacity to direct our minds and our lives. FUTURE MINDS can help us to awaken from a machine-induced sleep and begin to reclaim ourselves and our future. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful concerns about the influence of gadgets on our thinking January 17, 2011

By Dr A S Martin

Format:Paperback

How are iphones and Blackberries affecting the way we think? And more importantly, are digital natives (todays "screenagers") thinking in ways that are radically different to their predecessors? Are they really better adapted to multitasking, for example?

Watson delves through the scientific research relating to gadget use and shows us just how crippling these always-on, always-connected handsets can be - how they allow us to be continually connected, but personally isolated, too.

Is the volume and imediacy of information limiting our opportunity for deep analytical thought? I'll give you a clue - yes - not that you needed one!

Watson considers and raises concerns about many interesting aspects of technology that the rest of us simply ignore and I found it a real eye opener - finding many examples of my own tech addiction and behaviour in those pages.

It's certainly not a "self-help" book, but if you do happen to be a person who is a slave to Facebook, Twitter etc, then you may come to reflect personally during your journey through this book and perhaps even make commitments to try out some of the suggestions to liberate your attention and thinking - making some space to ponder and mull things over - giving your subconscious a chance to make those mental connections.

The main point being promoted is to thinking as slow food is to eating. Essentially, that quality cannot be rushed. The concern being that our endless consumption of input these days robs the potential for great ideas and self knowledge.

Check this video out for a better description from the author: [...]

We have fallen headoverheels in love with tech, but given no thought to the consequences - this book pulls us up and makes us think.... Parents will find it particularly interesting - and as an extra bonus will find material to support stances against kids wanting to do homework, watch TV and send SMS's at the same time! Read more ›