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Scanning-Oriented Publications
These books provide excellent broad scanning resources on what may
be developing in your field, geographical area, or interests:
These books available for purchase in association with Amazon.com.
Click on the title or the cover image if you're interested in purchasing
the book.
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The Macmillan Atlas
of the Future
- Ian Pearson, Editor / Softcover / Published 1998
Recommended by the World Future Society's regular review of futurist-oriented publications. Ian Pearson is one
of the U.K.'s top futurists. Much of the work in the volume publishes research and forecasts originally
developed for British Telecom. An excellent resource.
- Recommended by the Economist Magazine:
The Skeptical Environmentalist:
Measuring the Real State of the World - by Bjorn Lomborg; Hardcover
A counter-opinion to the mainstream environmental literature. From a former Greenpeace advocate. compelling,
intriguing, and the best-documented book on the current environmental state of the world today. Has prompted a storm
of vitriolic counter-charges from the green movement.
- The First Measured
Century: An Illustrated Guide to Trends in America, 1900-2000 - by Theodore Caplow, Louis Hicks, Ben J. Wattenberg
; Hardcover
Full of one of my favorite things: surprises! Now that we've gone through a full century of data collection, we can
begin to draw some conclusions about trends and cycles in America.
- The Tipping Point:
How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference - by Malcolm Gladwell; Paperback
I've been talking about this phenomenon for some time: the point where the coming together of several conditions,
events, or trends creates a new development. But here's a book that I wish I had written. Gladwell is not only a gifted
journalist (New Yorker and other publications) but a marvelous provider of examples. Take his test on your circle of
influence and you begin to get a feel for how little pieces of information can have a viral spread through our interconnected
world. Destined to become a classic of thought on trends.
- The Color
of Oil - by Michael Economides and Ronald Oligney; Hardcover
One of my clients, El Paso Energy, recommended this volume by a University of Houston professor and
his colleague. Michael Economides is the most accurate forecaster of energy trends in recent years.
I shared the platform with him at the end of August and found him authorative, refreshingly direct,
and convincing. The book has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. - Bob
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Out of the Blue: Wildcards and Other Big Future Surprises
- John L. Petersen / Paperback / Published 2000
Nobody discusses the absolutely unexpected as clearly and analytically as John Petersen.
His specialty is the "wild card," the low-probability but high-impact event that most individuals
deny. Best in class.
- Picked up through my scanning system:
Six Nightmares:
Real Threats in a Dangerous World and How America Can Meet Them - by Anthony Lake; Softcover
September 11th has me back at getting up to better speed on the potentials we ignored. I was sitting with a corporate
board on August 28, 2001 discussing the dangers and effects of a catastrophic event that threatened our infrastructure. The
board members brought up and we discussed the ramifications of a terrorist event in New York City. Even though we were
aware of the threat, most of us have not thought through the effects of a new reality. Anthony Lake, national security
advisor to the Clinton administration has.
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Books on the future
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New additions to our book recommendations
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What books Bob is reading right now.
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Books we rank as classics of thought and practice
on the future, strategy, and philosophy.
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Books recommended in our E-mail Alerts and from our subscribers
to the Alerts.
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