Dictionary of the Future: The Words, Terms, and Trends That Define the Way We'll Live....

Did Faith Popcorn have a brain transplant? Her earlier books were frothy and insubstantial, lacking substance and simply restating the obvious with a superficial twist. So when I received the Dictionary of the Future as a Christmas gift, I groaned. But what a surprise when I began to leaf through it. Page after page of insight, fascinating peeks into the future, and intellectual fun. I cannnot recommend this book highly enough -- I can't think of anyone who wouldn't find rich value and stimulating thought here. I don't know who this new co-writer is, but she should stick with him in the "future."

So you thought your teenager's lingo was difficult to understand? Wait until you get your hands on this book and the language of the future will knock your socks off! Faith Popcorn is one of the most terrific writers of our time. In my business management classes, I have referred to comments in her famous "Popcorn Report" many times. This book is off the beaten path but thoroughly enjoyable. It is a fictional dictionary of trendy words and expressions most likely to become common terminology in the future. How about going "realtionship shopping"? That signals a desire to settle down. Many are doing that now only without the catchy phrase attached. As for "bankaurants", they will be trendy restaurants by day, bank lobbies by night. As long as there is money in your account, I guess you can be assured of paying for the meal!I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. As for me, it appears this baby boomer is still locked in a time warp and will forever be on the "inklist", those who still prefer to sign their signature with pen in hand as opposed to an "e-signature." Whatever happened to the pen and quill? The author leaves us with the feeling if we do not read the book, we will one day find ourselves trying to carrying on a stimulating conversation with a new-age generation and not having the foggiest idea of what they are saying to us. It rather reminds you of communication with your teenaged son or daughter - I am still trying to adjust to "awesome," "cool-man" and "hangin' loose"!

The Dictionary of the Future is an exciting, quick read, filled with witty comentary and winning insight that I think taps into the zeitgeist of the culture. Don't think that this is your average, Webster-type dictionary -- it's really more about coming to terms with, and giving terms to the trends and the movements that will change the complexion of society. The Dictionary of the Future forecasts what culture will be like, and what it has already become; take the chapter on Terrorism, which has already become more than prescient. Opening the book is opening the door to the culture of next 50 years: Highly researched and smartly written, this is the book that your children will pick up down the road and wonder how we knew it back in 2001.

Having been enlightened by Faith Popcorn's past books, I immediately was attracted to a book called Dictionary of the Future. What could possibly be in it? What I found was a pleasant surprise. Ms. Popcorn and Mr. Hanft (and their talented colleagues) have provided a valuable "speak preview" of existing concepts that seem to be catching on, new learning that is developing in scientific and technical fields, demographic imperatives (aging Baby Boomers and the spoiling of vast numbers of only children), and potential issues that could well emerge from existing trends. While no one would argue that all of these words, concepts, terms, and phrases will become mainstream, this book gives you a way to understand them long before they earn their way into a standard dictionary. Having seen how helpful this dictionary was to me, I hope that the authors will revise and update it from time to time, as occurs with more traditional, backwards-looking dictionaries. The topics quickly expand into pages of specific listings. Here are some of the major topics: aging; art; biology and biotechnology; children and families; computers; corporate America; crime and terrorism; demographics; education; environment; fashions and style; fear and frustration; new figures of speech; food; government and politics; health and medicine; Internet; marketing and consumer experiences; new behaviors; new jobs; personal finance; religion; technology; and telecommunications. The authors encourage you to read the book from front to back (which I did), but also indicate that you can skip around. I think more people will enjoy the latter. Some of these topics just won't be as interesting to you as others are. About 20 percent of the listings were things I knew about already. These, however, often contained new information. The other 80 percent were either totally or mostly new to me. I felt like I was moving inside a very interesting science fiction book. Let me give you some examples from the book that particularly interested me. Ecstatic Architecture and Museum Getting (the new Guggenheim in Bilbao is cited as an example of both)Genetic Underclass (for those who have genetic disadvantages that they cannot afford to correct)Free-Range Children (allowed to lead reasonably unstructured lives)National Parent Permits (you need one to become a parent)Affective Computing (helps improve your emotional state by monitoring and stimulating you)Ego Auditor (to help executives keep their perspective)Prisoncams (to spot those who can become successful entertainment performers when released)Cultural Abuse (eliminating an aboriginal culture, for example)Teacher History (so parents can understand a teacher's track record)Low-Emission FarmingPharmaceutical PollutionBatbelt (to carry all of your electronic devices)Pastural Poultry (allowed to run wild)Waki (armpit art)Posterity AnxietyEternity Leave (time off from work to be with someone who is dying)Cubicle FeverGod-Forbid Room (whe

What a fascinating and original book. I just bought it and read it immediately and thoroughly. Every page is crammed with eye-opening information. I even learned about a new diagnostic treatment that I emailed to my sister who is ill. I feel like I've just been briefed by experts in just about everything. I particularly enjoyed the section at the end of each chapter called "DOF Predicts" where the authors invent their own words, which are fun, smart and provocative. It's the kind of book that makes you wonder why no one wrote it before. I'm glad they did it now. And I plan to send it to everyone on my holiday list.Gwen Gunderson