The Long Boom: A Vision for the Coming Age of Prosperity

Those who have already read The Art of the Long View no doubt share my high regard for the vision, precision, and eloquence which Peter Schwartz brings to subjects of special interest to him. They are once again in evidence (indeed in abundance) in this book which he co-authored with Peter Leyden and Joel Hyatt. Theirs is a shared vision of "the coming age of prosperity." What exactly does that mean? The answer is suggested in the Introduction: "The Long Boom is a positive meme about a better future. A meme is a contagious idea that can quickly spread around the world and influence what people think and do....The idea soon takes on a life of its own, out of anybody's control, flitting from computer host to computer host in an exponential expansion that spreads around the world....[The book] starts with the recognition that the world is faced with a historic opportunity. What we call the Long Boom -- the years from 1980 to 2020 --is a period of global transformation. No other age ever possessed the tools or the knowledge to do what we can do today." From the authors' perspective, what they call the Long Boom is half in the past and half in the future. "We refer to the Long Boom in both senses throughout the book."There are four Parts followed by an Afterword.Part I Track the Inevitable (ie major developments in technology, economics and politics)Part II The Politics of the Long Boom (ie how to overcome "looming political problems")Part III The Engines of the Twenty-First Century (ie technologies which can help to preserve the environment)Part IV Birth of a Global Civilization (ie creation of a new middle class amidst fundamental global changes)In the forward-thinking Afterword, the authors reaffirm their faith in the almost unlimited potentialities of the Long Boom IF the human race can somehow avoid committing planetary suicide. They are emphatically NOT misty-eyed visionaries; on the contrary, they seem most comfortable when addressing harsh realities such as territorial "politics" which, if permitted, can result in the Long Whimper. Among their objectives is to provide "a starting point for an ongoing global conversation about how everyone can take advantage of the great potential of our era and create a better world." The observations shared are anchored in the real-world; the suggestions offered are practical and do-able. If for whatever reasons the human race is unwilling and/or unable to fulfill the promise of the Long Boom, who to blame? According to Pogo, "We have met the enemy and he is us." Schwartz, Leyden & Hyatt would perhaps reply, "OK but so what? There's still time. There's still hope. We have everything we need. Let's work together on a global basis. It won't be easy but we can do it. We really can." How? This brilliant book answers that question. Better yet, it explains why. Those whose minds and hearts are nourished by this book should also check out Natural Capitalism (Hawken, Lovins &

This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is full of hope and optimism, yet grounded in the reality of today's world. The authors have developed a "possible" vision of the future...not a "prediction." That, to me, means there is something beyond the horizon that is worth working towards. The content of the book also provided me a wealth of information about our world today and I feel I had a chance to get caught up on "current events." Furthermore, the authors put these events into a context that gave them new meaning. I also liked the way the book was written. The letters written in current time and the documentary broadcast in the future looking back at the past 40 years added some very interesting perpectives.The Long Boom should be required reading for everyone as it opens up a door to what is possible that most people don't consider in the narrow viewpoint of daily living.

The Long Boom is one of those rare books that really does transform the way we look at our world. It is comprehensive though not excessively long, thoughtful without being pedantic and optimistic without a trace of Pollyanna. The authors' style is open and non-defensive: this is a pretty courageous book to write while we are still living in an era of cynicism, in which the highest personal virtue is to be skeptical. That societal attitude will no doubt eventually pass, but you shouldn't wait until it does to read this. If you think ours is a world of endless possibilities, that humanity has great potential and that you can personally make a difference, now is the time to read The Long Boom.

The Long Boom is a primer for the 21st century. It provides in-depth overviews of critical emerging technologies and trends, familiarizing the reader with promising developments coming in the future. Furthermore, it espouses a plan of action based on optimism, globalism, and growth. And the optimism is not empty. Rather, optimism about the Long Boom is based on a series of careful arguments about emerging technologies and global cultures. In short, the Long Boom uncovers the strength of global cultures and the positive impact of future technologies. According to Schwartz and Leyden, however, the Long Boom won't just happen, but rather will depend upon our contributions. This normative scenario will require that we all join together to promote openness, globalism, and progress. If you're going to read one book before the new millenium, you should read this one. Because it really matters, and requires us to make it happen.

By laying out a positive scenario for the future, we can see how it's possible to accomplish more on this current rising tide of prosperity. Interweaving stories from the recent past with tales of the present and the future, we see how our attitudes, aspirations and worldview have far-reaching consequences. Each person plays a role in creating a better world, and this book suggests how we can improve our own lives and contribute to the general welfare along the way.