From the author of the international bestseller Future Files comes the one book you need to read to prepare for the world of tomorrow.
On most measures that matter, we’ve never had it so good. Physically, life for humankind has improved immeasurably over the last fifty years. Yet there is a crisis of progress slowly spreading across the world. Perhaps this is due to a failure of vision; in the 1960s we dreamed of flying cars and moon hotels; today what we’ve ended up with are status updates and cat videos.
To a large degree, the history of the next fifty years will be about the relationship between people and technologies created by a tiny handful of designers and developers. These inventions will undoubtedly change our lives, but the question is, to what end?
What do we want these technologies to achieve on our behalf? What are they capable of, and — as they transform the media, the economy, healthcare, education, work, and the home — what kind of lives do we want to lead?
Richard Watson hereby extends an exuberant invitation for us to think deeply about the world of today and envision what kind of world we wish to create in the future. In a fascinating and accessible way, Digital vs Human examines the possible effects of technology on every area of our lives.
‘Richard Watson doesn’t write like your average futurist. He’s interested in people, not machines, and so his analysis of the way our world is changing has a very human and accessible quality. Most futurists seek to sell you a vision of the future, but Richard’s there to help show you the way.’
Antony Funnell, presenter of Future Tense
‘With Digital vs Human Richard Watson has put himself at the vanguard of a new movement of progressive thinkers. This is a fascinating book — at once enthusiastic about the opportunities of the future and sceptical of the blind faith which fails to ask an all important question: where, exactly, are the lights of progress leading us?’
Luke O'Sullivan, editor of Quadrapheme
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‘A remarkable and important book, which examines our possible futures with great humanity and a clear eye. This is a book that everyone should read.’
Lavie Tidhar, author of A Man Lies Dreaming
‘Truly persuasive.’
Professor Susan Greenfield, author of Mind Change
‘Incisive … the ideas he assembles are tantalising.’
Jules Goddard, Fellow, London Business School
‘A well-argued salvo in a social dialogue that needs to be constant, because the future is already here.’
Drew Turney, Cosmos