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“In a world of half-baked hot takes, Marian Salzman is a true seer.”—Andrew Yang
A little more than twenty years ago, the Y2K computer glitch threatened to bring the global economy to its knees. But instead of overnight disruption, humankind slipped into two decades of economic turmoil, ecological angst, and tribalism, all set against the backdrop of a newly global and digital civilization. Sometimes the events that seem pivotal are just blips, while the more meaningful cultural shifts are hiding in plain sight. Marian Salzman’s job is to uncover those hidden shifts.
So what’s in store for the next two decades?
In this acutely observed guide, Salzman, whose past predictions have been heralded for coming uncannily close to the way we live now, unpacks the course of human life from the bumpy turn of the millennium through the pandemic era, when chaos and “together apart” are the new normal, equity has become a battle cry, and breathing space emerged as the greatest luxury of all.
Drawing inspiration from John Naisbitt’s classic 1982 book Megatrends, Salzman then turns to the two decades ahead. Navigating deftly among geographies, she connects threads across business, civic life, consumerism, family, and entertainment, revealing the trends and developments—some established, some surprising—poised to recast our past, shape our collective future, and shift our identities.
In a world dominated by disruption, being prepared for change is a critical advantage. The New Megatrends is gripping reading for anyone seeking to understand the shape and texture of the next era, which, above all, will be marked by its relentless pace, new technology, and the ever-present threats of climate change and political division.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
May 3, 2022 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780593239711
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780593239711
- File size: 6040 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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April 15, 2022
An assessment of a future that will be fraught with disruption and chaos. Salzman, a veteran of the advertising and public relations industries who prefers close observation and then extrapolation of existing social, business, and geopolitical trends, follows in the footsteps of futurologist John Naisbitt and his Megatrends series. Taking the year 2000 as a starting point, Salzman looks out to 2038, trying to discern key patterns while acknowledging that some trends and countertrends pull in different directions. Instead of clear answers, there will be continuing waves of disruption, and the people most likely to thrive will be those who see the opportunities in chaos. Technology will continue to connect the world, but there will also be a movement toward simpler, more meaningful, less urban lives. The impact of Covid-19 will be felt for years, leading to more remote working and an emphasis on health issues. Salzman examines the ways in which new technologies like facial recognition have become tools of social control in China and wonders if "the end of privacy" will become the norm elsewhere. At some points in the narrative, it's difficult to discern the author's line of argument. She admits that her style is based on "nonlinear leaps," and she often jumps from specific cases to general conclusions. Some of her forecasts are obvious, such as China's rise, social polarization in the U.S., and the politicization of science. Others seem hard to believe: Will shopping malls really become "extinct," all converted into "mixed-use campuses"? It's clear that Salzman is working from a left-of-center perspective. She worries about the rise of right-wing extremism and fake news but has little to say about the left-wing variety, and she welcomes the implementation of a universal basic income policy. Readers who share her perspective will find enough intriguing ideas to keep the pages turning, but others may look for a more cohesive prediction of future trends. A look into the future that reveals not much good news and many dangerous possibilities.COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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