Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Abundance:: The Future is Better Than You Think by Peter H. Diamandis & Steven Kotler - Book review
Abundance
The Future Is Better Than You Think
By: Peter H. Diamandis, Steven Kotler
Published: February 21, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 400 pages
ISBN-10: 1451614217
ISBN-13: 978-1451614213
Publisher: Free Press
In their direct challenge to the concept of limits to growth for the planet Earth and its people, hairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation, Peter H. Diamondis, and director of research for the Flow Genome Project, Steven Kotler provide evidence that the future is not one of shortages, but rather one where growth is not only possible, but inevitable. In their visionary and landmark book, Abundance The Future Is Better Than You Think, the authors describe the world as one where the needs of every person in the world will have their needs met; and more. That future, they write, is well within our grasp.
Peter Diamandis (photo left) and Steven Kotler recognize that there are serious problems and challenges facing humanity as we enter into the twenty-first century. In today's world, a privileged few live in luxury, while the vast majority of humanity lives on a subsistence level. Conventional wisdom claims that those circumstances are unlikely to change; and very likely get even worse. The authors write that the world, its resources, and its economy doesn't have to be that way. In the place of that conventional worldview, the authors take the contrarian position that not only will humanity's needs be met, but that the forces of technology are increasing and improving at such an incredible rate, that a life of abundance awaits the world in the very near future.
Steven Kotler (photo left) and Peter Diamandis introduce the reader to a wide range of thought leaders and innovators in the following fields: water, food, energy, healthcare, education, and freedom. Each of these topics are examined through the lens of possibilities, rather than limitations. That reversal of the standard approach opens the door to the fresh thinking and new ideas that permeate the entire book. The thinkers, entrepreneurs, and scientists who share their ideas with the authors offer an alternative future where technology, increasing at an exponential rate, will provide global abundance at a level never before seen on this planet.
The authors take a big picture approach, to their vision of the future, that examines possibilities rather than focusing on limitations. Instead of rushing to judgement as to why an idea might not work, they take the opposite position of how can that concept contribute to global abundance that benefits everyone. The book is divided into sections that cover the major touch points of abundance:
* Perspective
* Exponential Technologies
* Building the Base of the Pyramid
* The Forces of Abundance
* Peak of the Pyramid
* Steering faster
For me, the power of the book is how Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler not only share a global vision of abundance, but provide a road map for reaching and even exceeding the goal of meeting the needs of every living person on Earth. The book is a powerful combination of visionary thinking and optimism, blended with an entrepreneurial can do attitude, where possibilities can become realities. The authors provide a glimpse into a future, not of desolation and repression, but rather one of a good life, abundant food and resources, and personal freedom.
The authors demonstrate that the current level of technological advancement and breakthrough is approaching a tipping point where exponential technology change becomes inevitable. After that point is passed, the growth of technology will solve the current glaring problems in providing adequate food, shelter, and healthcare to the world. The book is a call to action as well for entrepreneurs, scientists, industry, and government policy makers to provide the impetus and will, to achieve this environmentally and economically sustainable future vision of abundance for all of humanity.
I highly recommend the thought provoking and hope filled book Abundance The Future Is Better Than You Think by Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler, to any entrepreneurs, scientists, environmentalists, technology experts, corporations, humanitarians, philosophers, economists, governments, and anyone who shares a desire to build a better world for all people. This book is a book of possibilities, of ideas, of hands on thinking, and even of inevitable technological probabilities. This important book is one that is not to be missed.
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Just picked up the first chapter to review. Looking forward to it and then the book!
Matt
acyberfellow.com
Matt
acyberfellow.com
ever since attending the X PRIZE "incentive 2 innovate" at the UN in 2009 and working for The Breakthrough Institute - another optimistic organization based in California - I've been anticipating this book.
What I'm curious about is how much the abundance will help society learn to prosper with equality and fairness... or will our collective future be more of the same, where scarcity continues to affect a large majority of the marginal and unempowered peoples of the world.
What I'm curious about is how much the abundance will help society learn to prosper with equality and fairness... or will our collective future be more of the same, where scarcity continues to affect a large majority of the marginal and unempowered peoples of the world.
Diamandis and Kotler are putting out a tremendously important message which is very much needed. Variations on the Impending Doom meme drive so much public discourse, limiting our vision of what our options are and what our future can (and most likely will) be. It's time someone took it on. Kudos!
Phil, the authors did a fine job of discovering the many reasons to be optimistic about the future. People need hope for the future, and this book provides it.
Danny, one of the reasons for the current widening of the gap between haves and have nots is a sense of scarcity. The authors point to abundance as the key to ending equality and increasing freedom.
You're welcome :)
I'm also excited about this book.
The positive viewpoint is one thing. The other - the firm ground to build on. I'm counting especially on that second thing - the facts to refer to, the perspectives for mindfull development for humanity as well as an individual. I wish us all exactly that.
I'm also excited about this book.
The positive viewpoint is one thing. The other - the firm ground to build on. I'm counting especially on that second thing - the facts to refer to, the perspectives for mindfull development for humanity as well as an individual. I wish us all exactly that.
Death is usually personalized; you lived, & then you died. But what if you say, humanity lived then humanity died, so it's as if humanity never lived at all. We have no choice but to push for the stars. In my opinion, nothing else matters. Why should it? If humanity ends then it was all for nothing. If we don't find a way to beat death, then it'll all be for nothing. I look forward to reading this book. Technology, really,is the only way we'll make it.
# posted by 
: 11:12 AM
: 11:12 AM
My little niche of abundance is in the garden. I love to grow vegetables, to enjoy eating some of our veggies, to enjoy sharing some of our veggies, and to encourage others to participate in this niche of abundance and happiness.
# posted by : 12:35 PM
: 12:35 PM
My comment wins by default because of this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z9WVZddH9w
You must watch it, heighly relevant to the matters of abundance and future sustainability.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z9WVZddH9w
You must watch it, heighly relevant to the matters of abundance and future sustainability.
Have you heard about the Greek company Defkalion? They have a home LENR generator that they are going to have independently tested by 7 different groups (including the Greek government), and then publish the results (in the next few weeks). Nickel, using LENR, is about 500,000 times as energy dense as oil, and is a clean source of fuel. In other words, Diamandis & Kotler are right on the money...their book couldn't be more timely.
"Over 2 decades with over 100 experiments worldwide indicate LENR is real, much greater than chemical..." --Dennis M. Bushnell, Chief Scientist, NASA Langley Research Center
"Total replacement of fossil fuels for everything but synthetic organic chemistry." --Dr. Joseph M. Zawodny, NASA
"Over 2 decades with over 100 experiments worldwide indicate LENR is real, much greater than chemical..." --Dennis M. Bushnell, Chief Scientist, NASA Langley Research Center
"Total replacement of fossil fuels for everything but synthetic organic chemistry." --Dr. Joseph M. Zawodny, NASA
The first chapter is just the appetizer - looking forward to the book to come to Dresden (hopefully not just my hands).
PS.: Being too early may be bad luck for some, being open to what has been already (see World Catalog, Limits to Growth) opens up opportunity holes as large as open space = ABUNDANCE :)
PS.: Being too early may be bad luck for some, being open to what has been already (see World Catalog, Limits to Growth) opens up opportunity holes as large as open space = ABUNDANCE :)
Very interesting cover, I like it. Never heard of your book before, but sounds like it gives a lot of hope for the future--something that a lot of people are really lacking right now. I'll check it out!
This book is utter junk. Diamandis is a self promoting huckster who attaches himself to other peoples ideas and tries to ride off with the credit. Oh, like Burt Rutan and Anousheh Ansari who both saved his sorry ass. Rutan and his Scaled Composites genii worked on the first private sub-orbital space craft before Diamandis annointed himself a technosavior and Ansari who ponied up for the the cash challeged X-Prize concept borrowed from an early 20th. Century contest (the Ortieg Prize)
There is nothing original in this book and Diamandis has yet to deliver his first original idea.
If you really want to read about the future go buy anything by Marshall McCluhan or Buckminster Fuller, two long dead guys who leave Diamandis and Kotler
There is nothing original in this book and Diamandis has yet to deliver his first original idea.
If you really want to read about the future go buy anything by Marshall McCluhan or Buckminster Fuller, two long dead guys who leave Diamandis and Kotler
# posted by : 3:40 AM
: 3:40 AM
As a matter of interest, Anonymous, I have read both Marshall McLuhan and Buckminster Fuller. I know their concepts quite well. That is no reason to disparage this book. Their approaches are very different.
It would be better if you put your name to your comments. it's easy to post negative responses anonymously.
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It would be better if you put your name to your comments. it's easy to post negative responses anonymously.
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