Yates is a Futurist.Which is a fancy way of saying he flies around the world, lecturing various conferences, confabs, and conglomerates, dispensing...
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Jan 23, 2011
Bird Brian
rated it: 
AUTOPSY REPORT:
In the case of: "The Futurist"
Date accessioned: 15 Sept 2010
Date completed: 23 Sept 2010
Clinical Summary: Specimen was discovered on bookstore shelf. A cursory twenty-page assessment was not suspicious for significant pathologic change. No witnesses were present. No suicide note has been identified.
Gross Examination:
On dissection, the following contents were discovered inside this book:
characters I hate More...
In the case of: "The Futurist"
Date accessioned: 15 Sept 2010
Date completed: 23 Sept 2010
Clinical Summary: Specimen was discovered on bookstore shelf. A cursory twenty-page assessment was not suspicious for significant pathologic change. No witnesses were present. No suicide note has been identified.
Gross Examination:
On dissection, the following contents were discovered inside this book:
characters I hate More...
12 comments
like
(23 people liked it)
Dec 12, 2009
It feels as a socio-political essay in the form of a novel, or as a novel in the form of a socio-political essay. Yates, the conferencist who has made a successful business of anticipating the future which is essentially tailor-made for the establishment, finds himself suffering from self-disappointment. In his quest for redemption, Yates will try to be true to himself only to find out that he cannot escape his tragic mission, to be at the service of the dark side of corporate America. Yates' od
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Mar 24, 2008
Andy
rated it: 
Amusing at times, but a little too self-aware and sarcastically hip to be a truly satisfying read.
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Aug 16, 2011
Bill
rated it:
This novel is all about a globetrotting "futurist" named Yates, who journeys from conference to conference dispensing whatever prognostications his corporate sponsors require to stimulate their local economies and. He tries to sabotage his career by, for once, telling the truth, and, of course, this sends his "career" in a whole new direction that provides the framework for the book.
Snappy, contemporary writing...most of it worked for me, though too much of the story was over More...
Snappy, contemporary writing...most of it worked for me, though too much of the story was over More...
Jun 20, 2010
Todd
rated it: 
I loved this excerpt from The Futurist (page 188-190):
There was a time when he believed. And not just because he wanted to believe, but because he really did believe. There was a time when he truly thought that things were always getting better, that the world was a remarkable place where fascinating things happened, every second. He believed that science had a heart, that progress had a conscience, and that true art happened in the last synapse before epiphany, in the unstoppable mo More...
There was a time when he believed. And not just because he wanted to believe, but because he really did believe. There was a time when he truly thought that things were always getting better, that the world was a remarkable place where fascinating things happened, every second. He believed that science had a heart, that progress had a conscience, and that true art happened in the last synapse before epiphany, in the unstoppable mo More...
May 25, 2010
Kelley
rated it: 
I read Othmer's Adland, his memoir of being in the ad business. It was hilarious, so I wanted to read his fiction, hoping to find the same sense of humor gracing the pages. The Futurist was disappointing in that regard. It's a good beach read, fast-paced, and his descriptions of things like flying at the speed of sound in a airforce jet are quite excellent. Still, this story is written too much like it's preparation for a film script, which I found annoying. Indeed, it would make a much better m
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Nov 11, 2008
Brian
rated it: 
To use the old cliché, this book had me laughing out loud. Yates, the cynical protagonist in this fast moving book, took me on a hilarious ride around the world selling bullshit to countries that could have just used the bull and not the shit. I’m not a cynic, though I ‘m cynical (yeah, right) so I appreciated the humor in this book.
I swear that I’ve met most of the characters in The Futurist, except for Magga, and frankly she scared me. I loved Jeremy, the AWOL from the Peace Corps More...
I swear that I’ve met most of the characters in The Futurist, except for Magga, and frankly she scared me. I loved Jeremy, the AWOL from the Peace Corps More...
Mar 11, 2009
Patrick
rated it:
I read this book and it is very good: the writing is very crisp and clean, but a bit distant, the main character is cynical but have a bit of a good heart to acknowledge that. After reading that, I wished that I had applied to the Futurist position so I could have been a sell out at a higher price with the best perks after college.
If you want to know more about this book, check out my review at Amazon.com
If you want to know more about this book, check out my review at Amazon.com
3 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 09, 2007
Alicia
rated it:
The Futurist is, oddly enough, about a man who makes his living as a futurist. In other words, someone who analyzes trends and predicts the future. After giving what should be a career ending speech exposing himself as a fraud, he is recruited by a secret government agency to find out what the rest of the world thinks about Americans. Of course, things spiral out of control and he finds himself pursued by Johnson and Johnson (agency men), Nostradamus and assorted other strange characters who hav
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Dec 18, 2008
Brian
rated it:
What a depressing read this was. I was intrigued by the blurbs on the cover and was hoping for an interesting story about a complex character. I was wrong.
This book felt like a bizarre hybrid of "Jerry Maguire" and those Dos Equis "Most Interesting Man in the World" commercials with the wanna be Castro guy. It's like Jerry Maguire in that the story centers on a supposed "superstar" in a prestigious field who has a crisis of conscience and renounces wh More...
This book felt like a bizarre hybrid of "Jerry Maguire" and those Dos Equis "Most Interesting Man in the World" commercials with the wanna be Castro guy. It's like Jerry Maguire in that the story centers on a supposed "superstar" in a prestigious field who has a crisis of conscience and renounces wh More...
Aug 04, 2009
Marvin
rated it:
A futurist (one who predicts future trends) has a personal & career crisis after years of increasingly selling his services by telling people what they want to hear. He gets caught up in a mysterious, dangerous assignment that brings everything to a head. It's mildly amusing & otherwise OK, but nothing to get excited about.
Mar 21, 2009
Jared
rated it:
i really dug this book. i was consciously trying to figure out why as i was reading it, and i think it simply comes down to the main character, yates. i loved his character. following him, his thought process, his travels, his decision making, that's what did if for me.
Nov 14, 2007
Brian
rated it:
At first glance, this was a book that should have been right up my alley. A guy gets sick of the BS he gets paid to feed corporate gatherings, and turns on them. As a result, he seems to be more popular than ever. He's a geek, always encouraging companies to take the next step forward in propelling the bleeding edge.
But frankly, the guy just wasn't likeable. He comes off as a smartass who spouts off one-liners and bull like it was nothing, but has no redeeming qualities that make you More...
But frankly, the guy just wasn't likeable. He comes off as a smartass who spouts off one-liners and bull like it was nothing, but has no redeeming qualities that make you More...
Jun 15, 2009
Katie
rated it:
I liked the idea of this book (a cynical futurist) better than the implementation... I would have preferred him stay cynical and funny rather than getting to the learning-a-lesson part. This book started out fairly interesting and amusing, but then kind of petered out for me.
Oct 21, 2010
Dan
rated it:
The Futurist isn't aout the future, it's a witty and sometimes biting satire on some of the absurdities of our culture today. Othmer is a talented first time writer, and this is a book that manages to pepper it's cynicism with hilarity.
Aug 16, 2008
Nick
rated it:
The Futurist was an enjoyable action thriller that weaves in technology, globalization, and the pithy philosophies of the 21st century.
This 2 day read reminded me of the DaVinci Code in that its an action adventure that has stops along the way where, through dialogue, the characters seem to almost lecture the reader on a topic of interest. Except in this book the topic is global tech philosophy instead of Christian arcana. And this book is actually good.
The autho More...
This 2 day read reminded me of the DaVinci Code in that its an action adventure that has stops along the way where, through dialogue, the characters seem to almost lecture the reader on a topic of interest. Except in this book the topic is global tech philosophy instead of Christian arcana. And this book is actually good.
The autho More...
Feb 22, 2009
Melody
rated it:
The cover jacket was promising something more entertaining than what I found inside. I thought it was depressing. I need definite good guys to root for and found most characters lacking in character!
May 06, 2011
Tim
rated it:
The futurist gives us a cynical protagonist finding redemption - while our formerly amoral protagonist has some wit and charm, the whole leaves something to be desired. Reminds me of bad coupland.
Sep 29, 2011
Allyson
rated it:
This book was chosen for a book club and it’s not something I would have picked out. At first glance, I didn’t think I’d like it. After reading it I know I was right. Hated it! The main character was not likable. He comes off as a cynical smartass that has no redeeming qualities that make you want to root for him. Some of the book was entertaining enough to keep me reading it. I liked the interesting and bizarre people he met up with. The plot lost it’s humor and became too much – wouldn’
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Aug 01, 2011
dragynlady
rated it:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Great characters and a story telling style that reminded me of a mixture of Vonnegut and Robbins. Funny and fast paced.
Jul 08, 2010
Suzana
rated it:
A very interesting book.
If you count yourself as a true reader, you will read this.
It so much counts the ineptitude, arbitrariness, and sheer popularity of fashionable ideas that if you are a free-thinker whatsoever, you would be wary of it at the very least. Wary of what? The ideas ofcourse! lol
It is a good book - please read it. I have nothing more to add.
If you count yourself as a true reader, you will read this.
It so much counts the ineptitude, arbitrariness, and sheer popularity of fashionable ideas that if you are a free-thinker whatsoever, you would be wary of it at the very least. Wary of what? The ideas ofcourse! lol
It is a good book - please read it. I have nothing more to add.
Feb 06, 2010
Megan
rated it:
Can't recall who recommended this one, but thank you!! Thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, just the right mix of cynicism and honesty.
Aug 27, 2007
Len
rated it:
This is one of the funniest novels I've read in a long, long time. It's difficult to believe this was Othmer's first novel, and I can't wait for his next one.
The Futurist is loaded with fabulous pop culture references and humorous digs at politics, advertising and pop culture itself. At times you forget it's fiction because the plot is so realistic given today's cultural climate. The novel is especially fun given that Othmer is a refuge from the advertising agency world and I'm in a More...
The Futurist is loaded with fabulous pop culture references and humorous digs at politics, advertising and pop culture itself. At times you forget it's fiction because the plot is so realistic given today's cultural climate. The novel is especially fun given that Othmer is a refuge from the advertising agency world and I'm in a More...
Jan 14, 2011
Heather
rated it:
It was nothing like what I expected. Not that that is a bad thing. I gave it a worth try, but decided to give up on it.
Oct 28, 2010
Emily
rated it:
Thanks Dan for the recommedation. Interesting read. I especially love the opening paragraphs to every chapter.
Nov 15, 2010
Martin
rated it:
A somewhat strange book that gives and interesting insight into how our world works.
It make you think.
It make you think.
Jul 16, 2010
Mary
rated it:
Smart, funny, fast-paced and oddly poignant, this novel is well worth the read. Of Othmer, I am officially a fan.
Dec 22, 2008
Elliot
rated it:
I laughed a couple times when reading this and that makes it better than "Then We Came To the End". Three stars feels like 1/2 star too many but I'm doing it anyways, just so it gets more than the aforementioned.
Aug 24, 2011
Duckie
rated it:
Dystopian novel of the present, about the future and the "coiner of the phrase," which we never learn. Pretty engaging but not great.
Apr 26, 2009
Kerry
rated it:
This is not a book I would normally pick up so I'm thankful for the wonderful book group (fiction files redux here on goodreads) that I belong to that introduced me to Mr. James P. Othmer. What I liked the most about this book was the main character Yates. I have nothing in common with him and yet I related to him completely. I loved the way he dealt with wacky situations, I loved how he thought, how he felt, and how after his epiphany he called himself on the bullshit: others' and his own.
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