The Future of Everything: Big, Audacious Ideas for a Better World

by Tim Dunlop

We are in the middle of the greatest technological revolution in history. Its epicentre lies in Silicon Valley, but its impacts are felt on all corners of the earth. It could give all of us a better quality of life and new, more cooperative ways of living. Or it could further concentrate the world's wealth in the hands of a few. This book offers a bold vision for ensuring that we achieve the former. A world that is fairer, less violent and most radical of all, more joyous. Tim Dunlop spells out his ideas for reclaiming common ground systematically, arguing the case for more public ownership of essential assets, more public space, a transparent media system and an education that prepares us for the future, not the past. His vision for improved democracies and societies is practical and realistic, grounded in knowledge of what we are doing well and what we must do better. He argues that we have the policy tools to make it happen - what we need is public and political will.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Economics

458 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2019

Reviews

[Michael Reilly]

I enjoyed Tim Dunlop’s thoughtful ideas in his previous book, Why the Future is Workless, so was keen to read this examination of ‘everything’ to see what impact these proposals could offer our troubled world. As before, Dunlop rightly questions elite control of systems and beliefs, and challenges assumptions that radical change only equates to substantial upheaval, to present studious plans to enact positive people-led change through community ownership, innovation, and closer scrutiny of all who unfairly profit from our lives.

Previously not wise to the possibilities of sortation, I’d like to see this implemented to add public oversight and enhanced ownership to our ‘democratic’ governments, and in conjunction with the type of educational reforms discussed here, agree about the need to shift our focus from ‘job-readiness’ to something that creates enhanced thinkers to better tackle the changes we’re already witnessing. I also concur with Dunlop’s view about the unpaid labour of data creation – compensation should be demanded and then fairly distributed by governments so that all can benefit from this process.

The Future of Everything is a positive assessment of our situation, and a desirable vision of what could be if we seek equitable solutions to our growing malaise.

[Lee Belbin]

An extremely insightful and uncommon sense book about our current world situation. Wonderful to see all those Australian examples and quotations instead of the USA. There are many wonderful quotes such as “..the ideas of Ayn Rand and her whole notion of ‘going Galt’. The basic thrust of such movements is to make capitalism safe from democracy’. An education.