by Al Gore
First published 2013
Al Gore turns his analytical lens toward six transformative forces that will define humanity's future. The former vice president and bestselling author identifies how economic globalization has created what he calls "Earth Inc," an integrated global entity that operates differently from past economic systems. He explores the emergence of a "Global Mind" through digital communications and internet connectivity that links billions of people with intelligent machines and vast databases. Gore examines shifting power balances as influence moves from a U.S.-centered world to multiple power centers, from nation-states to private actors. He critiques current economic thinking that drives unsustainable consumption and resource depletion. The book covers advances in genomics, biotechnology, and life sciences that put evolutionary control in human hands. Gore also addresses the disrupted relationship between humans and Earth's ecosystems alongside energy system transformations. Drawing on his decades of policy experience, Gore provides historical context for current trends and offers a learned forecast for navigating these changes.
Genres: business, economics, environment, non-fiction, 21st-century, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: informed-perspective
592 pages · Hardcover · Random House