Dan Wang’s Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future is not just a book about China. It is a book about what happens when a society decides that building matters more than debating, that execution matters more than process, and that national ambition should show up in steel, concrete, factories, power systems, and supply chains. Wang’s central argument is memorable because it is so simple: China operates as an engineering state, while the United States has drifted into what he calls a lawyerly society. In his framing, China’s governing class tends to think like builders, while America’s elite class increasingly thinks like litigators, gatekeepers, and procedural managers. The result is not merely a difference in politics. It is a difference in what each society can actually get done.
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Superbloom – Nicholas Carr
In Superbloom, Nicholas Carr offers a piercing meditation on one of the great paradoxes of our era: the more connected we become, the more fragmented we feel. Published in early 2025, the book lands at a time when digital platforms dominate our institutions, AI shapes our attention, and trust—once the connective tissue of society—is visibly eroding.
Carr’s thesis is clear: technologies designed to bring us closer—social networks, real-time communication, algorithmic personalization—are fraying the very bonds they claim to strengthen. But his brilliance lies not only in the critique, but in the way he examines the deeper human and societal costs of hyperconnection. He speaks to a civilization immersed in stimulation, yet starved for meaning.
Continue readingBook Review: Technology And The Rise of Great Powers By Jeffrey Ding
Why Diffusion, Not Invention, Determines Who Leads in the Age of Transformative Technologies
In an era obsessed with technological “firsts,” Jeffrey Ding’s Technology and the Rise of Great Powers delivers a counterintuitive revelation: the nations that dominate the future won’t necessarily be those that invent the most, but rather those that diffuse innovations the fastest. By shifting the spotlight from invention to diffusion, Ding fundamentally reframes the debate on global competitiveness – with profound implications for policymakers, businesses, and societies.
Continue readingNavigating A World Of Permanent Crisis: A Review Of Robert D. Kaplan’s Waste Land
Robert D. Kaplan’s latest book, Waste Land: A World in Permanent Crisis, presents an unsettling yet necessary exploration into our current global predicament. True to Kaplan’s distinguished career, this book expertly connects historical contexts with today’s increasingly complex reality, a practice that resonates deeply with my own work on examining historical lessons to better understand our evolving future.
Continue readingBook Review: Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit
Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit is a rare and thought-provoking collaboration among a statesman whose influence has spanned decades, Henry Kissinger, and two technology visionaries, Eric Schmidt and Craig Mundie. Together, they present a sweeping examination of artificial intelligence (AI) – its towering promises, its urgent perils, and its profound implications for human identity, governance, and morality.
Continue readingA Sweeping Narrative Of Human Progress
In How Economics Explains the World: A Short History of Humanity, Andrew Leigh, a Harvard-trained economist, presents a comprehensive and engaging narrative that delves into the profound impact of economic forces on human history. This book, though concise at under 200 pages, spans a vast timeline from the advent of agriculture to the present day, including the era of artificial intelligence.
Continue readingNexus: A Deep Dive Into Humanity’s Information Age
In his latest book titled Nexus – A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI, author Yuval Noah Harari describes the role that information networks have played in shaping society. A nexus is a connection or series of connections linking two or more things. It often refers to a central or focal point where multiple elements converge or interact. The term is used in various contexts to describe relationships or linkages within systems, networks, or concepts that are interconnected.
Continue readingSuperconvergence
“Superconvergence” by Jamie Metzl is an insightful exploration into the technological revolutions reshaping our world. Metzl, a renowned futurist, delves into the interplay between artificial intelligence, genome sequencing, gene editing, biotechnology, and other revolutionary technologies that he believes are converging to transform humanity. Those that follow my work know that I am a big believer in convergence – both as a historical driver in transformative eras and a current day phenomenon. I have added the book to my library.
Overview: Metzl argues that we are at the cusp of a superconvergence – a period where multiple technological advancements simultaneously come to fruition, creating unprecedented changes. He provides a well-researched narrative, enriched with historical context and current scientific insights, to illustrate how these technologies are evolving and impacting various aspects of society.
Continue readingDisrupt With Impact
I had the pleasure of reviewing an early copy of a book authored by Roger Spitz. The book titled Disrupt with Impact is scheduled to launch on September 24, 2024. Roger Spitz is a futurist, author, and President of Techistential, a foresight strategy consultancy. He also chairs the Disruptive Futures Institute, a global education hub which empowers organizations and entrepreneurs. His work has been featured in numerous media outlets, such as Fast Company, WIRED, and MIT Technology Review. He is based in San Francisco, USA.
As a futurist, I find the book to be a compelling and timely exploration of the challenges and opportunities facing leaders in our rapidly evolving world. Spitz masterfully weaves together insights on technological convergence, artificial intelligence, and the blurring of industry boundaries to paint a vivid picture of the disruptive landscape we must navigate. His concept of UN-VICE (Unknown, Volatile, Intersecting, Complex, and Exponential) resonates strongly, effectively capturing the essence of our current era and the imperative for new approaches to leadership and decision-making.
Continue readingGeopolitics In Flux: Why The Current Moment Matters
“New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West” by David E. Sanger offers a comprehensive analysis of the current geopolitical landscape, focusing on emerging tensions between the United States, China, and Russia. Sanger, a veteran national security correspondent for The New York Times, draws on his extensive experience to provide readers with a nuanced understanding of the complex challenges facing the world.
The book explores how the traditional concept of a Cold War has evolved in the 21st century, with China’s economic and technological ascendancy and Russia’s aggressive military actions reshaping global power dynamics. Sanger argues that these new cold wars differ significantly from the US-Soviet conflict of the 20th century, presenting unique challenges for global stability.
Continue readingBrave New Words: Unleashing The Potential Of AI-Driven Education
I just finished reading my most recent book titled Brave New Words, written by renowned education innovator and entrepreneur Salman Khan. In “Brave New Words”, Salman Khan explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in education. With his signature clarity and vision, Khan outlines a future where AI-powered learning systems enhance human teaching, increase accessibility, and foster a more equitable education system. This book offers a roadmap for educators, policymakers, and learners to navigate the AI revolution in education and unlock the full potential of humanity. I highly recommend it and have added the book to my Library.
Continue readingAge Of Revolutions
Another book hits my library. “Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash From 1600 to the Present” by Fareed Zakaria is a thought-provoking exploration of the upheavals, breakthroughs, backlashes, and transformations that shaped Western liberalism and industrial modernity. It’s the signals of history that illuminate possible futures – and Mr. Zakaria’s book is loaded with signals, Here are the key points:
Continue readingBook: Our Biggest Fight – A Fight For A Better Digital World
I finished reading my most recent book. This one titled Our Biggest Fight focuses once again on the dual paths of innovation – in this case, the Internet. I have added the book to my library and provide a brief summary below.
The internet, once a beacon of hope and connection, has become a battleground according to Frank H. McCourt Jr.’s new book, “Our Biggest Fight: Reclaiming Liberty, Humanity, and Dignity in the Digital Age.” Published in March 2024, the book argues that the current state of the internet, dominated by big tech companies and manipulative algorithms, is a threat to our freedoms and well-being.
Continue readingInnovation: Boom Or Bust? Two Books Offer Divergent Views Of The Future
I finished reading another book.
Vaclav Smil’s 2023 book, Invention and Innovation: A Brief History of Hype and Failure, takes a critical look at our fascination with innovation. Smil argues that we often confuse invention, the creation of something new, with innovation, the successful implementation and adoption of that invention. My focus on this book comes right after finishing a somewhat similar book titled The Conservatist Futurist. Similar, in that the books both focus on innovation. However, they diverge on the topic of optimism versus pessimism.
Continue readingChasing the Future: A Look at “The Conservative Futurist”
Since the launch of the TCS study on AI and the future of work, the discussion has centered on the positive sentiment expressed by participants. Many have stated that it is refreshing to see a positive perspective among all the doom and gloom. By sheer coincidence, I was in the middle of reading a book titled The Conservative Futurist as we prepared to launch the study. I finished the book and have added it to my library.
If people found the study refreshing, they will love this book. Remember those sci-fi visions of a world brimming with technological marvels – flying cars, limitless energy, and spacefaring colonies? In “The Conservative Futurist,” James Pethokoukis argues that these visions were not only achievable but are still very much within reach.
Pethokoukis identifies a shift in the cultural landscape. America, once a beacon of optimistic futurism, seems to have grown wary of progress. Fear of job displacement by AI, environmental anxieties, and economic stagnation have replaced the can-do spirit.
Continue readingThe Loom Of Time
I just finished reading a book that instantly drew my attention. Given the role the Middle East has played historically, and considering our current day situation, the region plays a significant role in our geopolitical future. The book titled The Loom of Time by Robert D. Kaplan explores this harsh geography that he considers a register of future great-power struggles across the globe, as it always has been in the past.
Like in the past, thousands of years of imperial rule will continue to cast a long shadow on politics as it is practiced today, in a region where stability remains a prized commodity.
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Why Empires Fall
To better explore the geopolitical portion of the convergence phenomena, I read another book that looked into possible geopolitical futures based on the history of one of the biggest empires – Rome. The authors (Peter Heather, John Rapley) provide a thorough analysis of the factors that drove the fall of the Roman empire. They then apply this analysis to current state of the global west.
Continue readingThe Interplay Between Corporations, Nations, And Artificial Intelligence
How do we govern a world increasingly impacted by advances in artificial intelligence? What role will nations and corporations play? This question concerning governance is now top of mind, with questions emerging in various forums that I participate in. As we contemplate future governance models, it is instructive to focus first on the past. In a recent book titled The Handover, author David Runciman explores the historical role of corporations and nations. He describes both as artificial agents and compares them to artificial intelligence. He then explores the interplay between the three. Here is a summary of the major book themes.
Continue readingPermacrisis – A Plan To Fix A Fractured World
I finished reading my most recent book titled Permacrisis, authored by Gordon Brown, Mohamad A. El-Erian, and Michael Spence. The book was recommended by Mimi Brooks, who did a review of it here. This was a very impactful book written by three of the most internationally respected and experienced thinkers of our time. As described by the Amazon abstract, the book focused on a cascade of crises: sputtering growth, surging inflation, poor policy responses, an escalating climate emergency, worsening inequality, increasing nationalism and a decline in global co-operation. While they do a great job of identifying the challenges, they also prescribe solutions. Given their experience base, we should pay very close attention to both sides of this story. I have added the book to my library and provide a brief summary below.
The world is undergoing a profound transformation marked by multifaceted economic, social, and technological shifts, altering the familiar landscape of the past three decades. This book delves into key messages regarding the challenges and opportunities presented by these changes, emphasizing the importance of understanding evolving dynamics.
Continue readingQuantum Supremacy
Quantum computing was a hot topic in recent sessions, so i thought I’d brush up on all things quantum. To do that, I read a book titled Quantum Supremacy. Author Michio Kaku explores the rise of quantum computers and its potential to address many of our societal challenges. He envisions an end to the age of silicon and digital and the dawn of the quantum age. We learn the fundamentals of quantum mechanics and the staggering growth in compute capacity that it drives.
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Reimagining the Future 