Building the Future: 
A TOOLKIT FOR THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE

By Steve Boruchowitz



The Future. We dream about it. Worry about it. Sometimes try to avoid it.

It’s really better, though, to think about it.

Many organizations are asking futurists to speak to their meetings, as CLEAR did in 1999 when noted futurist Clem Bezold gave the opening presentation. Some organizations are hiring professional futurists to guide and advise decision-makers.

But you don’t have to be a professional – or even amateur – futurist to think about the future in a meaningful way. The basic concept to keep in mind is that the future doesn’t just happen. We can create it.

By examining trends in aspects of our world such as demographics, technology, and the environment, along with changes in religion, entertainment and other cultural trends, we can project (as opposed to predict) the future. If we don’t like what we see, we change one or more of those trends to make them conform to what we prefer to see.

Not an easy task necessarily, but easier if we have some tools to help us.

This "Toolkit" is a sampling of information resources to help get you started.

Happy Futuring!

  •  
 1999 State of the Future: Global Challenges We Face at the Millennium, Theodore J. Gordon. AC/UNU, 1999
  •  
 2025: Scenarios of U.S. and Global Society Reshaped by Science and Technology, Joseph F. Coates, John B. Mahaffie, and Andy Hines. Oakhill Press, 1997
  •  
 The 21st Century: Macmillan Compendium. Selections from the Two-Volume Encyclopedia of the Future (Eds.) George Thomas Kurian and Grahm T.T. Molitor. Macmillan Library Reference, 1999
  •  
 Age Right: Turn Back the Clock with a Proven, Personalized Anti-aging Program, Karlis Ullis with Greg Ptacek. Simon & Scheuster, 1999
  •  
 And Suddenly the Inventor Appeared, Gerald Alshuller. Altshuller Institute, 1996
  •  
 Anticipatory Management: 10 Power Tools for Achieving Excellence into the 21st Century, William C. Ashley and James L. Morrison. Issue Action Publications, 1995
  •  
 Beyond Malthus: Nineteen Dimensions of the Population Challenge, Lester R. Brown, Gary Gardner, and Brian Halwell. W.W. Norton, 1999
  •  
 Business @ the Speed of Thought: Using a Digital Nervous System, Bill Gates. Warner Books, 1999
  •  
 The Career Chase: Taking Creative Control in a Chaotic Age, Helen Harkness. Davies-Black, 1997
  •  
 Cheating Death: The Promise and the Future Impact of Trying to Live Forever, Marvin Cetron and Owen Davies. St. Martin’s Press, 1998
  •  
 Choosing the Future: The Power of Strategic Thinking, Stuart Wells. Butterworth-Heinemann, 1998
  •  
 The Clock of the Long Now: Time and Responsibility, Steward Brand. Basic Books, 1999
  •  

Competing in the Third Wave: The Ten Key Management Issues of the Information Age, Jeremy Hope and Tony Hope. Harvard Business School Press, 1997

  •  
 Competitive Intelligence: Scanning the Global Environment, Robert Salmon and Yolanie de Linares. Economica, 1999
  •  
 The Complete Book of Survival, Rainer Stahlberg. Barricade Books, 1998
  •  
 Comprehensive Planning for the 21st Century: General Theory and Principles, Melville C. Branch. Praeger, 1998
  •  
 Conscious Evolution: Awakening the Power of Our Social Potential, Barbara Marx Hubbard. New World Library, 1998
  •  
 Conquering Uncertainty, Theodore Modis. McGraw-Hill, 1998
  •  
 Countdown Y2K: Business Survival Planning for the Year 2000, Peter deJager and Richard Bergeon. Wiley, 1999
  •  
 Cracking Creativity: The Secrets of Creative Genius, Michael Michalko. Ten Speed Press, 1998
  •  
 Creating Your Future: Five Steps to the Life of Your Dreams, Dave Ellis. Houghton Miffin, 1998
  •  
 The Creative Problem Solver’s Toolbox: A Complete Course in the Art of Creating Solutions to Problems of Any Kind, Richard Fobes. Solutions Through Innovation, 1993
  •  
 The Creativity Force in Education, Business, and Beyond: An Urgent Message, Berenice Bleedorn. Guide Press, 1998
  •  
 The De-Voicing of Society: Why We Don’t Talk to Each Other Anymore, John L. Locke. Simon & Schuster, 1998
  •  
 The Foresight Principle: Cultural Recovery in the 21st Century, Richard A. Slaughter. Praeger, 1995
  •  
 Exploring Your Future: Living Learning, and Working in the Information Age, Edward Cornish (ed.). WFS, 1996
  •  
 Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. BasicBooks, 1997
  •  
 Foundations of Futures Studies: Human Science for a New Era. History, Purposes, and Knowledge, Wendell Bell. Transaction Publishers, 1996 (Volume 1)
  •  
 Foundations of Futures Studies: Human Science for a New Era. Values, Objectivity, and the Good Society, Wendell Bell. Transaction Publishers, 1996 (Volume 2)
  •  
 Fray Dawn: How the Coming Age Wave Will Transform America-and the World, Peter G. Peterson. Time Books, 1999
  •  
 Free Market Fusion: How Entrepreneurs and Nonprofits Create 21st Century Success, Glenn R. Jones. Cyber Publishing Group, 1999
  •  
 Frontiers of the 21st Century: Prelude to the New Millennium, Howard F. Didsbury, Jr. World Future Society, 1999.
  •  
 Funny, I Don’t Feel Old! How to Flourish After 50, Carter Henderson. ICS Press, 1997
  •  
 The Future Is Ours: Foreseeing, Managing and Creating the Future, Graham H. May. Praeger, 1996
  •  
 Future Revolutions: Unraveling the Uncertainties of Life & Work in the 21st Century, David Mercer. Orion Business Books, 1999
  •  
 Future Trends in Microelectronic: The Road Ahead, Serge Luryi, Jimmy Xu, and Alex Zaslavsky (Eds.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1999
  •  
 Future Vision: Ideas, Insights, and Strategies, Howard F. Didsbury, J. World Future Society, 1996
  •  
 Future War: Non-Lethal Weapons in Modern Warfare, John Alexander. Foreword by Tom Clancy, Thomas Dunne. St. Martin’s Press, 1999
  •  
 The Future of Management: All Roads Lead to Man, Robert Salmon, Translated by Larry Cohen. Blackwell Publishers, 1996
  •  

This Futurist Directory: A Guide to Individuals Who Write, Speak, or Consult About the Future. Millennium Edition

  •  
 Futures Concepts and Powerful Ideas, Richard A. Slaugher. DDM Media Group, 1996
  •  
 Futures Studies: Methods, Emerging Issues, and Civilisational Visions, Sohail Inayatullah and Paul Wilderman. Prosperity Press. CD-ROM, Version 1.0
  •  
 Futures Tools and Techniques, Richard A. Slaughter. DDM Media Group, 1996
  •  
 Global Mind Change: The Promise of the 21st Century, Willis Hanman (Ed.). 2nd Edition, 1998
  •  
 The Hidden Intelligence: Innovation Through Intuition, Sandra Weintraub. Butterworth-Heinemann, 1998
  •  

The Infinite Resource: Creating and Leading the Knowledge Enterprise, William E. Hallal (Ed.). Jossey-Bass, 1998

  •  
 Insider’s Guide to the Future, Edith Weiner and Arnold Brown. Boardroom Books, 1997
  •  

An Introduction to TRIZ-The Russian Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, Stan Kaplan, Ph.D. Ideation International, 1996
  •  
 Invention of Impact: Scenarios, Thomas J. Frey. DaVinci Institute, 1998
  •  
 The Knowledge Base of Futures Studies, Richard A. Slaughter. DDM Medial Group, 1996
  •  
 Leadership and Futuring: Making Visions Happen, John R. Hoyle. Corwin Press, 1995
  •  
 Learning from the Future: Competitive Foresight Scenarios (Eds.) Liam Fahey and Robert M. Randall. Wiley, 1998
  •  
 The Limits of Privacy, Amitai Etzioni. Basic Books, 1999
  •  
 Living in the Third Millennium, Konrad M. Kressley. Factor Press, 1998
  •  
 The Longevity Strategy: How to Live to 100 Using the Brain-Body Connection, David Mahoney and Richard Restak. Wiley, 1998
  •  
 The Macmillan Atlas of the Future, Ian Pearson. Macmillan Reference, 1998
  •  
 The Manager’s Pocket Guide to Creativity, Alexander Hiam. HRD Press, 1998
  •  
 Managing Complexity: Work, Technology, Resources, and Human Relations, James C. Stephens. Lomond, 1997
  •  
 Millennium: Rendezvous with Future, (Eds.) Carlos Hernandez and Rashmi Mayur. International Institute for Sustainable Future, 1998
  •  
 The Millennium Report, David Wolfson (Ed.). 2000CDN/Infinica Inc., 1998
  •  
 The New Organizational Wealth: Managing & Measuring Knowledge-Based Assets, Karl Erik Sveiby. Berrett-Koehler, 1997
  •  
 New Thinking for a New Millennium, Richard A. Slaughter (Ed.). Routledge, 1996
  •  
 The Next Twenty Years of Your Life: A Personal Guide Into the Year 2017, Richard Worzel. Stoddart, 1997
  •  
 OCTAVE: Analytical Bibliography of Future Oriented Studies in Western Europe (1993-1995) Huges de Jouvenel (Ed.). Futuribles International, 1996
  •  
 On Becoming a Servant Leader: The Private Writings of Robert K. Greenleaf, Don M. Frick and Larry C. Spears. Jossey-Bass, 1996
  •  
 Out of the Blue: Wild Cards and Other Big Future Surprises, John L. Peterson. Arlington Institutem 1997
  •  
 Outlook 1999, The Futurist, December 1998
  •  
 Power Tools: A Leader’s Guide to the Lates Management Thinking, John Nirenberg. Prentice Hall, 1997
  •  
 Predicting the Future: An Introduction to the Theory of Forecasting, Nicholas Rescher. SUNY Press, 1998
  •  

Preferred Futuring: Envision the Future you Want and Unleash the Energy to Get There, Lawrence L. Lippitt. Berrett-Koehler, 1998
  •  
 Preparing Students for the 21st Century, Donna Uchida, Marvin Cetrone, and Floretta McKenzie. American Association of School Administrators, 1996
  •  
 Raising Lifelong Learners: A Parent’s Guide, Lucy Calkins with Lydia Bellino. Addision-Wesley, 1997
  •  
 Rosabeth Moss Kanter on the Frontier of Management, Rosabeth Moss Kanter. Harvard Business School Press, 1997
  •  
 Scanning the Future: 20 Eminent Thinkers on the World of Tomorrow, Yorick Blumenfeld (Ed.). Thames and Hudson, Inc., 1999
  •  
 Scenario Planning: Managing for the Future, Gill Ringland; Foreword by Peter Schwartz. Wiley, 1998
  •  
 Science and Technology for Eight Billion People: Europe’s Responsibility, Peter H. Mettler (Ed.). Adamantine Press, 1995
  •  
 The Search Conference: A Powerful Method for Planning Organizational Change and Community Action, Merrelyn Emery and Ronald E. Purser. Jossey-Bass, 1996
  •  
 A Short History of the Future, Warren Wager. The University of Chicago Press, 1999
  •  
 Simulation, Planning, and Society, Melville C. Branch. Praeger, 1997
  •  
 Smart Choices: A Practical Guide to Making Better Decisions, John S. Hammond, Ralph L. Keeney, and Howard Raiffa. Harvard Business School Press, 1998
  •  
 Strategic Management for the XXIst Century, M. Reza Vaghefi and Allan B. Huellmantel. St. Lucie Press, 1998
  •  
 Strategic Planning Workbook for Nonprofit Organizations, Bryan W. Barry. Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, 1997
  •  
 Strategic Safari: A Guided Tour Through the Wilds of Strategic Management, Henry Mintzberg, Bruce Ahlstrand, and Joseph Lampel. Free Press, 1998
  •  
 Team-Based Strategic Planning: A Complete Guide to Structuring, Facilitating, and Implementing the Process, C. Davis Fogg. AMACOM, 1994
  •  
 Technology in Context: Technology Assessment for Managers, Ernest Braun. Routledge, 1998
  •  
 Technology and the Future of Health Care: Preparing for the Next 30 years, David Ellis, Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1999.
  •  

Threshold 2000: Critical Issues and Spiritual Values for a Global Age, Gerald O. Barney with Jane Blewett and Kristen R. Barney. CoNexus Press, 1999
  •  
 Towards the Creative Society: 21st Century Social Dynamics, in Foresight, Camford Publishing, Vol. 2, No. 1, February 2000.
  •  
 Travel That Can Change Your Life: How to Create a Transformative Experience, Jeffrey A. Kottler. Jossey-Bass, 1997
  •  
 Trends and Forecasts for the New Millennium, The Futurist, August-September 1998
  •  
 A View From the Year 3000: A Ranking of the 100 Most Influential Persons of All Time, Michael H. Hart. Poseidon Press, 1999
  •  
 Visionary Leadership: Creating a Compelling Sense of Direction for Your Organization, Burt Nanus. Jossey-Bass, 1992
  •  
 The Vision Retreat: A Participant’s Workbook, Burt Nanus. Jossey-Bass, 1995
  •  

Vital Signs 1999: The Environmental Trends That Are Shaping Our Future, Lester R. Brown, et al. W.W. Norton, 1999
  •  
 "What Will Our Houses Look Like?" Wes Jones, in Visions of the 21st Century, time.com reports, February 21, 2000.
  •  
 What Teens Need to Succeed: Proven, Practical Ways to Shape Your Own Future, Peter L. Benson, Judy Galbraith, and Pamela Expeland. Free Spirit, 1998
  •  
 Where to Go from Here: Discovering Your Own Life’s Wisdom in the Second Half of Your Life, James E. Birren and Lindal Feldman. Simon & Schuster, 1997
  •  
 Which World? Scenarios for the 21st Century, Allan Hammond. Island Press, 1998
  •  
 "Will Robots learn to build their own future?" Robert Adler, New Scientist, September 11, 1999.




COPYRIGHT 2000. Rights to copy and distribute this publication are hereby granted to members of the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR), providing credit is given to CLEAR and copies are not distributed for profit.