Before we get into the swing of the new year, I’m going to write briefly about some of the books that left an impression on me in 2024. These aren’t in any particular order, and there’s a mix of non-fiction and fiction.
Big Food, Big Tobacco, and Ultra-Processed Foods
An extensive selection of the companies that make them have just been served with a lawsuit in an American court.
An extensive selection of the companies that make them have just been served with a lawsuit in an American court.
States Have a Shelf Life of About 200 Years
One of the things that popped up in the chat while I was talking immediately caught my attention, given my interest in long waves and futures.
One of the things that popped up in the chat while I was talking immediately caught my attention, given my interest in long waves and futures.
Creating Paths for Change
The manuscript for Braving Uncertainty was drafted by Ewing before his death and for that reason we can think of this as his “legacy” book, even if publication has been delayed for a decade.
The manuscript for Braving Uncertainty was drafted by Ewing before his death and for that reason we can think of this as his “legacy” book, even if publication has been delayed for a decade.
The Great Fertility Shift
This change is being driven by a deep-rooted collapse in fertility in most parts of the world.
This change is being driven by a deep-rooted collapse in fertility in most parts of the world.
Six Narratives About Trump’s Election
One of the more persuasive charts on the election was shared by John Burn-Murdoch of the Financial Times.
One of the more persuasive charts on the election was shared by John Burn-Murdoch of the Financial Times.
Soft Simulations and the Next Attack on the Capitol
This was an exercise or “game” to better understand the seriousness of the threat.”
This was an exercise or “game” to better understand the seriousness of the threat.”
Designing Organisations That Work
The question that Davies starts out with is about how it is that the modern organisation has become structured in structured in such a way that when bad things happen, to customers, or users, or suppliers, no one can be found to be accountable for these poor outcomes.
The question that Davies starts out with is about how it is that the modern organisation has become structured in structured in such a way that when bad things happen, to customers, or users, or suppliers, no one can be found to be accountable for these poor outcomes.
Keeping Students in School, Instead of Failing Them
Overall, 18% of British schoolchildren—100,000 young people—leave school each year without any usable qualifications. (In the best-in-class Netherlands, the comparable figure is 4.4%).
Overall, 18% of British schoolchildren—100,000 young people—leave school each year without any usable qualifications. (In the best-in-class Netherlands, the comparable figure is 4.4%).
Wrestling With Britain’s ‘Stagnation’ Crisis
Because this chart (taken in this version from the Financial Times) is really the only thing you need to know about British politics at the moment.
Because this chart (taken in this version from the Financial Times) is really the only thing you need to know about British politics at the moment.
Cybernetics and the Science of Managing Our Crisis
Once you’re exposed to these ideas, they become a bit infectious, and it wasn’t long until I had worked though a large chunk of his library, even if much of the mathematics that sits behind cybernetic thinking is beyond me.
Once you’re exposed to these ideas, they become a bit infectious, and it wasn’t long until I had worked though a large chunk of his library, even if much of the mathematics that sits behind cybernetic thinking is beyond me.
Changing the ‘Toxic’ Discourse on Migration
Research shows that people greatly overestimate the total number of immigrants, think immigrants are culturally and religiously more distant from them, and economically weaker – less educated, more unemployed, and more reliant on and favored by government transfers – than they actually are.
Research shows that people greatly overestimate the total number of immigrants, think immigrants are culturally and religiously more distant from them, and economically weaker – less educated, more unemployed, and more reliant on and favored by government transfers – than they actually are.
Understanding Systems Thinking
All of the images here are courtesy of Gerald Midgley, who generously shared his slides after his talk. AFNZ has also shared a video of the talk online.
All of the images here are courtesy of Gerald Midgley, who generously shared his slides after his talk. AFNZ has also shared a video of the talk online.
The Red May Day and the Green May Day
Different cultures celebrated this in different ways.
Different cultures celebrated this in different ways.
Asking Questions About the Future
The Art of Strategic Conversation. In turn the book is probably the best single explanation of the Shell scenarios method.
The Art of Strategic Conversation. In turn the book is probably the best single explanation of the Shell scenarios method.
Using ‘Literary Futures’ to Open up the Imagination
I’ve been aware of the concept of “literary futures” since I attended a workshop at Lancaster University’s then Institute for Social Futures in early 2020.
I’ve been aware of the concept of “literary futures” since I attended a workshop at Lancaster University’s then Institute for Social Futures in early 2020.