The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change

Former Vice President Al Gore has done an important public service by consolidating many of the major issues and trends facing this country and the planet into one utterly depressing, but necessary, fact-based book. Even if you are very well-informed and know something about each of the issues in this book, you will probably learn something you didn't know. I enjoyed his putting issues in historical context and demonstrating, not only his technical knowledge, but also his philosophical perspective. Not so much a call to action, it is a call to sanity.

“The Future” is extremely well-researched, thoughtful and eye-opening. Al Gore does a great job with the narration!

If you listen to only one book this year, it should be this one. And then buy a copy and read it to your kids. The future may depend upon it.

Pretty high. It's a concise expanded essay on the challenges facing the global community and the United States in particular. Gore spends a good deal of time laying the groundwork for each challenge that will impact the future of humanity--from global climate change (his linchpin issue) to the use of biotech and its ethical considerations, to the interconnected, fragile global financial system.

Al Gore's The Assault On Reason is a nice introduction to the topics in this book.

The description of the use of fiber optic lines in providing the financial industry ever increasing transaction speeds.

Yes, but it is long.

The new technologies in the book are not bad. But, Al Gore admits that he is known for having a boring personality. So why die he decide to read his own book using his monotone voice? I could not listen any more, the reading was too dull. In danger of sleeping while driving.

Al, I like you as a statesman, but wow, you're really dry on the narration! Listening to this book in my car, I have to be careful not to doze off!

The content gets mixed reviews from me. Some I found interesting (like technological advances in the makings for the near future, and perspectives on historical technology development and their impacts) and other I found boring (conservatives have it all wrong - I get tired of political dialogue from both sides talking about the shortcomings of the other side ... I get it, left doesn't see through right's eyes and refuses to even consider right's perspective, and similarly right doesn't and can't see through left's eyes).

Overall ... I think I'd buy the book again, but I'm certainly ready to move onto to something new.

I think the print version would be better though harder to get through. Gore has done a great job with his data but there is no opportunity to reflect on it in audio

not applicable

Gore should not be narrating. His intelligence exceeds his place as a evocative compelling narrator

The Future For Now and What We Face and Do Not Know or Address

There is a bit of the sky is falling and it may indeed. The strength of the book is the questions; the weakness is its answers....

FACTS, FACTS and FACTS

Everything regarding population growth. Had no idea! Too many bodies on this boat. We better learn how to swim.

NO

NO

Yes, I would recomend this book, althoug it may me a little hard at the beggining to understand all the variables intertwined, this book is a great window into the future!

and other policies which could harm the earth. Also a broad discussion of future technologies. I didn't know about the dangerous, out of control population growth in parts of Africa, Latin America and Asia, where it is up to 30 times the rate of North America and Europe, and the declining number of births of white Americans vs. foreign immigrants to this country. I also thought an interesting discussion of future advances in bio-tech, medicine, electronics and environmentally friendly technologies. I wasn't so enthusiastic about his proposing wealth distribution and increased taxes on estates and families. 2 of 3 aint bad Gore!

I was very disappointed, Al Gore lacks vision...
If Al realized that he did not have much to say about the future, and simple explore the different possibilities, and made sure that he did not mixes perspectives on the future, the book might have worked. His understanding of the financial markets was very interesting and maybe if he had explore that more in depth? There were probably a couple of good book ideas in here, he just needed to focuses more on one of them.

Al lacks a good understanding of energy. And because of this he spent no time at all looking at nuclear options, China is investing heavily in nuclear energy, and based on that alone his coal burning numbers are off. Al talks extensively about old school farming, but never talked about Vertical Farming, because Al never puts together 3D printing and building Vertical Farms... Hydroponic vertical farms solve many of the problems Al mentions. The truth is he named a lot of the right people, he just lacks an understanding to see how it all comes together

Al has a pretty good understanding of informational technology and the idea of animal sexting was both funny and reassuring that Al really does have a sense of humor.

I am a sucker for fact and figures...

Al spends way too much time talking about the future he doesn't want to see, and virtually no time on talking about the future he wants to see. The book is way too negative, and he lacks a problem solving perspective.