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The Fourth Industrial Revolution  By  cover art

The Fourth Industrial Revolution

By: Klaus Schwab
Narrated by: Nicholas Guy Smith
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Editorial reviews

"This book is essential reading for corporate leaders, policy makers, and citizens interested in navigating the challenges and understanding the opportunities which lie ahead thanks to the impact of emerging technologies. Clearly, the profound shifts happening will leave no business model untouched and no society unshaken. Klaus Schwab reminds us of our individual and collective power to ensure that the fourth industrial revolution is a far more sustainable, empowering, and inclusive one than the last three." (Muhtar A. Kent, chairman of the board and chief executive officer, The Coca-Cola Company)

Publisher's summary

World-renowned economist Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, explains that we have an opportunity to shape the fourth industrial revolution, which will fundamentally alter how we live and work.

Schwab argues that this revolution is different in scale, scope, and complexity from any that have come before. Characterized by a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital, and biological worlds, the developments are affecting all disciplines, economies, industries, and governments and even challenging ideas about what it means to be human.

Artificial intelligence is already all around us, from supercomputers, drones, and virtual assistants to 3-D printing, DNA sequencing, smart thermostats, wearable sensors, and microchips smaller than a grain of sand. But this is just the beginning: nanomaterials 200 times stronger than steel and a million times thinner than a strand of hair and the first transplant of a 3-D printed liver are already in development. Imagine "smart factories" in which global systems of manufacturing are coordinated virtually or implantable mobile phones made of biosynthetic materials.

The fourth industrial revolution, says Schwab, is more significant, and its ramifications more profound than in any prior period of human history. He outlines the key technologies driving this revolution and discusses the major impacts expected on government, business, civil society, and individuals. Schwab also offers bold ideas on how to harness these changes and shape a better future - one in which technology empowers people rather than replaces them; in which progress serves society rather than disrupts it; and in which innovators respect moral and ethical boundaries rather than cross them. We all have the opportunity to contribute to developing new frameworks that advance progress.

©2017 Klaus Schwab (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Only organizations driven by purpose and values will be fully able to shape and benefit from the seismic technological, social and economic transformations underway. Klaus Schwab compellingly outlines why all of us must work to ensure that the fourth industrial revolution has at its heart the stakeholder principle, ensuring that the benefits of transformation are as much a public good as a private gain. This book is required reading for my entire leadership team." (Marc R. Benioff, chairman and chief executive officer, Salesforce)
"In The Fourth Industrial Revolution, professor Klaus Schwab puts forth a thoughtful framework for leaders to meet the challenge of maximizing the benefits of the profound technological, social, and economic transformation reshaping society. Drawing on over four decades of bringing together governments, private sector, and other parts of civil society, Schwab starts a wide-ranging discussion on how we can help to ensure that the fourth industrial revolution drives progress for humankind."(Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO and founder of LeanIn.Org)

What listeners say about The Fourth Industrial Revolution

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Comprehensive stab at giving future directions

Great listen. Just be open to the wide and sometimes detailed explorations. And forget what is said on the internet about the writer ;-) It is a memory on our common journey full of open ends.

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Best Book of 2018

this is the best book I've read from 2018. Thats all I wanted to say but they're making me write 15 words so...... there they are.

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3 people found this helpful

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Excellent preview of a future that is inevitable

Truly an informative preview of a future which will forever change humanity and our world through the power of technology.

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Not super informative. Mostly article headlines.

This book reads like a condensed version of a bunch of tech crunch articles. most people interested enough in the topic to buy the book would be aware of most of the things mentioned in the book and thus not get much from it.

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Wonderful book, poorly read

This amazing book outlines what is happening at the forefront of the forth industrial revolution. But the story is boringly read...

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Game Changing!

Very informative. Whoever takes the time to listen to, or read this work, will find themselves way ahead of the curb.

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Nice topic, but superficial

all the ideas here are well know facts already and they are not particularly discussed in depth. The fact that it's already a few years old does not help. There is no historical comparison between this and previous industrial revolutions and the impact they had, and this is a pity.

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I should have read this earlier.

I think if I had read this closer to publishing date I would have been more impressed. The narrator was horrible. He must have thought it was a suspense novel. The information is good but old. I would be very interested in an updated version.

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informational

this is a very Insightful book on what's to come in the future I highly recommend listening to this book.

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The false prophet...

If only this concept didn't involve wiping 95% of the population off the earth and would be used for the good of the people vs the elites...

Buckle up folks. Biblical Prophecy is already being fulfilled.

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