Book Review Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think

Book Review

Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think

By Sadia Wali

During my proofreading session, I found an interesting book to read. To some readers, it might be dull or boring, to me it seems a unique and interesting one to read. The author, of the book Peter H. Diamandis (Founder and Executive Chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation) and Steven Kotler (award-winning science writer)analyzed various aspects and events related to science and technological progress in near future.  In just 250 pages, Kotler and Diamandis discussed exponentially growing technologies in health, economic, education, communications and information and energy that have rapidly transformed our world.  According to the author, innovation and exponential technologies have also improved quality of life, human performance and help to make better choices. In next twenty five years, the technological advancements will reshape the world through social, cultural and economic revolution.

Progress in artificial intelligence, robotics, infinite computing, global broadband networks, digital manufacturing, nanomaterial, synthetic biology, and many other exponentially growing technologies will enable us greater advantages in the next two decades than we have in the previous two hundred years says the author.

“Abundance is a big vision compressed into a small time frame. The next twenty five years can remake the world, but this won’t happen on its own. There are plenty of issues to be faced, not all of them technological in nature. Overcoming the psychological blocks—cynicism, pessimism, and all those other crutches of contemporary thinking—that keep many of us from believing in the possibility of abundance is just as important. To accomplish this, we need to understand the way our brain shapes our beliefs and our beliefs shape our reality.”

(Reference: Chapter 3 Book, Abundance- The future is better than you think)

Readers are introduced to Abundance Pyramid. The pyramid  is divided into different levels. First, ensure food, water and shelter for every person on the planet. Then, guarantee abundant energy, education and information and communication abundance. Another important element in our pyramid of abundance is freedom. Freedom here is referred to as the freedom of speech, the freedom of access to information and technology and the freedom to human rights. Finally,  the pyramid focuses on improving public health by creating awareness in masses of how to prevent and control global diseases and epidemic.

The important aspect of the book is help people to gain positive belief about technology.  The author term “the rising billion,” this abundant world will be one where anything is possible, “a world where everyone’s days are spent dreaming and doing, not scrapping and scraping.”

The second part of the book focused on reasons and causes that led to the invention of various medicines and technologies. The author refers to it creating a world of health care abundance which means providing clean water, ample nutrition, and smoke-free air environment to the masses.

 To conclude, the author hopefully declares that the rapid growth in technology is a blessing for human kind. Means of communication, auto diagnostic equipment’s, artificial intelligence, robotics, infinite computing and so many other technological developments have raised the standards of people’s lives.  These fields have also given their best to make this world a global abundant. 

I recommend you to read this book and share your views!