“Why We're All Futurists Now (Whether We Like It or Not)”
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Title: How to Future
Author: Scott Smith with Madeline Ashby
Category: Leadership & Team Building
Why are we all futurists now, whether we like it or not? Sam and Sophie sit with that question, because Scott Smith and Madeline Ashby argue that the future isn't something that happens to us—it's something we shape every day.
They walk through the book's core ideas: why certainty is dangerous, how to spot weak signals, and the practical tools of strategic foresight, scenario planning, and backcasting. The pair break down concepts like presentism, the novelty trap, and futures literacy, and share how cognitive diversity and futures activism turn thinking about the future into a form of action.
If you've ever felt anxious about what's coming next, this episode shows you how to move from powerlessness to engagement. The takeaway: the future is unwritten, and you have more agency than you think.
How to Future by Scott Smith with Madeline Ashby. If you want the full written summary, the whole library is on 7minutebooks.com/app—unlimited access from $2.99 a month, $9.99 a year, or $19.99 lifetime.
Chapters
00:00Why We're All Futurists Now00:52The Danger of Certainty01:56Strategic Foresight and Scenario Planning02:54Backcasting and Futures Literacy03:41Futures Activism and Takeaway
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