The Only Possible Solution

WHAT IF THE CRISES SHAPING OUR FUTURE ALL SHARE THE SAME ROOT CAUSE?

Climate change. Political polarization. Rising inequality. Mental health struggles. Distrust in institutions. Most books examine these challenges separately. In The Only Possible Solution, journalist and social entrepreneur Fons Burger reveals why they are deeply interconnected—and why solving them requires a fundamentally different way of thinking.

Drawing on decades of research and the insights of more than one hundred scientists, economists, philosophers, activists, entrepreneurs, and visionaries, Burger weaves together some of the most promising ideas of our time into a single, compelling framework for the future. Rather than offering another catalog of problems, he explores what becomes possible when humanity begins designing systems that serve both people and planet.

Inside, you'll discover how to:
• See the hidden connections between today’s most urgent challenges
• Learn from groundbreaking thinkers working across disciplines and industries
• Explore innovative approaches to food, health, education, technology, and democracy
• Understand why long-term thinking may be humanity’s most important skill
• Imagine practical pathways toward a more balanced, sustainable future

Part investigation, part philosophy, and part roadmap, The Only Possible Solution is ultimately a book about possibility. It invites readers to move beyond fear, fragmentation, and short-term thinking to imagine what the next chapter of human civilization could look like—and how we might begin building it today.

The future is not something we inherit. It is something we create.

The Only Possible Solution is written for readers who want more than headlines, outrage, or despair. It offers a deeper understanding of the world as it is, and a thoughtful vision for what it could become.

See the bigger picture, then help shape it.

Fons Burger (1952) is a Dutch journalist, publisher, writer, musician, and entrepreneur. Throughout his career, he has combined investigative journalism, cultural innovation, and activism through documentaries, performances, and projects that challenge convention and inspire change. Burger has always sought new ways to question power and imagine a more just and sustainable world. Since 2003, he has published nine thrillers, novels, and cookbooks in Dutch, three of which were later released in the United States.