Future Perfect : A Road Map for Success in the Twenty First Century

In a remarkable synthesis incorporating an astonishing range of historic and scientific data, from the beginning of time to the present, William B. Williams analyzes the cause and effect relationships of watershed events that have resulted in the world we now live in. He then charts a road map to the future, giving us a preview of what lies ahead if we continue our present course. And finally, he compares this reality with the attainable ideal that is possible if we begin now to implement long term plans to solve the seemingly insurmountable problems we currently face.
Future Perfect is more than an illumination of tomorrow. It explains how we got where we are today, what lies ahead, and what we can do to improve the quality of our lives and our world. It will challenge our deepest assumptions but the irrefutable logic of Williams' system verifies how solutions to problems are within our power to effect if we use our ability to think about the future and have the courage to act. Future Perfect can, if we heed its teachings, enable us to regain personal and societal control of our lives and, as informed citizens, regain economic and political control of our country. As Williams so clearly demonstrates, we must act now if we are to survive into the 21st century and beyond.

This offbeat, freewheeling self-help guide begins by describing a set of mental exercises, including the "Black Box Technique" (filling in unknown events between two known points in time), Occam's razor (finding the simplest explanation that fits the facts) and Einsteinian thought-experiments (mentally traveling to any place or time in the universe). Williams, who describes himself as a self-made multimillionaire who retired from the business world at the age of 39, applies these techniques in a speculative fashion to the origins of the universe; biological evolution; the rise and fall of Egypt, Greece and Rome; the history of America from Columbus to Newt Gingrich. He then identifies key abilities (effective planning, thinking in the future, self-sacrifice, etc.) that affect the success or failure of individuals, businesses, organizations and societies. He proposes Constitutional amendments that would mandate a balanced federal budget within five years, give the President a line-item veto and restore democracy, which, he claims, has been undermined by corrupt post-Watergate Congresses serving special interests. This stimulating, unorthodox manual offers a cornucopia of ideas. Photos. 100,000 first printing; $250,000 ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.