Review of The Fourth Age, by Byron Reese

A Wiser Worldview, for a More Foresighted and Effective Life

This is a great book. It’s one of the most enjoyable and informative I’ve read in the last twenty years, and I read a lot. To get it, here’s an Amazon link.

The Fourth Age, by the accomplished tech entrepreneur and futurist Byron Reese, offers a deep understanding of human history, a superb vision for where we are going as a species, and clear view of the forces causing technological disruption and opportunity, and the rise of platforms, AI and automation (and soon, robotics) that we see all around us today.

In a world of accelerating change, good leaders need more than ever to understand the things that don’t change, the universals that drive progress. Understanding those universals gives us “future wisdom,” the ability to see humanity’s uneven yet unmistakable journey toward social justice and personal empowerment, and the skills we need to be resilient and see progress opportunities in any future environment. This book offers that wisdom, and is a great read as well.

It summarizes the current competing societal perspectives on the relation between humans and our machines, on accelerating technological change, and on the future of our economy and policy that are (sometimes fervently) held by the…