FUTURES PRIMER: The ABCs of the Future
A Theoretical and Practical Guide to Futures Studies and Futures Thinking
by NICOLETTA BOLDRINI
Foreword by ADAM KAHANE
Afterword by FABRIZIO FARACO
Polycrisis, new forms of globalization, demographic shifts, the climate crisis, migration flows, the energy transition, and rapid advances in technology and science are just a few of the forces reshaping our future. These changes are creating uncertainty and diminishing our ability to navigate the unknown and tap into our imagination. To meet these challenges, we need new skills in Anticipation and Strategic Foresight – what Futures Studies and Strategic Foresight offer.
Nicoletta Boldrini takes us on a journey through Futures Studies, exploring the knowledge (the knowing), skills (the knowing how to do) and mindset (the knowing how to be), necessary to understand and shape the future.
FUTURES PRIMER: The ABCs of the Future
Welcome aboard an extraordinary intellectual and practical adventure – a journey into the world of Futures Studies. This discipline helps us harness our imagination to explore possible futures and reshape our present reality. If you’ve decided to keep this book, you’ve already taken the first step toward acquiring one of the most revolutionary skills of the 21st century: Futures Thinking.
We’re living in a time where rapid, constant change has become the norm, and we’re both drawn to and anxious about future scenarios that seem darker and more threatening with each passing day.
What disorients us isn’t just change itself, but the pace, frequency, and interconnectedness of it all. We’re navigating an era of relentless transitions, where today’s choices have profound impacts on the world we’ll face tomorrow.
This book isn’t some naive treasure map for exploring the future. Instead, think of it as a provocative guide – a tool to help you build and use your own compass as you venture into the unknown. No one can predict the future with certainty, but we can all influence it by dodging predetermined paths and using the right tools to navigate the many possibilities that lie ahead.
Let the journey into Futures Studies begin. May it inspire, provoke, and – most importantly – equip you with the courage and optimism you’ll need to face the futures ahead.
Foreword by Adam Kahane
Adam Kahane features in this video preface.
An “unconventional” preface with a masterclass on how to explore and influence possible futures.
Afterword by Fabrizio Faraco
Fabrizio Faraco Fabrizio Faraco features in this video afterword.
An ‘unconventional’ afterword with a masterclass on Maieutic Facilitation.
The Author: Nicoletta Boldrini
Nicoletta Boldrini is a dynamic professional who blends multiple, interconnected roles. She is a maieutic facilitator and expert in Futures & Foresight, as well as a journalist specializing in emerging technologies.
With a multidisciplinary approach that blends Futures & Foresight with Creative Problem Solving, Design Thinking, and LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitation methods, Nicoletta helps drive innovative decision-making. She guides individuals in cultivating an open, proactive mindset towards the future, and helps organizations envision and prepare for alternative futures.
Nicoletta brings a humanistic perspective to science and technology. Specializing in Emerging Technologies Scanning (ETS), her journalism focuses on identifying, analyzing, and explaining the potential impacts of emerging technologies on the economy, society, and the environment. Known for making complex concepts accessible, she raises awareness about the future effects of technological change.
As editor-in-chief of Tech4Future, a platform dedicated to technological innovation and future scenarios, Nicoletta is committed to promoting Futures Literacy.
