Welcome to the latest edition of FutureScapes. As of today, we’re happy to announce that Fast Future Publishing is offering Sohail Inayatullah’s latest book What Works: Case Studies in the Practice of Foresight as the newest addition to our store. For more on the book and Sohail, see below.

And with our Future Day discount, pick up a copy of What Works for less than $8 with coupon code 20Futr until March 31st.

Also in this issue:

• What Works: Case Studies in the Practice of Foresight
• Futures Finds in Media
• Fast Future Publishing Updates & Offers

As always, please feel free to share this newsletter with friends and colleagues, and send us an email if you’d like – your feedback is always appreciated.

What Works: Case Studies in the Practice of Foresight by Sohail Inayatullah

Sohail Inayatullah, the UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies & a professor at Tamkang University, is a world-renowned futurist with over 30 years experience whose specialties include teaching futures, helping individuals and organizations develop their alternative and preferred futures, theorizing how the future is constructed, and developing futures methodologies.

His latest book, What Works: Case Studies in the Practice of Foresight (August 2015) furthers the practice of foresight in organizations, institutions, cities and nations. Divided into three parts, What Works moves from theorizing the future to case studies of foresight in action and concludes with innovative futures methods.

The first part introduces futures studies — its principles, theories and methods. The second and main part of the book presents case studies.

Chapters include:

• Deep inclusion in a digital era: democratic governance Asia 2030
• Leap-frogging the West: e-health futures in Bangladesh
• From the lecturer to the murabbi: the alternative futures of higher education in Malaysia
• Leveraging development: the alternative scenarios for BRAC University
• Transforming agriculture: from salinity research to greening the desert
• Cities as agents of change: emerging issues and case studies
• Going beyond the thin blue line: the futures of international policing
• From the collection to co-creation: the futures of libraries and librarians
• From crops to care: the changing nature of health care in rural Australia

The third and final section focuses on methodological innovation. These chapters explore the implications of forecasting the long-term future, the use of the Sarkar game in foresight workshops, and how causal layered analysis has been used to transform personal and institutional stories. The conclusion evaluates the use of futures thinking for strategy development.

“What Works covers over thirty years of Inayatullah’s research in futures studies and offers one of the most comprehensive works on methods and case studies and, most importantly, implications and applications available today. Inayatullah presses the reader to grapple with the global challenges we all face and urges each of us to take more responsibility for today, and for future generations. It is a must-read for any person who is serious about our futures.”

–Dr. Robert Burke, Associate, Melbourne Business School, University of Melbourne

Visit our store to pick up a copy today. Be sure to use coupon code 20Futr to receive 20% off of What Works before March 31st.

Futures Finds in Media

Episode 253 – Fastening The Future via Robot Overlordz

The Future of Business contributing author Alexandra Whittington was recently interviewed by our friends over at Robot Overlordz. She discussed the future of mobile, internet, society, and her chapters in The Future of Business.

Mobile 2030: Scenarios for the Role of Mobile Technology in Society via The Future of Business Podcast

Speaking of Alex, she also contributed a reading of her and Amir Bar’s chapter “Mobile 2030”, in which they present four scenarios exploring how mobile technology could permeate every day aspects of our social and professional lives by 2030.

John Oliver explains why iPhone encryption debate is no joking matter via ars technica

In his typical satirical style, John Oliver highlights the frankly terrifying implications of the iPhone encryption debate on personal and national security.

Watch Monkeys Drive Wheelchairs with Just Their Thoughts via Singularity Hub

Besides being a simply fascinating video, the implications for these computer-brain interfaces for the disabled are potentially life-changing.

Blockchain-Enabled Smart Contracts: Applications and Challenges via Let’s Talk Payments

A good, simple explanation of smart contracts and their application in a myriad of legal situations. Also check out “Exploring the Business of the Blockchain“ podcast episode by Rohit Talwar & Alexandra Whittington for an in-depth look at the tech behind smart contracts.

Retirement Singularity; The End of Retirement as We Know It via Retirement Singularity

Contributing author to The Future of Business Michael Nuschke address the current unknowns, trends, questions, and our own thinking on the future of retirement in this free 40-page report.

Ontario Set to Trial Universal Basic Income via Futurism

“…the pilot program is set to study whether basic income will offer a more efficient way to provide income support and strengthen attachment to the labor force—which will hopefully translate towards savings in health care and housing.”

Updates & Offers

Our Future Day Sale continues! Get a copy of The Future of Business for 65% off (coupon code FutrDay), and take 20% off all other books in our store (coupon code 20Futr), including our newest addition What Works. And thank you for your support!

Rohit on the Road

• March 18-19: Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Windsor Debates – Artificial Intelligence
• April 6-7: PwC’s 2016 Future of Work Conference Paris – The Futures of HR and the Workforce
• April 19: Young Presidents’ Organization San Salvador – Future of Business Keynote
• April 21: Young Presidents’ Organization Peru – Future of Business Keynote
• April 25: Young Presidents’ Organization Buenos Aires – Future of Business Keynote
• April 28: Lex Mundi International Law Firm Network Partners Event Berlin – Future of Law Firms