Everything changes, except this
Three books with surprising insights to read this summer
Hi,
My Kindle e-reader conveniently displays the reading time for a book.
Full of optimism, I started reading The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson, a fantasy series of four books.
I had to look twice, but it was true: 134 hours and 12 minutes to go.
I won’t make this newsletter that exhausting. 🤪
In this summer edition of the newsletter, I recommend three digestible books about the future and technology. Perfect for the hammock at the campsite.
Happy reading and have a great holiday!
Peter
PS. The authors of two of these book recommendations will be at the amazing Amsterdam Business Forum in AFAS Live on Friday, September 27.
PPS. Reading books is an important part of my work as a trendwatcher. What the profession of trendwatcher entails and my story about the professional fighter Rico Verhoeven can be seen in this video.
For English subtitles: select the icon of a sprocket (settings), and then subtitles. 🇺🇸
Surprising Book Recommendations
The summer months are a wonderful time to read more books. If you want to learn more about technology and the future (an assumption, but you are reading this newsletter), you can obviously choose books by fellow futurists.
But I find it more fun to share what you can learn from books on slightly different subjects.
Here are three tips I want to share with you:
Lessons about immutability
The power of vulnerability
The importance of rethinking
1. Immutability
How do we try to estimate what the future will look like? Often, we do this by collecting all kinds of data and information. I have this reflex too.
In the book Same as Ever, Morgan Housel argues for a different strategy:
It’s much more effective to do the opposite: look back and see things broadly. (…) It’s better to study the big things that were inevitable in the past.
Because the inevitable things in the past are still present in the future. They are immutable. A few examples from the book:
Our inability to assess opportunities and risks
Crises, like wars, drive innovation to unprecedented heights
Our desire for stories
This book has turned my ideas about future research upside down. Highly recommended!
2. Vulnerability
In her iconic book Daring Greatly, Brené Brown describes her research into the power of vulnerability. According to her, vulnerability is about facing uncertainties, taking risks, and exposing yourself emotionally. In other words: showing courage.
This is why courage fits future-oriented employees and organizations:
Openness is essential for innovation. You must dare to let go of old ways and ideas if they no longer fit the changing desires of customers.
Authentic leaders admit they don’t know and understand everything. This honesty creates a culture of trust, where team members can share their own visions and ideas. This way, you can better respond to changes.
A concrete example that some (technology) companies apply is ‘fail forward’ sessions. During these meetings, employees are rewarded for sharing failures and the lessons learned from them.
3. Rethinking
Adam Grant’s book Think Again is about the power of rethinking. He distinguishes between different thinking styles:
Preacher: tries to convince others of their own viewpoints
Prosecutor: seeks arguments to support their own viewpoints
Politician: adjusts viewpoints to come across well
Scientist: seeks reasons why their own viewpoints are wrong
As you might deduce, Grant believes the scientific way of thinking best fits a rapidly changing world:
In a rapidly changing world, rethinking and unlearning are more important skills than thinking and learning.
In short, rethinking is an essential skill to be better prepared for the future and adapt quickly.
Deep Dive
Articles, books, podcasts, videos, documentaries, and more on this theme.
1. EXPERIENCE / Both Brené Brown and Adam Grant will speak on Friday, September 27 at the Amsterdam Business Forum in AFAS Live.
I’ll be there, will you? If so, let me know with a reply.
2. WATCH / Reading Same as Ever reminded me of Ruritania, episode 6 of season 6 of The Crown (7.4 on IMDb).
The season largely revolves around Princess Diana, but this episode is an exception. Prime Minister Tony Blair wants to modernize the monarchy. Queen Elizabeth initially wants to change too but comes to realize: there is a strength in the rituals and stability of the monarchy.
🙏 Thank you for reading
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