Don’t take too seriously the sirens of dystopia

Melanie Howard

This article argues that, with the proliferation of gloomy tomes about modern society, gloom sells more than sex on the social science market.

Don't take too seriously the sirens of dystopia

Melanie HowardFuture Foundation

Gloomy tomes about how society is going to the dogs are popular, but not useful, notes Melanie Howard.

In the trend analysis profession, one is regularly asked to comment on the topical academic scholarship of the day. Even busy CMOs become aware of the latest hardback blockbuster, keen to know how much insight they should draw (for purposes personal as well as corporate) from the freshest bestselling science – social and otherwise.

The past few years have seen the arrival of a lot of pretty mind-stretching stuff in...

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