The Meaning of the 21st Century

US: Transworld, 2007. Paperback. Good. We live at a turning point in human history. Ahead is a century of massive change. Either we learn to manage this change, or we allow it to control us and face devastating consequences. James Martin explains with clarity and precision the nature of the challenges we face, from global warming to fami ne, religious extremism and technological advance, and then defines the thi nking that will provide us with solutions for the future. Far from doom-mon gering, his book is an extraordinarily optimistic and empowering argument f or transition on a global scale: a ringing call to arms and a pragmatic blu eprint for action. 'A plethora of books have surveyed humankind's niche on Earth. Many have ex amined our prospects for the future, but James Martin's book is by far the most ambitious . . . So persuasive is Martin that one can readily agree wit h him that, in light of the sheer intensity of scientific research today, a nd our apparent new-found capability to solve whatever problems afflict us, the 21st century must surely rank as by far the finest time to be alive . . . As Martin puts it, the present century is "crunch time".' Norman Myers, Nature 'Britain's leading futurologist . . . Martin is able to describe extraordin arily complex technological advances in easily accessible terms.' Tony Allen-Mills, Sunday Times 'There is material in this remarkable and well-written book for lively cont roversy, but that can only be good . . . Two special points emerge. First i s the sheer scope of the book and the way in which so many diverse ideas ar e put together and effectively related to each other. Second is the author' s optimism.' Sir Cri.