The Next Generation E-Book

Tony Ryan

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Bildung
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Seitenzahl: 259

Beschreibung

Today's children will be an unprecedented global force--are they ready? The Next Generation maps out the world of possibilities ahead for today's young people, and reveals the skills and habits they'll need to take full advantage of their unique futures. Around 35% of the world's population is under 20 years of age; known as Generation Z and Generation Alpha, these children are coming of age in a world that is safer, healthier, wealthier and more productive than ever before. Opportunities fan out in the distance for today's kids--a world of possibility awaits, and they will be the ones to shape the future for us all. Right now, it's the job of parents and educators to prepare these kids for what awaits. They need an instinctual adaptability, quick thinking and comfort with change. They need to be technologically literate, and ready to take on whatever challenges arise. This book explores the evolution of "coming of age" in a world where teens are already an entrepreneurial force, and shows you how to instill the talent, skills and instincts today's children will need to make the most of their future. * Explore the unique opportunities that exist for today's children * Discover the three capabilities that will prepare them for their dramatic journey * Learn three ways in which kids can help create a worthwhile future for themselves * Give them the skills they need to successfully navigate rapid, never-ending change Continuous technological advancements combined with our children's unprecedented levels of involvement will unleash humanity's next major social and economic evolution--will your child be ready? The Next Generation helps you prepare them for their journey to success.

Leseprobe

At a time when many parents and educators are concerned about where the world is heading and about their children's future in this world, Tony Ryan offers a positive clarion call to action that we can't refuse. In this book, he paints an astonishing range of possibilities and pictures of what's up ahead and offers practical guidance on essential capabilities our next generation will need to thrive and lead productive, fulfilling lives. A must read for anyone who cares about preparing young people well to make the most of their extraordinary futures.

Joan Dalton, Education Advisor

Hope is at the heart of the human condition. Tony Ryan's brilliant and at times provocative exploration of the world that the next generation will inhabit is refreshing and positive. We have a responsibility to ensure that our children have an excitement about the future and the world in which they will engage. Tony's work invites all of us to explore and contribute to our children's future.

Dr Stephen Brown, internationally renowned educator and expert on school leadership

Tony Ryan's work has a specific quality. Attention. He sees possibility. Combining enthusiastic wonder with rigorous enquiry, this futurist mounts a case that today's young people can look ahead to the mid 21st century with optimism.

Bill Jennings, Founder of Time & Space (Parent-Child Programs)

Tony is a futurist focused on inspiring change and creating positive impact. He has a deep passion for young people and helping them thrive in the future. Tony explores the edge of possibility then makes sense of this so that we can then help our young people be extraordinary. This is a book of optimism, hope and social action.

Dr Cheryl Doig, Leadership Futurist

Tony Ryan is one of the most exciting educators I know. I especially love talking with him about the future of education and the world. He really blows my mind with the stuff he talks about and I can't help wondering if he has actually been to the future and come back!

Professor Chris Sarra, University of Canberra, Chairman, Stronger Smarter Institute

Tony Ryan's brilliance shines through once again. He gives teachers, students and parents hope for a bright future with practical and commonsense offerings. This is a must read for everyone with a vested interest in the success of our youth.

Karen Boyes, CEO Spectrum Education, Speaker, Author, Parent

Anxiety affects one in FIVE children worldwide. It's no wonder. We continually subject them to messages that have little hope for the future. It's time to turn this around. Children really can learn resilience and positive coping skills that will help them develop an optimistic thinking style about the world together with increased ‘thumbs up' choices. This inspiring book will contribute to those choices. If anyone is going to convince our children that the future just might be extraordinary, it is Tony Ryan. His message is balanced, consistent and has every chance of becoming a reality.

Dr Paula Barrett, Author of the Friends Resilience Programs www.FriendsResilience.org

The educator's Educator, Tony Ryan is a thinker with purpose and passion for the community. Never in history have there been so many incredible opportunities on offer for our youth, yet there is a ubiquitous negativity in the mainstream with messages to the contrary — these messages are informing and forming our youngest minds. Tony's book provides a much needed counterpoint for parents, teachers and education authorities at a time when lifting the narrative around optimism and opportunity has never been more important.

Sean Gordon, Founder and Executive Director, SchoolAid Trust, Life Member of the Australian Primary Principals Association

Leading educator and futurist, Tony Ryan, has one of the sharpest minds on the planet. His excitement and optimism about the future are contagious and a sharp contrast to the pessimism pushed in the media. This is essential reading for all parents and educators.

Steve Francis, Education Expert

Today's adolescents are educated to believe that the futuristic society will be flawed. Having this mindset has discouraged the genuine reality that the future is open to limitless, phenomenal possibilities. If only students were optimistic enough to see the world as the bright place it will be. This book will help everyone to think about those possibilities.

Fran Turner, age 13

Tony Ryan is a passionate educator who cares deeply about making the world a better place through harnessing the amazing capacity of our young people. Through his work he provides educators with a window into our future world and the limitless possibilities. His optimism and enthusiasm is contagious as he challenges our thinking and shares insights about how we can engage more effectively with the learners in our care. A vibrant speaker, insightful author and engaging teacher, Tony has been a positive influence on the lives of so many people across the globe. He is truly inspirational.

Faye Hauwai, CEO Learning Network NZ

THE NEXT GENERATION

PREPARING TODAY’S KIDS FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY FUTURE

TONY RYAN

First published in 2018 by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 42 McDougall St, Milton Qld 4064 Office also in Melbourne

Typeset in 12.5/14.5 pt Bembo Std

© Headfirst Publishing Pty Ltd 2018

The moral rights of the author have been asserted

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication data:

Creator:

Ryan, Tony J., author.

Title:

The next generation: preparing today's kids for an extraordinary future / Tony Ryan.

ISBN:

9780730345046 (pbk.)

9780730345053 (ebook)

Notes:

Includes index.

Subjects:

Future, The,

Social prediction

Economic forecasting.

Technology and youth — 21st century

Education — 21st century.

Life skills–Study and teaching.

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (for example, a fair dealing for the purposes of study, research, criticism or review), no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, communicated or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission. All inquiries should be made to the publisher at the address above.

Cover design Kathy Davis/Wiley

Cover image © Teenagers with gadgets: GeorgeRudy/iStockphoto; Black and White Printed Circuit Board: mastaka/iStockphoto

Disclaimer The material in this publication is of the nature of general comment only, and does not represent professional advice. It is not intended to provide specific guidance for particular circumstances and it should not be relied on as the basis for any decision to take action or not take action on any matter which it covers. Readers should obtain professional advice where appropriate, before making any such decision. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the author and publisher disclaim all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any person taking or not taking action based on the information in this publication.

To Sharon

CONTENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INTRODUCTION A CALL TO ACTION

PART I WHAT'S UP AHEAD FOR OUR CHILDREN

Chapter 1 A window into possibility: coping with the beautiful mess

A FUTURE FULL OF PROMISE

THE WORLD IS A BEAUTIFUL MESS

CAN WE PREDICT OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE?

EXPLORING THE EDGE OF POSSIBILITY

THE POTENTIAL OF THE FUTURE

Chapter 2 Hybrid humanity: preparing for the robot–human interface

A DAILY DOSE OF PEPPER THE ROBOT

OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE RELATIONSHIPS WITH ROBOTS

REFINEMENTS TO THE HUMAN BODY

TECHNOLOGY THAT IMPROVES THE HUMAN CONDITION

AUGMENTING OUR CHILDREN'S INTELLIGENCE

Chapter 3 All in a day's work: redefining future employment

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH WORK TODAY?

CREATING THE NEW WORLD OF WORK

WORKPLACES THAT CREATE A BETTER SOCIETY

DEALING WITH A WORK-LESS SOCIETY

PREPARING CHILDREN FOR THE NEW WORLD OF WORK

PART II ESSENTIAL CAPABILITIES

Chapter 4 Life in the fast lane: developing their adaptive agility

FILTERING THE OVERLOAD

BECOMING THE ARCHITECT OF THEIR OWN BRAIN

ADAPTIVE AGILITY IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES

ENCOURAGING THEIR PERSEVERANCE

SUPPORTING THEIR PEACEFUL SOUL

Chapter 5 Heart-to-heart: enhancing empathy

THE PROMISE OF AN EMPATHIC FUTURE

THE VALUE OF EMPATHY

HELPING CHILDREN TO PRACTISE EMPATHY

EMPATHY SUPPORTED BY HIGH TECH

EMPATHY AND THE ART OF LISTENING

Chapter 6 We live and learn: embedding a love of inquiry

A PASSION FOR LEARNING

HOW CHILDREN CAN BECOME EFFECTIVE LEARNERS UP AHEAD

PERSONALISED LEARNING JUST FOR YOUR CHILD

THE DIGITAL WORLD AT THEIR FINGERTIPS

IMAGINING EDUCATION FOR THE FLEXIBLE FUTURE

PART III ACTIONS FOR CREATING AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE

Chapter 7 What's the big idea: stimulating their creative enterprise

GENERATING HUMAN ENTERPRISE

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS IN ACTION

LET THE CHILDREN PLAY

IGNITING THEIR CREATIVE GENIUS

RAISING THE FAMILY ENTREPRENEUR

Chapter 8 A helping hand: supporting future philanthropy

PHILANTHROPY CAN MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

DISPELLING THE MYTHS ABOUT PHILANTHROPY

IMPLEMENTING ONLINE PHILANTHROPY

A FUTURE FOR PHILANTHROPY

RAISING A JUNIOR PHILANTHROPIST

Chapter 9 Action stations: fashioning the future right now

THE POWER OF SOLUTION

INCENTIVES FOR GENERATING ACTION

FINDING PURPOSE WITH ACTION PROJECTS

CELEBRATING THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS

THE FUTURE DEFINED BY TODAY'S WORDS

REFERENCES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX

EULA

Guide

Cover

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tony Ryan is an education futurist. A parent and a teacher himself, he helps educators and parents throughout the world to understand and prepare for the future of schooling and the workplace.

In the past two decades, he has directly worked with over 1000 schools, colleges, TAFEs and universities in Australia, the United States, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Canada, and Mexico.

He is the author of The Ripple Effect, Thinkers Keys, Mindlinks, Wrapped In Living and a series of manuals and workbooks that stimulate innovative thinking in children.

Tony is a former national president of Professional Speakers Australia, a former board chairman of School Aid Trust, and is presently an Australian ambassador for their cause. He is the co-founder of School2School, an organisation that encourages first world schools to support schools in less developed countries.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Imagine being able to engage and learn with 1000s of inspiring people every year. This is the blessing of my life. I work with parents and educators all over the world who are raising our Next Generation with care, determination and unswerving belief in their contribution. I will be forever grateful that they have allowed me to engage with them.

It might take a village to raise a child, but it takes a tribe to support the writing of a book about those children and their future. The first and foremost member of that tribe is my wife and lifelong partner Sharon, who has a beautiful mind and soul; and was the best ever sounding board when it was needed during the writing. Naomi is the most awesome daughter anyone could have; and I'm lucky enough that she's mine. Her creative genius enlivens all discussion about the future. My grand-daughter Dana is a gift in my life, and already demonstrates what the Next Generation will accomplish.

Joan Dalton is the most outstanding educator in the world (and that's saying something!). Without her editorial advice in the initial stages of writing, this book would not have happened. She resonates with its core intent as strongly as I do, and I'll be forever grateful for her support.

My perceptive niece Kate Davies offered some superb suggestions for the chapter on ‘All in a day's work'. Thanks also to the rest of my gorgeous family — my mother Maureen, who is my greatest fan; my supremely talented sisters Tricia and Mary-louise; Patrick, Terry, Glenn, Matthew, Linda, Owen, and especially Hugh.

So many other high achievers believed in the book's message, and gave support accordingly. The intuitive Alie Blackwell can scan an early draft for just a few minutes, and then offer the most incisive and compelling advice. Sporting mate Dr Timo Dietrich provided invaluable support with digital marketing and web development.

A very special group of talented people offered an endorsement. They are each a tribute to education and parenting. Endless thanks to Michael Grose, Joan Dalton, Bill Jennings, Dr Stephen Brown, Dr Cheryl Doig, Professor Chris Sarra, Karen Boyes, Dr Paula Barrett, Sean Gordon, Steve Francis, Fran Turner, and Faye Hauwai.

The Wiley crew has been hugely supportive. This book is so many degrees better than it would have been without them. Lucy Raymond was my initial contact, and totally has her heart in publishing. Jem Bates thankfully tempered my exuberant enthusiasm with his insightful and measured editing. Talented editor Chris Shorten shadowed me every step of the way, and has made the process more seamless and enjoyable for me. Theo Vassili was always supportive of my provocative conjectures on marketing. May they all continue to superbly support the literary world.

INTRODUCTION A CALL TO ACTION

What are we doing to our young people? This is the best time in human history to be alive, and the future offers such amazing potential. Yet we constantly overwhelm them with how difficult the world up ahead might be.

While the future might be a complex and unpredictable place, that doesn't mean we can't positively influence what will occur. On the contrary, we have more control over that future than we might initially think.

In many ways, we can even create what is up ahead; and we need to help our kids to believe that they can do this too. One recent experience brought home to me the importance of encouraging this hope and creative capacity for the future in our young people.

For the past seven years, I have presented an annual Rotary talk to 100 young leaders from all walks of life. My session is on social contribution and how exciting the world up ahead can be.

At the conclusion of my latest presentation, I was approached by several of the attendees. They said it was heartening to hear such optimistic messages, and that they rarely heard such upbeat views from anyone.

According to them, every single adult in their lives, including their parents and their community leaders, consistently griped about the state of the world and maintained there was little chance of the future being any better. In fact, their elders often insisted it would be much worse.

It's time to turn this around. Let's dump the scare campaigns that leave our Next Generation feeling helpless, and instead show them how their choices today can create an inspiring future.

Rather than asking them, ‘What's the world going to be like up ahead?', ask, ‘What sort of world do you want to create up ahead?' The first question suggests they have no control over it, while the second demonstrates they do.

If you want to help children engage with the second question, this book is for you. It is organised in three sections:

◊

Part I. What's up ahead for our children

. These introductory chapters clarify some of the exciting possibilities with our children's future, with a focus on the mind-altering world of technology and the manner in which it will influence work choices.

◊

Part II. Essential capabilities.

Facing an uncertain future, today's children will require the critical capabilities outlined in these three chapters — specifically, adaptive agility, empathy and a love of inquiry.

◊

Part III. Actions for creating an extraordinary life.

These concluding chapters offer three approaches to putting the knowledge in this book into everyday practice — through enterprise, philanthropy, and action projects.

The best time to plant a tree, according to the Chinese proverb, was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now. Let's get started.

PART IWHAT'S UP AHEAD FOR OUR CHILDREN

CHAPTER 1A window into possibility: coping with the beautiful mess

WHAT IT'S ABOUT

Today's children will become tomorrow's adults in a time of dramatic, often exponential changes. This chapter will explore some of these possible changes, and how we can prepare our children's thinking for the exciting new world they will find. Let's begin by meeting someone who is already creating this amazing future.

#thenextgeneration #promisingfuture #beautifulmess #predictingtheirfuture #transhumanism

A FUTURE FULL OF PROMISE

The future is meant to be a promise, not a threat. If Boyan Slat is any indication, our Next Generation will rise to that promise. This young Dutch entrepreneur is part of the new cohort determined to create an inspiring world up ahead. While he was still a teenager, Slat launched the Ocean Cleanup project,1 which has been dubbed the largest clean-up in history. His astounding proposal? That up to 40 per cent of all rubbish in the world's oceans be removed within 10 years.

This is no small ambition. About eight million tonnes of plastic enters our oceans every year, and the cost of conventional removal methods is prohibitive. Slat asked, Why move through the ocean with a clean-up, when the ocean can move through you? His ingenious system relies on the ocean's currents collecting the debris inside what is called an Ocean Cleanup Array. Much of the oceans' rubbish presently accumulates in five ocean garbage patches around the world. In 2017, the first pilot installation of an array became operational in the largest of them all — the Great Pacific Garbage Patch between Hawaii and California.

Their unprecedented entrepreneurial involvement will unleash one of the greatest economic and social evolutions in human history.

Boyan Slat is just one of millions of energetic young entrepreneurs determined to make the world an even better place. Around thirty-five per cent of the world's population is under 20 years old.2 It is they who will become the movers and shakers of the 21st century. Many already are. With increased access to the internet, and to learning opportunities that were simply not available at the start of the century, this generation will transform the planet. Nearly 90 per cent of these under-20s live in emerging countries in Africa, the Middle East, South America and Asia.3 Their unprecedented entrepreneurial involvement will unleash one of the greatest economic and social evolutions in human history.

For the purposes of this book, the Next Generation refers to two cohorts: Gen Z (born between 1994 and 2009); and Gen Alpha (born after 2009). These young people, who will become the leaders of the mid 21st century, will be the most educated in human history.4 Approaching the 22nd century, they will experience techno-enhanced lifestyles far beyond our present imagination.5

This is a good time for them to be alive. Most people in the future are likely to live much longer than those who came before them. Since 1900, average life expectancy has more than doubled.6 First-year infant mortality has dropped from 19.5 per cent to 3.69 per cent.7 Global poverty has plummeted from 44 per cent to around 10 per cent in the past 30 years.8

Here is one improvement in this new millennium that will astound most adults. Our present Gen Zs behave better than their parents did at their age.9, 10 You may want to think carefully before you share this information with your resident teenager. Rates of a wide range of discouraged behaviours such as smoking, drinking and even (gasp) sexual activity are much lower than for the previous generation.

Does this mean they are behaving perfectly? Of course not. There are still problems. Today's children are more overweight, and some of their dietary habits need lots of attention. Teenage depression appears to be on the rise. Sporadic violence by a small number is unsettling. A minority become cyber-addicted, and a few engage in cyber-bullying. However, the overall landscape can be viewed with some degree of optimism.

For the sake of our children and their future, let's set the record straight. Most indicators (although not all) clearly show that the standard of living has improved dramatically for many people around the world. Right now there are countless projects taking place that are as inspiring as the Ocean Cleanup, and they have been developed by young people who want to make life better for all of us.

But let's pause for a moment and consider: is everything really all that wonderful?

THE WORLD IS A BEAUTIFUL MESS

It's two and a half minutes to midnight right now, according to the Doomsday Clock, featured in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.11 First introduced in 1947, this symbolic clock face represents the assessment of a group of eminent scientists as to how close the world is hypothetically to nuclear disaster. In 2007, its brief was expanded to include the danger of catastrophic climate change. Its time setting has varied over the years, from a relatively optimistic 17 minutes to midnight in 1991 to the present more pessimistic evaluation.

If you are a pessimist looking for evidence that the world is in trouble, you will find plenty to justify your personal belief. Terrorist threats, global warming, refugee resettlement, youth underemployment, worldwide economic debt, and the increasing divide between rich and poor are probably never far from your mind . . . and they're only the long-term concerns.

We are also vulnerable to a litany of one-off events with the potential to reshape world history. Natural disasters, solar flares, recalcitrant robots, cyberwars and perhaps even the occasional meteorite could compromise all life on planet Earth. Will there be more of these types of events? You can bet your life on it.

So we can hardly say that life is perfect right now. Then what about the future? Will our children's world be entirely optimistic? Probably not. Will it be deeply pessimistic? That's equally improbable. The world of the future will most likely be a beautiful mess. It has always been so, and it always will be. So whose predictions are more valid, the optimists' or the pessimists'? Given that optimists invented the aeroplane and pessimists invented the parachute, both perspectives are useful.

There is another, more attractive perspective, though. Realistic optimism means a healthy balance between the two opposites. Think of people who keep an open mind to all possibilities while still applying a healthy degree of scepticism in their thinking. The future needs lots of these realistic optimists more than it does those at either end of the spectrum. Over-trusting optimists and bitter pessimists are less likely to live a satisfying life. Here's why.

The world of the future will most likely be a beautiful mess. It has always been so, and it always will be.

When you trust everyone and everything as an arch-optimist, you can fall prey to those who take advantage of your unquestioning nature. Even when the evidence indicates there is a problem, you will still convince yourself it's not true. You want to believe the world is perfect. If you are too pessimistic, on the other hand, you will miss out on many opportunities, convinced that there is a trap in there somewhere. You probably worry much more than is necessary, to the detriment of your own welfare.

Pessimists did indeed invent the parachute, but they also risk becoming entangled in its cords. Standing in the same prison cell, some people see bars where others see stars. French writer Anaïs Nin once wrote, ‘We don't see the world as it is. We see it as we are'. When someone sees the worst in everything, this may not be a reflection of the world around them. It is just as likely to be a reflection of their inner world.

Imagine if pessimists were to reprogram their amygdalae. These two almond-shaped sets of neurons in our brain react to circumstances that are dangerous, rather than to ones that are safe and positive. In our distant past, this kept us cautious and alive. For most of us, today's risks are less dramatic. The dilemma is that our amygdalae fuel a negativity bias that compels us to pay more attention to what is going badly than to what is going well. And this bias is reinforced by most news bulletins in the mass media.

The better things get, the worse we think they are.

The negativity bias has led to a perverse belief: the better things get, the worse we think they are. Gregg Easterbrook wrote about this dilemma in The Progress Paradox,12 in which he documented two competing influences. One is the unrelenting improvement in many worldwide indicators of life quality; the second is our steadily diminishing level of happiness and perceived wellbeing over the past 50 years. Too many of us are choosing — or have been convinced — to believe that the world is not a good place, and are less happy as a result. So why is that?

Consider what shapes our thinking every day. Over 90 per cent of news coverage is basically bad news. Are all media journalists negative people? On the contrary, most care deeply about their profession, and pride themselves on providing a reasoned viewpoint. As much as anyone else, the general public are to blame. While we claim to recoil from the more horrendous messages, we signal that we prefer them to the good news. The click-through on negative headlines is 63 per cent higher than on positive headlines.13 This encourages news broadcasters to deliver more of what people are clicking, given that higher audience numbers improve their advertising potential.

This gives an unbalanced perspective on global news. The vast majority of events in daily life fall somewhere between uneventful and inspiring. Unfortunately, we are fed a burst of choreographed negative news reports, accompanied by suitably sombre or dramatic music, that represent a minute proportion of that everyday life. Is it any wonder that people believe the world is in big trouble? Constant worry about these events consumes their thinking.

Worrying is wasteful. It creates negative energy, tires us out and rather than resolving an issue, can sometimes make it worse. While we know that worry accomplishes little, stopping doing it is another matter. So here's one question to ask yourself and your children: How many of the things you worry about end up happening? One in ten? Two in ten? If you made the effort to keep a count for the day, you might be surprised by the very low figure. Back in the 16th century, Michel de Montaigne captured this truth when he said, ‘My life has been filled with terrible misfortune, most of which never happened'.

If we went back 30 years, we would find that the global worries then current rarely became the catastrophes we expected. We simply applied our human ingenuity and resourcefulness, and whenever possible we created solutions. When today's children look back three decades from now, will they also find that few of our gravest fears eventuated? It's very likely. If only we had the power to predict the future. Is that possible?

CAN WE PREDICT OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE?

The short answer is no. Anything that is pure chance cannot be predicted. That includes next Saturday night's Lotto-winning numbers, unfortunately. It also applies to most natural disasters. We cannot predict complex social or political developments more than a year away — or often even those much closer to the present — with any degree of accuracy. Such forecasting is nothing more than calculated guesswork. Think of share market movements or decisions made by the North Korean leader as falling into this category.

Here is a guarded ‘perhaps' to speculating on anything up ahead. The analysis of everyday data offers some indication of what may occur down the track. We can determine with 70 per cent confidence what children will be doing on this day in exactly two years from now, especially if they are creatures of habit. With predictive policing, we can calculate with up to 90 per cent certainty the likelihood of some teenagers committing an offence.

TALKING WITH THE NEXT GENERATION

WHEN THEY SAY

‘The world is going to be awful up ahead.'

SOME RESPONSES YOU MIGHT OFFER

“‘It's possible, but it's not very likely. People have been saying for hundreds of years that the world is going to be awful up ahead, but it all still keeps going. You need to watch out for the doomsayers who try to scare you about everything in the future. They are nearly always wrong.'

“‘The world keeps getting better, not worse. While there are certainly lots of big problems we need to resolve, there are many other things that continue to improve. Here's one example: Most people are healthier than they've ever been before, and by the time you're grown up, we will have cures for most illnesses.'

“‘Admittedly, we can't easily predict the future. It might end up being fantastic, or it might sometimes be problematic. But here's a really important point: The future is not just something that happens to us. It's something we create. So start thinking about the sort of future you'd like for yourself and for others up ahead, and then begin to make it happen.'

Medical analysts can assess with 80 per cent confidence whether children will contract the flu, eight days before they actually get it.14