#Forwardism’s Future Trends. The Book That Makes You Think in a World That’s Forgotten How.

A Book Review by Peter Mulville: writer and editor, advocate for human-thinking and trends shaping the future — political, technological, societal and environmental.

In today’s fast-paced, hyperconnected world, genuine thinking has become something of a lost art. Surrounded by soundbites, social media noise and short-term distractions, few people stop to reflect on the bigger picture — let alone consider the future. Most of us drift through life with little consideration for deeper forces at play or how our actions today might influence tomorrow’s world. We embrace rapid change, but do we truly engage with trends shaping the future?

This is precisely what makes #Forwardism such a vital and timely read. Co-authored by renowned futurist Adjiedj Bakas and the late geopolitical pundit Vinco David, this thought-provoking book does more than simply inform — it challenges. It dares readers to think deeply, to question how they behave, innovate and lead in a world shifting beneath our feet. In an era where critical thought is increasingly rare, #Forwardism reignites it, offering not just insight, but a powerful invitation to shape the future with clarity, courage, and purpose.

Although #Forwardism places particular focus on the rise of BRICS and the growing influence of the Global South — with India emerging as a central case study — it is far from a book of regional interest. It explores the self-inflicted decline of the West with unflinching clarity, yet its insights are global in scope. Whether you are a concerned citizen, policymaker, entrepreneur or technologist, this is a book for you. This is a book for anyone who cares about trends shaping the future, technological disruption, innovation, and the shifting tides of geopolitics. It urges all of us, regardless of where we live, to think more critically, act more wisely, and lead more consciously in shaping the world to come.

Bakas and David deliver a fearless, unfiltered exploration of the trends shaping the future — social, economic, political, environmental, and technological. Rather than another glossy forecast, this is a call to awaken critical thought in a world overrun by superficial narratives and reactionary ideology.

The authors categorise a new age driven by six converging megatrends: the New Renaissance: the World Revived, the Digital Workplace, Energy in the 21st Century, Adapting to Extreme Weather and Climate Change, Convergence of Nanotechnology, Biotechnology and Neuroscience and a Green and Great India. Together, these forces signal a seismic shift reminiscent of the Industrial Revolution — only faster, deeper and more disorienting.

Forwardism confronts the demographic cliff — declining birth rates, ageing populations and stagnating growth — with brutal honesty. As generational imbalances widen and surplus youth fuel ideological extremism and unrest, the very structure of societies and economies is being reshaped. Radical changes in reproduction (e.g., robotic copies of oneself) and incentives to care for the elderly are not science fiction. They are policy necessities.

The rise of the Second Machine Age brings immense opportunity through automation, AI and robotics, but also job displacement, especially for white-collar workers. This tension between efficiency and employment underpins the need for rapid reskilling, emotional intelligence and a re-evaluation of human creativity.

In a world of fragmented values, #Forwardism identifies a cultural shift toward ‘emocracy’, where emotional manipulation, not reason, dominates leadership and discourse. The West, the authors argue, is being weakened by Wokeism, Climatism, and divisive identity politics, resulting in strategic paralysis. Meanwhile, rising powers like China and India surge forward with clarity, optimism and investment in innovation, energy self-sufficiency, and space-age mobility.

The book’s geopolitical insights are sobering. As power fragments into multipolar blocs and superpowers realign, Asia asserts itself while the West retreats. Technological rifts — particularly in digital infrastructure — fuel cyberthreats and geopolitical instability. The global economy is ‘slowbalising’, moving away from cultural unity and towards regional blocs and trade pragmatism.

Yet, this is not a doomsday book. #Forwardism outlines a new renaissance — a ‘Happynomy’ that blends moral values, clean air, beauty, and spirituality into future governance and business. Green innovation, especially in India, is cast not only as ecological necessity but as an opportunity for cultural renewal and sustainable wealth.

Bakas and David challenge us to rethink flawed capitalist structures, warning that unchecked inequality risks societal collapse. They call on leaders, businesses, and philanthropists to champion inclusion, fair wages, local entrepreneurship and systemic reform.

Above all, #Forwardism is about reclaiming the lost art of thinking. It demands that we look beyond ideology, fear or convenience, and choose responsibility, vision and courage. For anyone serious about understanding the trends shaping the future, this is essential — and somewhat provocative — reading.

And that’s its brilliance!

Peter Mulville, June 2025