The original book was published in 1969, and an updated preface was added in the 1978 edition, noting the earlier comments were basically still relevant. The main theme is that the continuity of the old trends or issues for social and cultural changes were ending. The book does not "forecast", but looks at the major changes occurring in the foundations that will affect changes. He identifies 4 discontinuities.

• Rapid emergence of new technologies and resulting new industries
• Emergence on world economy - where role of developed and developing countries take on the role of class conflicts of a national economy
• Emergence of new pluralism of institutions that obsoletes traditional theories (and generally accepted) of government and society
• Emergence of knowledge as the new capital and the central resource of an economy - including the new power centers that will develop for those who have the knowledge

He further states that the dynamics of population changes are different in three major sections of the world (developed countries of industrialized world, developed countries of the Soviet Bloc, and the developing countries of the third world. The "age of discontinuity" is not a pessimistic situation, it provides ample opportunities for new actions, so it really is an "age of opportunity".

How to Lie With Statistics. 1954. Darel Huff. W.W. Norton. 142p.

This book has had many printings and the information is still applicable. It is written in a popularized style and uses examples to clarify the points. Included are problems with samples with build in biases, use of the term "average", making a big deal of data that does not warrant it, and misuse of graphs and figures.

Limits to Growth. 1971. Donella H. Meadows, et al. Universe Books. 205p.

A computer model of the world from 1900 to 2100 using five variables: resources, food per capita, industrial output per capita, pollution, and population. A variety of "computer runs" allow examples ranging from disaster to smooth transition to a sustainable world. Discussion is centered around each of the variables as a "limit" to continued growth. The book is one of the earliest large scale models, and coming at the beginning of the modern environmental movement caused a great deal of positive and negative comments. This book was sponsored by the (then new) Club of Rome and is one of a series of the "Project on the Predicament of Mankind". It was primarily by a group of systems-thinking people, mostly at MIT, USA. (See updated book titled "Beyond the Limits").

Models of Doom: A Critique of the Limits to Growth. 1973. H.S.D. Cole et al. Universe Books. 244.

A detailed critique of the "Limits to Growth" addressing assumptions, methodologies, and results. The authors believe the "Limits to Growth" approach is negative in outlook and simply "computerizes" inappropriate theories. Primarily by economists at the University of Sussex, UK. A brief response by the authors of the "Limits to Growth" is included, focusing on five major areas of disagreement: short term vs long term models, using results of a single model vs large scale considerations, stability vs dynamic characteristics of specific variables, use of "perfect" models vs "imperfect" models for policy making, and role of mankind relative to the earth.

The Unprepared Society: Planning for a Precarious Future. Donald Michael. Harper Colophon. New York, 1968. 132.

This is an early book by a well know social psychologist about futures, long range planning, resistance to organizational change, and new ways at looking at society. He concludes that the convergence of social and technological trends will lead to more extensive use of long range planning and that we are unprepared to do that (over the next 20 or so years). This is an early "futures" oriented book.

Avoiding 1984: Moving Toward Independence. Robert Theobald. Swallow Press, Ohio State University, 1982, 114p.

The 1984 here is in reference to the George Orwell book "1984", published in 1948 (the last two digits were transposed to come up with 1984). That book identified a world of scarcity, cruelty, and constant warfare. Theobald believes we can avoid that picture of the future, but we must be proactive to do it and make significant changes. He identifies four scenarios for 2000 (status quo, high technology/high growth, low technology/low growth, and management transformational), discusses driving forces and social issues, and ends with how one ought to be acting in today's world (creating a desirable educational system, managing complex systems, problem/possibility focusers, and becoming involved. Theobald has been involved in Arizona futures (he lived here at one time) and believes in the need for major transformation of society.

The Change Resisters: How they prevent progress and what managers can do about them. 1981. George Odiorne. 275 p.

Sections address: how to recognize and deal with an anti-planning attitude, how to avoid activity traps (you think you are working but you are not producing), destroying plans by false analogies, how to kill ideas by false obstacles and arguments, distorting facts and false generalizations, using crises to avoid change, dealing the bureaucracy, how to band together to resist change, and managing change in the world of change resisters. The last section, how to manage change, includes: living strategically, getting a broad picture of the world, evaluating assumptions, and manage by anticipation rather than reaction.