The Industries of the Future

First, the good. These are interesting topics. It's good to be reminded of how much has changed in the last couple of decades. This is a fun read with some interesting stories. If you read the newspaper, you will find nothing new here. But getting a 10,000 foot view of the world can be a useful way to orient yourself.

He also points out the troubling aspects of what he's highlighting, and at no point in the book does he come across as being way off base. His ideas about the future are probably as valid as any popular writers.

Next, the "needs improvement." The book is peppered with cringe-worthy throwaways about who the author has hobnobbed with. It's fine that he starts off in the introduction elaborating on all he's seen and done. But then he reminds us again and again that he knows important people. When I first started reading the book, I thought the author must be in his late 20's, and that might account for him coming across as insecure. But then I read his bio and saw that he is in his 40's. I'm not saying we don't all have moments of insecurity, but for a writer to wear his on his sleeve like this is terribly offputting. Who was the editor that let him embarrass himself like this?

If you are buying this book to answer the "how do we prepare our children for the future" question, don't bother. It's the same answers you've heard before. Raise them to be technologically literate and comfortable in a multicultural world.

In reading his biography, it's clear he's done a lot of good things and his heart is most likely in the right place. Not a lot of schmucks volunteer for Teach for America or try to help the disadvantaged. But his record speaks for itself, so why the self-aggrandizement?

Well researched, interesting perspective, and accessibly written enough for it to be a non-technical page turner.

I work in digital advertising and marketing as a futurist / head of innovation, and this book as become absolutely indispensable.

I highly recommend it if you work in digital industries, or are just curious about what the next 10 years of innovation holds for humanity.

Great book for mapping the future and forces shaping the globe. Alec Ross is correct coming from an industry insider's view, and he's sound the alarming bell for students, businesses and governments to stay competitive as things rapidly accelerate and change. Audiobook is great as well.

The Industries of the Future is very thought-provoking and well-written. It had a lot of predictions based on trends that are happening right now and will very likely accelerate, such as the automation (and computerization) of many, many, jobs. In another generation, we might really have a shortage of human jobs and a real surplus of potential workers. Society will have to adapt or the future is not going to bright for everybody.

An excellent look into the future with technology spearheading new eras in Finance, Banking, Medicine and Jobs. Since the World is now global, many new developments will be in the currently undeveloped countries. The book essentially looks at change in the way we have done things to a new Paradigm of evolution from established industries. Anyone in their age of development should read the book to be aware of where the future industries may need help. Personally it has helped me see the future in a different way.

> Acquired Michael GreenGold 07.12.17 > The Industries of the Future > Latest Known Update 02.07.17 With On-Going Paper Updates By Author Alec J. Ross > One of America's Leading Expert on Innovation & offers an Essential Book for Understanding how the World works, both Now and Tomorrow > Must-Read For Global Business People & Forward Thinkers, etc. > 306+Pages > A Fascinating Vision Of The Future Of Industry With Introduction, Six+ Sections & Conclusion : The Most Important Job You Will Ever Have... > Michael GreenGold...

The book lists industries that will be transformed. Unfortunately the book does not discuss the technology required for this transformation. For example, the book claims that translators will soon be substituted by computer, but it does not discuss the question, when (and how) computer will master natural language.

The start was good but then he gets into politics and there is nothing about industries of the future. I loved the first few chapters where he really goes into some topics that most people should know about but the rest of the book is just POLITICS.

He talks about Pakistan, Russia, India, China and basically all he says is that they suck in one way or another.

He should have kept with the theme of his book and continued with topics similar to the initial two chapters.

Alec Ross is perhaps the most significant communicator of our time. This book engages the reader immediately and quickly builds the foundation for predicting the disruptive technologies of the future. It's an effortless, exciting and insightful read and you will find yourself eagerly flipping each page to get to the next! I hope Mr. Ross writes more of these books, a series, focusing on various industries, disruptive technologies and key issues facing our nation, and planet. It should be required reading for both high school and college students (history, english, economics, business), and is an inspiring in-flight read for CEO's, thought leaders, innovators, startup founders, doctors, and academia.

Scary, really scary! A must read for anyone interested in what our future will soon look like. You need to understand that hacking is a serious problem. Book also gives young people an insight into what careers to pursue. Manual labor jobs will soon be gone worldwide!

This book is a fascinating tour of the future. It gives many ideas related to employment, entrepreneurship, and wealth creation as well as politics, social policy, and personal empowerment. The author's experiences present a future world of hope and excitement.

Alec paints a very comprehensive picture of what our future will be like in the next two decade. Despite being in the industry for some time, I still learnt something new in The Industries of the Future, particularly about the developing world and modern nations such as Estonia. It is clear that Alec has a lot of insights through his previous career as senior advisor of the State Department. This is a great book for parents and anyone who wants a go-to-book to understand the tech industry and the disruption it has on old industries, as well as politicians and policymakers focusing on innovation and modernising the nation state.

This book is far overrated. There are some insightful pieces but nothing visionary as one might expect with all the great reviews for this book. Also, Alec spends too much time working on embellishing his past experience with the Department of State. Last but not least, it sure as hell doesn't take this book in order to gain an understanding of what the industries of the future are. In fact, you're probably better off spending time online reading about future industries than reading this book.

The Industries of the Future should be required reading in every high school across America, and has much to teach us older dogs as well. Alec Ross offers a brilliant glimpse of where we are going and how we got here told in clear, engaging prose. My new favorite stocking stuffer!

This book is on target to describe the major economic and technical waves washing over the world. The author explains why there will be winners and those less fortunate in the struggle for financial survival. There is an intersection where luck meets effort and planning, and where more people should look more deeply before they attempt to move through this crossroad. The book also describes majoy cyber security issues already here though many are unaware.

The content of t his book is highly interesting for anyone interested in talking to kids, in school or out. Ross makes many excellent points, and shares insights gleaned from working inside the state department.

My book broke, came apart, unglued. Tried reporting to the publisher. :-(

Great read. Alec does an excellent job using his vast experience in international business and politics. Makes excellent arguments and was able to tie together different concepts very well. Highly recommend for anyone interested in what the world economy will look over the next 10-30+ years.

The book presents a interesting overview of the current geopolitical situation of the world, from the perspective of technological and economical opportunities. The reader is motivated to take a more active part in the wonderful adventure of human progress. Great book!

The Industries of the Future, by former State Department Senior Advisor Alec Ross, is a compelling exploration of the conditions businesses and countries need to optimize in order to be successful in the decades to come. It borrows extensively from his time traveling the world in the federal government’s service, which means that his examples are unexpectedly diverse and shared in such a way that is only possible when the author has experienced something first-hand.

The ‘industries of the future’ in the context of this book are not familiar verticals such as healthcare, manufacturing, or financial services, but the shifting paradigms that will govern future business. As Ross states in the introduction, “This book is about the next economy. It is written for everyone who wants to know how the next wave of innovation and globalization will affect our countries, our societies, and ourselves” (p. 6-7). Competitiveness is a function of all three dimensions, and it assumes that connectivity (and therefore interdependence) will only increase in the future.

Advances in robotics play in important role throughout the book, and my only disappointment is that Ross confines his robotics discussions to traditional (mechanical) robots as opposed to including their newer software-based counterparts. While Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a relatively new service delivery model, and serves a different role for individuals and businesses than physical robots such as Honda’s ASIMO do, some of the human acceptance barriers seen in traditional robotics still apply. The need to lower costs and fulfill tactical service requirements drive robotics innovation and interest, but people continue to have trouble ‘bonding’ with these automated support systems. Despite the fact that most of the robotics discussion in the book relates to mechanical robots, Ross points out that the horizon for their impact far exceeds what we might conceive of today. In fact, it is hard not to feel in the robotic ‘cross hairs’ – even as a knowledge worker – when he writes, “In the greatest peril are the 60 percent of the US workforce whose main job function is to aggregate and apply information” (p. 38).

In the future, the affects of globalization will be felt broadly, particularly in geographies that take an inefficient (authoritarian) approach to infrastructure, skills development, and information. There are two case examples in chapter six, The Geography of Future Markets, that are not to be missed.

The first is the undeniably inspiring story of Maria Umar, a woman living in ‘bleak’ and ‘virtually lawless’ Waziristan, Pakistan. Her Women’s Digital League makes it possible for women with a wide variety of skills in remote parts of the world to connect with freelance virtual work opportunities. Not only is it a commercially effective arrangement for the women and the companies they support, it is an empowering force for good in parts of the world where women are prevented from balancing work and family, in some cases without any freedom outside the home. Later in the same chapter, Ross appeals to humanity (as well as logic) to make the case that societies that disregard the potential represented in the female half of their population will have no meaningful role in the industries of the future.

The second story compares the current situation and improvement trajectories of Estonia and Belarus, two former Soviet occupied countries that found themselves in dire economic and industrial straits in the early 1990s. Estonia embraced openness – social, commercial, and political – and has reaped the benefits. The have become one of the innovation capitals of the world, due in part to their determination to climb out of chaos and also in decisions about technology infrastructure that allowed them to leap forward to the full capabilities of the present day rather than following the same process as other developed nations, even at a faster pace. Belarus on the other hand, has a ‘tightly controlled’ political and economic system. They have no technology and even less modern industry, both of which contribute to a weak and unstable economy.

The real meaning in the difference between these two countries is not, however, their economic status as much as it is the living conditions of their citizens. Estonia’s standard of living has improved dramatically since the fall of the Soviet Union, while Belarus’ residents are living in what amounts to modern feudalism. There is no freedom of expression, of the press, or of assembly, and most businesses are state owned by the neo-Luddite government.

Perhaps the most important take away from The Industries of the Future is that everyone, in every industry, geography, and walk of life, will find something in it that holds meaning for them. Living conditions and the role of the family are stressed from beginning to end and provide a constant reminder of why we work as hard as we do to achieve success, and what is required from a human perspective to realize the benefits of competition.

This was an amazing book covering multiple areas that will truly peak anyone's interest. Working in finance now, look at this book as a guide to what will be be the next fortune 15 company, as well as a potential pivot. This is a must read for anyone that wants to remain relevant 20 years from now.

Alec Ross gives an inspiring overview of the opportunities (and challenges) that the proliferation of technology, open government and equality is bringing to the world. A must read for any aspiring entrepreneur, investor or world citizen.