Book Blog 1: 50 Years from Today

I've been slowly reading the book called 50 Years from Today. It is an interesting collection of short writings by 60 influential people in the world in 2008.

I like the book because it shows a glimpse into the minds of intellectual people when they think about what life in the near future might be like.

Many of the writers predict that technology will play a huge part in transforming many different areas of life including healthcare, transportation, international relations, and commerce.

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In chapter 45, Keith B. Richburg predicts that Chinese will be widely spoken, an AIDS vaccine will have been discovered, three-quarters of the world's population will live in one of a dozen or so of the world's "megacities," GMO varieties of rice will be feed the world and grow in practically every environmental condition, and virtual reality will become common entertainment.

In chapter 46, Greg Poland predicts that cancer, diabetes, dental caries, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, and multiple sclerosis will be thought of as vaccine-preventable.  Currently highly-invasive medical procedures will become non-invasive and require little to no recovery time due to the precision of treatment and lack of undesirable side effects.  He says exercise will become more important due to the rise of global affluence and love of leisure.