Knowledge Base of Futures Studies

Volumes 1-4 

Series Editor and Editor of Vols 1-3: Richard A. Slaughter

Vol 4 Editor: Sohail Inayatullah 

This CD-ROM is the result of several years' intensive work by the editors. It contains the revised first three volumes of the Knowledge Base of Futures Studies as well as volume four, edited by Sohail Inayatullah. It brings together some of the best work available and provides a solid foundation for understanding the field of FS and the global challenges it addresses. As such it is a vital resource for students, teachers, researchers, consultants and, indeed, anyone wishing to understand the historical predicament of humankind. Apart from the 150 or so main texts the CD-ROM contains a series introduction, introductory essays, a study guide, a recorded editorial conversation, forewords, an extensive glossary and author images. The main sections are:  

                        Volume 1: Foundations  

                        Part 1: Origins

                        Part 2: Futures Concepts and Metaphors

                        Part 3: The Futures Literature

                        Part 4: The Foundations of Futures Studies  

                        Volume 2: Organisations, Practices, Products  

                        Part 1: Futures Organisations

                        Part 2: Futures Methods and Tools

                        Part 3: Images and Imaging Processes

                        Part 4: Social Innovations and Futures  

                        Volume 3: Directions and Outlooks  

                        Part 1: New Directions in Futures Thinking

                        Part 2: The Outlook for the New Millennium

                        Part 3: The Long View  

                        Volume 4: The Knowledge Base of Futures Studies, The Views of Futurists  

Over 100 entries by the world's leading futurists, including Elise Boulding, Johan Galtung, Samir Amin, Clement Bezold, Clement Chang, James Robertson, Hazel Henderson, Jordi Serra, James Dator,  Christopher Jones, Tony Stevenson, Ivana Milojevic, Ana-Maria Sandi, Ashis Nandy, Zia Sardar, Eleonora Masini, Philip Spies, Susantha Goonatilake, Joseph Coates, Barbara Marx Hubbard, David Hicks, William Halal, Riane Eisler, Michel Godet, Partow Izadi, Cesar Villeneuva, Anita Rubin, Enric Bas, Graham Molitor, Jan Lee Martin, and many others.  

Futurists offer their favorite methods, present the trends they believe are shaping the short and long-term future of humanity and describe their vision of the future.  

Each entry tells a story of a different futurist, a different future.

Readers' comments on the books

I congratulate you on one of the most important publishing events in the history of futures studies. For many decades to come, these volumes will remain the standard by which all other work in the field is judged.

Wendell Bell, Professor Emeritus, Yale.

Indispensable - not only for the professional futurist - but for all those interested in this growing field, whatever their discipline or perspective.

Hazel Henderson, Florida.

A veritable encyclopedia of current knowledge about our shared future. Should be a must for all students of the future - and all persons interested in our short-term and long-term destiny.

Ervin Laszlo, Pisa, Italy

The CD-ROM  

Before undertaking this course I had never used a CD as a source of reading material before and I had some trepidation about trying to read significant amounts of information from a computer screen. However since I have had the CD-ROM I have been very happy with how it has integrated with my work and travel requirements. Having all the resources on a single CD has meant that I can copy the resources onto all the different computers that I use (home, laptop and work). So I am never 'without' the KBFS. Having it on my laptop means I can take the opportunity to catch up on my reading while I'm in taxis, airport lounges, planes or the occasional quiet time between meetings. I have encountered no difficulties in reading the information off a computer screen. I now cannot imagine how I could carry the KBFS in its printed form and if I were given the choice of the CD or the books I would choose the CD. The CD itself is well organised, the links all work well and it is easy to navigate around. For someone who is trying to juggle work and study I think the CD-ROM is definitely the way to go.  

Peter Hayward, Australian Taxation Office  

To order the Knowledge Base of Futures Studies CD-ROM and/or Futures for the Third Millennium please contact  

Sohail Inayatullah, 29 Meta Street, Mooloolaba, 4557 Queensland. s.inayatullah@qut.edu.au. www.metafuture.org,. s.inayatullah@qut.edu.au, sinayatullah@hotmail.com.

Telephone:  61 7 5452 6269  

OR  

Foresight International, PO Box 793, Indooroopilly, Queensland 4068, Australia

Web: www.aboutforesight.org. email: Laurie Wheldon: ljwheldon@ozemail.com.au

Telephone: 61 7 3878 7691 

The KBFS CD-ROM costs AUD$70, including air mail postage.

Futures for the Third Millennium costs AUD$70, including air mail postage.