Glenn Hough <gally_angel@yahoo.com>

As I sort our my impressions from Transforming Communications, I realize that I've gone through three

distinct phases of thought concerning this book.  The first was immediate, and obvious.  This book was

published by Praeger for their Praeger Studies on the 21st century, so that must mean it's good stuff.  The

books in the series I've been through already show a distinct level of quality, so I can give this one the

benefit of the doubt already, right?  And besides, it's got Sohail's handiwork in it and we all know how

good he is, don't we?  In the process of reading, the opinion changed to the concept of a benchmark.  Oh,

this is really a good benchmark for where this particular line of inquiry in futures studies has gone

so far, or at the very least when the pieces where written, how ever long ago that was.  The third phase

is one that holds a smile at how this book has furthered my thinking and a small smirk at how

familiar it all was.  As I finished the book and sat to reflect upon it, yes it furthers my own thinking on

these concepts, but's let be honest, this book is like preaching to the choir, to the already converted.  One

could almost say: "Yes, communication does not equal the shear number of emails, Duh!"  I don't think I ran

across anything really new, just more indepth, greater breath, more focused than what I'd already been

learning.  I get it, but then again, I'm part of the choir.  There's nothing wrong with preaching to the

choir on occasion.  They need the encouragement and the furthering of their own understanding as well.

But the real question is how does it play with audiences that don't get it, aren't hip to what's

go'en down, and are mentally stuck in the older paradigms?  I'm afraid I'm completely unqualified to

even venture an opinion on that question.  So, after a pregnant pause, what do I think?  If technology,

sustainability or future generations is of any interest to you, then read the damn thing if you

haven't already.  And if you don't, it's just another lost opportunity to further your own understanding. Your loss, not mine, since I've read it twice now.