The Usborne Book of the Future

The Usborne Book of the Future: A Look Back from the Future

This compilation offers a fascinating glimpse into a 1970s vision of the new millennium and beyond. It brings together several books originally published individually, presenting a bold look at what the future might hold. In many respects, with some intriguing deviations, the predictions were remarkably accurate, particularly concerning mobile telephony, the internet, and home automation. In other areas, the authors' optimism about humanity's evolution proved a bit premature.

The first book in this collection is ROBOTS. It explores concepts ranging from space exploration—though it didn't foresee the decades-long hiatus in the space race—to deep-sea machinery and specialized vehicles for rescue or even warfare. Intriguingly, its ideas about cybernetics and implants seem much closer to current realities.

Next, the book delves into FUTURE CITIES. This section presents two potential paths for urban development: one leading to increased pollution, and the other towards integration with nature. It's clear which direction our societies have largely taken. Within these pages, the concepts of **future home automation and advanced telephony, including the internet, are perhaps the most widely recognized and shared, often appearing in discussions about the book and future predictions. Despite their distinct 1970s aesthetic, these illustrations remarkably capture aspects of our everyday lives today. The book also extends its vision to more ambitious concepts, such as cities at sea, in space, and even on other worlds.

The final section, STAR TRAVELS, might seem the most speculative given our current technological capabilities. However, it makes surprisingly accurate predictions about the evolution of terrestrial vehicles like motorcycles, cars, trains, and airplanes.

The three volumes conclude with intriguing tables that project possible events spanning even the coming millennia. These tables are particularly captivating, not only for showcasing the pronounced optimism of the 20th century but also for the creativity and reasoned foresight demonstrated by the authors. This stands out as one of Usborne's most remarkable publications.