What I Am Reading - The Next 100 Years

I heard Michael Medved mention this book on his radio show. I thought it sounded interesting, so I bought it. It has definitely kept my interest.

I like forecasts. Whether they are preseason football polls, NBA draft predictions, weather outlooks, oil price prognostics or election results guesses - I like them all. So, The Next 100 Years - A Forecast for the 21st Century by George Friedman is right up my ally. It is the book I am reading right now. I have read through about two-thirds of it.

The book delves deeply into the history of geopolitical relations. Friedman uses this history to predict how future events may unfold. The book reads much like a history book for events that haven't happened.

Friedman does not claim to be a prophet.

"I have no crystal ball. I do, however have a method that has served me well, imperfect though it might be, in understanding the past and anticipating the future."

In the book, Friedman does, however make specific predictions for the 2100s.

• ". . . in 2030 advanced countries will be competing for immigrants."
• "And, by the mid-2040s the Turks will indeed be a major regional power."
• By 2015-2020, it (Russia) will have a military that will pose a challenge to any power trying to project force into the region, even the United States.

The forecasts presented in The Next 100 Years are well thought out and presented in a manner that is easy to understand. There isn't a hint of "fear the future" kookiness present.

The Next 100 Years is one of the more interesting books I have read in a long while. It should be read from the perspective that the book is simply the author's ideas of how events could unfold rather than his ideas of how events will certainly unfold. I am eager to finish The Next 100 Years and recommend it to anyone who enjoys world history, geopolitics or forecasts.