This book, written by my friend Jim Lee, financial advisor and futurist, is terrific! In it, he first tackles the current challenges that we face economically and socially at a time of increasing pressures and reduced resources, by presenting the doom and gloom scenarios that people are fearing and headlines are pushing in our faces on a daily basis. But when all that is said and done, he mines the underlying trends, some more obvious than others, that offer a multitude of options in a fresh light.

As he says early on, in spite of dire predictions and current pressures, he is an optimist. The body of his book then proceeds to show why he feels optimistic for the upcoming generations and the innovative trends that are arising.

We all know the doom and gloom stuff. In Part One, Jim breaks this down by discussing, among other things, the pollution in the ocean, the stress upon water supplies, the diminishment of oil reserves and fossil fuel access, and the factors in climate change. Even in this early part of the book, he faces each of these scenarios with some solutions or possibilities, and gives anecdotes of people who have already revamped their everyday worlds, and are living lifestyles that are sustainable. His one constant theme is humanity's need to change and adapt.

His writing is very clear, and the book is an easy read. Lots of pointed statistics are given, but they are embedded in material that is conversational and not pedantic. Jim has no problem discussing financial data as well as technological innovations, social changes, real estate issues, consumer findings, inventions, and many other topics. In fact, some of his most important concepts are listed on the book cover, and include discreet consumption, edible landscaping, radical economics, transition towns, homesteading, time banking, repurposing, DIY culture, microfarms, co-housing, and bartering.

The second part of the book, Part Two, is all about the ways in which we can dig our way out of gloom and side-step doom. Revolutionary concepts that are hip and trendy, and gaining traction, that foresee the ways in which technological innovations can be brought into our kitchen, our doctor's visits, our food supplies, and our living arrangements, are just some of his suggestions. These suggestions are based upon lots of fascinating research. Jim seems to have the ability to gobble up dry statistics, digest data from numerous sources, and bring forth condensed understanding of where many trends are headed. This, I gather, is the true work of a futurist. And he includes a number of tales about how people are implementing these trends in their lives right now. For instance, in a reduced economy, it becomes hip to make things yourself, grow your own food, cook or bake specialized treats, live in smaller communities that are structured around family, better time management, healthier nutrition, or even home schooling - all of which is enhanced as never before by global communications, bartering, swapping, and sharing. He explains how the internet is building communities that allow for information gathering and relationship forming in ways that have never before been available. People can sell, trade or swap, sometimes without money even being transacted.

Some of the concepts may seem pretty far out to us now, such as couchsurfing.com - a way in which travelers can crash in a stranger's home without the need for expensive hotels. Much of the projected new culture might make more sense for the younger generation, but fits the theme of the book, which is resilience - a world undergoing quite radical change that must and will find new forms under which to survive and thrive. For instance, a simple concept such as time banking would use volunteer time as a type of currency; people who have the least amount of money might have the most amount of time, and could therefore accumulate hours of service by contributing skills to others and to their communities. They would bank their time spent serving others' needs, and then barter with another who can provide a service in return, all without the exchange of coin.

Jim also covers trends in the workplace, new career choices, different family structures, innovative household set-ups such as "found families", and even fresh ways in which to handle the growing population of senior citizens. Finally, he looks at financial trends and economics in every way from investment strategy to revaluing the elderly.

As I read the book, I found myself feeling hopeful about the array of possible opportunities that a new society can offer. I enjoyed the Online Resources & Books that were recommended for each chapter's subject, as a go-to guide should that need arise or that curiosity be piqued. I found myself nodding in agreement with many of the concepts, and in fact recognizing them as something that I'd heard of or felt the subtle growth of as a background element, but when presented as a whole in this fashion was exciting and as Jim says, optimistic. The new world may not be what some of us old-timers feel comfortable with, but this book is a testament to the fact that humanity is resourceful and resilient, and will take adversity as its gift to reshape into a whole new approach to life.

Highly recommended. Available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.