The Art of the Long View Book Summary

In 'The Art of the Long View,' Peter Schwartz unveils the power of scenario planning as a crucial tool for navigating uncertainty and complexity. He challenges conventional ways of thinking and encourages readers to envision multiple futures rather than relying on a single prediction. Through compelling anecdotes and practical insights, Schwartz illustrates how organizations can use strategic foresight to anticipate change and seize opportunities. This book not only equips leaders with the skills to envision diverse possibilities but also inspires them to embrace a sense of agency in shaping their destinies. Dive into this thought-provoking exploration that promises to change the way you perceive the future!

By Peter Schwartz

Published: 1996

""The future is not something we enter; the future is something we create.""

Book Review of The Art of the Long View

What increasingly affects all of us, whether professional planners or individuals preparing for a better future, is not the tangibles of life—bottom-line numbers, for instance—but the intangibles: our hopes and fears, our beliefs and dreams. Only stories—scenarios—and our ability to visualize different kinds of futures adequately capture these intangibles. In The Art of the Long View, now for the first time in paperback and with the addition of an all-new User's Guide, Peter Schwartz outlines the "scenaric" approach, giving you the tools for developing a strategic vision within your business. Schwartz describes the new techniques, originally developed within Royal/Dutch Shell, based on many of his firsthand scenario exercises with the world's leading institutions and companies, including the White House, EPA, BellSouth, PG&E, and the International Stock Exchange.

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"The future is not something we enter; the future is something we create."

The Art of the Long View

By Peter Schwartz