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This Could Be Our Future summary
Yancey Strickler
A Manifesto for a More Generous World
27 mins
Brief summary
This Could Be Our Future by Yancey Strickler argues for a world beyond financial maximization, one where we prioritize our collective well-being, values, and meaning over profit. He offers a path towards a society centered on purpose and flourishing.
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This Could Be Our Future
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Key idea 1 of 8
Our lives are governed by invisible ideas, and financial maximization is the biggest one of them.
When Perry Chen, Charles Adler, and the author, Yancey Strickler, first started telling people about their idea, Kickstarter, in 2005, most of the people they told assumed they were crazy. A platform where people give other people money to make art? “That’s not how the world works!” people would say.
And they were sort of right. Back then, the term “crowdfunding” didn’t even exist. But, in 2009, Kickstarter launched anyway. And now, some ten years later, the platform is responsible for bringing to life more than 100,000 new creative ideas – among them Oscar-winning documentaries like Jehane Noujaim’s The Square, and the wildly popular card game Cards Against Humanity.
The key message here is: Our lives are governed by invisible ideas, and financial maximization is the biggest one of them.
Kickstarter proved something about human thought: most of our ideas about how the world works don’t reflect some immutable truth – they are just concepts we’ve invented. But many of these ideas are so deeply embedded in daily life that we cease to recognize them as the made-up concepts they truly are.
The notion that money is the be-all and end-all of human existence is one of these invisible ideas. The author calls this notion “financial maximization.” It’s the idea that, as a business, but also as an individual, nothing but money-making should guide your actions.
In the 1970s, star economist Milton Friedman became the first public figure to argue that businesses have no responsibility to society other than turning a profit. And companies truly took this to heart.
Today, the only standard most businesses hold themselves to is how much profit they can make for their shareholders. From mass firings to tax evasion to diminishing service quality, no strategy is off limits – if it’ll generate profit.
Indeed, for those at the top, all areas of human activity – our movies, our health care, our education, our communities – are nothing but different kinds of investment opportunities. And if it will make them more money, they will buy, sell, and trade those investments with no concern for the people affected.
Worst of all, we have come to expect this behavior. We emulate it in our private lives without questioning its wider utility. Of course people should do what makes them the most money. That’s just how things work. Or at least so the thinking goes. But that begs the question of whether things really are working.
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What is This Could Be Our Future about?
This Could Be Our Future (2019) is a manifesto for a better tomorrow – a future world that isn’t ruled solely by money, but by all forms of value that humanity produces. Former Kickstarter CEO Yancey Strickler explains how our modern obsession with “financial maximization” has led society astray – bankrupting institutions, stifling innovation, and starving creativity – and what we can do to adjust our course.
This Could Be Our Future Review
This Could Be Our Future (2019) by Yancey Strickler is an insightful exploration of how we can shape a more sustainable and equitable future. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers a fresh perspective on the current state of our society, encouraging us to question our values and reevaluate what's truly important.
- Through compelling case studies and thought-provoking analysis, the book presents a compelling argument for reimagining capitalism to prioritize the well-being of people and the planet.
- With its solutions-oriented approach and actionable ideas for change, it empowers readers to become active participants in shaping a better future for all.
Best quote from This Could Be Our Future
Value is what something is worth. Values are whats worth something to somebody.
—Yancey Strickler
Who should read This Could Be Our Future?
- Critical capitalists and suspicious socialists
- Entrepreneurs and business owners ready to make a difference
- Anyone who suspects that there is more to life than money
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This Could Be Our Future FAQs
What is the main message of This Could Be Our Future?
The main message of This Could Be Our Future is that we can shape a better future by embracing community, ethics, and reimagining our values.
How long does it take to read This Could Be Our Future?
The reading time for This Could Be Our Future varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is This Could Be Our Future a good book? Is it worth reading?
This Could Be Our Future is worth reading as it provides insightful ideas on creating a more sustainable and fulfilling future for all.
Who is the author of This Could Be Our Future?
The author of This Could Be Our Future is Yancey Strickler.
What to read after This Could Be Our Future?
If you're wondering what to read next after This Could Be Our Future, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham and comments by Jason Zweig
- How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell
- The War on Normal People by Andrew Yang
- Grow the Pie by Alex Edmans
- The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson
- Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz
- Amazon by Natalie Berg & Miya Knights
- The Value of Everything by Mariana Mazzucato
- Buddha’s Brain by Rick Hanson
- Proximity by Robert C. Wolcott & Kaihan Krippendorff