Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This book had a lot of potential, but it didn't work for me.

The format of a futuristic scenario followed by an summary from an old cantankerous curmudgeon was very annoying. There really wasn't any need to have the old white guy share his obviously oh so important opinion about every scenario and why he thought he shouldn't or wouldn't work and why his other white male friends tried to suppress such movements. It came across as extremely arrogant and condescending. Plus, the answer was always the same: greedy, rich, white men refusing to redistribute weather and power.

However, what really bugged me was the authors glorification of Walt Disney. While Walt may have been a future idealist, apart from the Wright Brothers, I'm not sure if there is anyone else in history whos "dreams" have become more bastardized by corporate greed with their global domination and childhood indoctrination. Is Walt Disney really the futurist optimistic hero people should be benchmarking against or strive to be like?

Anger is the overwhelming emotion that I feel after reading this book. Perhaps that was the authors intent: people should be angry about the possible shitty future. Angry enough to do something. Angry enough to try and change the shitty future. But my anger isn't directed at this crappy future - it was directed at this annoying fictional narrator. The inspirational futuristic stories aren't enough to pull you back from the anger spiral, so the message get a wee bit lost about how to channel that anger into something productive to inspire, motivate and build a better future.

This book was not written for me but that's okay. I understand that by use of the word "Bro", for instance, it was written for young people with a (rightful) fear of the future. I appreciate its intent, anyone who pays serious attention to culture, intersectional feminism, sociology, or psychology that's actually inclusive in its nature will find this book difficult to unnecessary, and unfortunately, not a book I would recommend for today's youth. Even mere mention of a Roomba, for example (beginning price $279 according to Google) is a hint that this book speaks to a specific audience. That, too, is fine - except that the advice offered isn't very constructive for anyone other than those suffering 'first world problems'. How does a poor, queer person reimagine their tomorrow? Despite a quick nod to marginalized communities in the introduction, little in these stories will actually call people on the fringes to this book. This book is for those who are already settled into a nice middle-class existence that stands to be overturned by cultural, social and economic upheaval.

It's true, we are in trying times, and reimagining our tomorrows is important - but rather than applying a pop psychology mindset that is inaccessible to many, applying ourselves constructively as activists is far more important, and there are plenty of helpful books out there for that already, and much to do, if we are truly going to reimagine and put in place a better future for ourselves, our children, and the next seven generations.

The full title is Reimagining Our Tomorrows: Making Sure Your Future Doesn’t SUCK by Joe Tankersley. I thank Netgalley for the privilege of reading an ARC of this book.

None of us knows what the future holds. Will it be good or will it be bad?

There is plenty to fear about our future. We already see many changes and many of us wonder what the future holds both for us personally and for the world in general. But change can also bring new opportunities as well as problems.

Many books seem to emphasize the worst possibilities about our future. And there certainly is much evidence that the future may not be so great.

But this is an optimistic view of that same future. This book is about facing the challenges and making the most of them. The author calls himself an optimistic futurist. And he conveys that optimistic view to us by his story telling.

I liked the optimism of this book.

An insightful and logical look at our future. Joe Tankersley knows what he is talking about. The writing is both succinct and engaging. I enjoyed this book.