Urry rejects both simple prediction (linear extrapolation from the past) and pure speculation (unmoored science fiction). Instead, he argues that the future is not singular but plural—there are many possible futures , and they emerge from complex interactions between social, technological, and environmental systems. His central claim is that we must treat the future as a , shaped by power, culture, and existing systems of mobility and resource use.
John Urry’s What Is the Future? is not a crystal ball but a lens. It teaches us to ask better questions: Who owns the future? Which futures are being silenced? And how can collective action shift the odds toward just and sustainable outcomes? For anyone trying to navigate the turbulence of the 21st century, this book—whether in print, PDF, or audiobook—is an essential companion.
In an era defined by climate change, digital disruption, pandemics, and geopolitical instability, the question “What is the future?” has never been more urgent. British sociologist (1946–2016) tackled this question head-on in his influential 2016 book, What Is the Future? Written as a companion to his earlier work on mobilities, complexity, and climate change, this book offers a theoretical and methodological toolkit for thinking about futures that are uncertain, contested, and profoundly social.
While many legitimate academic PDFs exist through institutional access (e.g., via Springer Link, university libraries, or Google Scholar), unauthorized copies of copyrighted books (including Urry’s, published by Polity Press) circulate on certain file-sharing sites. If you seek a free PDF, check your library’s e-book collection, open-access repositories, or interlibrary loan. The book’s ISBN for reference is (paperback).
