We live in an era of immediate needs and short-term thinking. Global corporations are willing to do anything to satisfy the growing demands of shareholders, natural resources are being consumed at an unprecedented rate, and politicians are discussing the use of nuclear weapons. What will remain for our descendants? Not to abstract future generations, but to our grandchildren and great-grandchildren? Will we leave them a safe, comfortable world or a lifeless ashes? In his book, philosopher and sociologist Roman Krznarik explains how to ensure that future generations can consider us good ancestors, to establish a personal, empathic connection with people whom we may not be destined to meet and whose lives we can hardly imagine. He offers six conceptual and practical ways to develop long-term thinking as the basis for creating a new, more conscious world order that opens the way to a culture of long-term horizons and responsibility for the future. And although it is unlikely that the reader will be able to influence the fate of all humanity, everyone can make a contribution to a good future for our descendants. “Politicians have forgotten how to see beyond the next election, a public opinion poll, or even a tweet. Companies have become slaves to quarterly reports and victims of incessant pressure from shareholders who are not interested in anything other than capital growth. Speculative markets, controlled by millisecond algorithms, inflate and burst like soap bubbles. At the global negotiating table, each nation defends its own interests, while the planet burns and the rate of extinction of species from the face of the Earth increases. The culture of instant results forces us to indulge in fast food, exchange short text messages and hit the “Buy Now” button. “The great paradox of our times,” writes anthropologist Mary Katherine Bateson, “is that as human lifespans increase, our thoughts have become noticeably shorter.” “Smartphones have essentially become a new, advanced version of the factory clock, taking away our time , which we managed ourselves, and in return offered a constant stream of entertainment information, advertising and fabricated news. The entire digital distraction industry is built on getting to the user's ancient animal brain as cleverly as possible: we perk up our ears at the sound of an instant messenger alert, our attention shifts to the video flashing on the periphery of the screen because it creates a feeling of anticipation that triggers the dopamine cycle. Social networks are Pavlov, and we, accordingly, are dogs.”

For whomFor all those who care about what remains after us.