Kindle
$18.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$21.33
Buy new:
-29% $21.33
FREE delivery Friday, May 17 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$21.33 with 29 percent savings
List Price: $30.00

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Friday, May 17 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 16 hrs 38 mins
In Stock
$$21.33 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$21.33
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day easy returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$15.91
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
This book was inspected by hand. It is in great shape, with very light wear. There is no highlighting, or hand-written notes on the inside pages. This book was inspected by hand. It is in great shape, with very light wear. There is no highlighting, or hand-written notes on the inside pages. See less
FREE delivery Friday, May 17 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Thursday, May 16. Order within 16 hrs 38 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$21.33 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$21.33
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the authors

Thomas Suddendorf
+ Follow
Jonathan Redshaw
+ Follow
See all
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Invention of Tomorrow: A Natural History of Foresight Hardcover – September 20, 2022

by Thomas Suddendorf (Author), Jonathan Redshaw (Author), Adam Bulley (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 23 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$21.33","priceAmount":21.33,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"21","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"33","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"T3wrqz7QYzZeKEss9v7168Ps1n8BIZNDphLTysnQlTXLXEi5fE6b8Z0KLmlO5SJlJa5Q85KkPiu7J%2FK4RmFdLupvYMN9pUvOhlapdsVYhxJCA33hq4jwCxt3XfqSH5msIo6qSP23d23YRtBm7U6V5Q%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$15.91","priceAmount":15.91,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"15","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"91","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"T3wrqz7QYzZeKEss9v7168Ps1n8BIZND5Q3LqtnD2r92ZVEX%2BPRoPorUEAvnSv5DsiUX9JkGjlSUbzwQiUmHfyup8I7RPDH7BrMDLzXZf0W%2FFjTjyEhgj9TUdQ%2BPxeREoWLe%2FpFGHx9ovsPkTDq8UE%2FdTYsIZvHOVt7eI5Kzywwj1%2B%2FxFs2%2Fb15AqX6iGCip","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

A spellbinding exploration of the human capacity to imagine the future 

Our ability to think about the future is one of the most powerful tools at our disposal. In The Invention of Tomorrow, cognitive scientists Thomas Suddendorf, Jonathan Redshaw, and Adam Bulley argue that its emergence transformed humans from unremarkable primates to creatures that hold the destiny of the planet in their hands.  

Drawing on their own cutting-edge research, the authors break down the science of foresight, showing us where it comes from, how it works, and how it made our world. Journeying through biology, psychology, history, and culture, they show that thinking ahead is at the heart of human nature—even if we often get it terribly wrong. Incisive and expansive, The Invention of Tomorrow offers a fresh perspective on the human tale that shows how our species clawed its way to control the future.

Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    304 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Basic Books
  4. Publication date
    September 20, 2022
  5. Dimensions
    6.3 x 1.3 x 9.65 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    154167572X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1541675728
  8. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Frequently bought together

The Invention of Tomorrow: A Natural History of Foresight
$21.33
Get it as soon as Friday, May 17
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Homo Sapiens Rediscovered: The Scientific Revolution Rewriting Our Origins (The Rediscovered Series)
$20.35
Get it as soon as Friday, May 17
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A Nature Book Reviews Best Science Pick

“The authors of this exciting book argue vividly and convincingly that our ability to immerse ourselves mentally in past and future worlds is what makes us such a philosophizing, technologizing, and cogitating species. It’s a hot topic in cognitive neuroscience and a stroke of insight about what makes humans human.”
 ―Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of Rationality

“[A] thoughtful, far-ranging study of foresight” ―Nature

“Meticulously researched, thought-provoking, and engrossing… The book is jam-packed with stories–some historical, some scientific–that are easy to follow. The authors punctuate the narrative with just the right amount of humor and incisive commentary.”―Psychology Today

“Ambitiously stretching from ancient Greece to the present day, this history of foresight…dives into the myriad ways humans have attempted to predict the future.”―The Globe and Mail

““The Invention of Tomorrow” explores the transformative human power to envision the future and its evolutionary impact.”―Undark Magazine

“A fascinating perspective on what it means to be human, told with a clear voice and an expansive canvas… Sprinkled throughout the book are well-placed moments of deadpan humor to leaven the authoritative research.” 

―Kirkus

“Stimulating […] sure to captivate popular science readers. Fans of Steven Pinker will want to check this out.”

―Publishers Weekly

“A phenomenal book… brilliantly written, and providing a fresh perspective on cognition.” ―Nicole Barbaro, Bookmarked Reads

“Why is our ability to think ahead enormously greater than it is in other species? The Invention of Tomorrow provides a fascinating and authoritative look at one of humanity's most important and least explored powers.”―Richard Wrangham, Ruth Moore Professor of Anthropology, Harvard University, and author of Catching Fire

“A fascinating exploration of the power and potential of the human mind – and the importance of future thinking for the success of our species.”―Tali Sharot, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London and MIT, and author of The Influential Mind

“Beautifully written. I often re-read sections, not because I didn’t understand what [they] wrote, but simply for the pleasure of reading [their] prose.”―David Bjorklund, Professor of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, and author of How Children Invented Humanity

“A fascinating and thoughtful new book on the extraordinary human capacity for mental time travel - and why we need it to help navigate our turbulent futures.” ―Roman Krznaric, philosopher

About the Author

THOMAS SUDDENDORF is a professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland, Australia. He is the author of the critically acclaimed book The Gap: The Science Of What Separates Us From Other Animals (Basic Books, 2013). Suddendorf is an award-winning researcher who pioneered the study of “mental time travel.” His work has been featured in leading scientific journals including Science and Trends in Cognitive Sciences and in popular outlets including Scientific American and New Scientist. He lives in Brisbane, Australia.

JONATHAN REDSHAW is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Queensland. He has published extensively on the development and evolution of mental time travel, focusing on how children and animals think about uncertain future events. He was named a 2021 Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Science. He lives in Brisbane, Australia.

ADAM BULLEY is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Sydney and at Harvard University, where he researches the cognitive science of foresight and decision-making. He has won numerous honors and awards for his research and teaching. He lives in Sydney, Australia.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books (September 20, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 154167572X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1541675728
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.3 x 1.3 x 9.65 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 23 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Previous page
  1. Thomas Suddendorf

    Thomas Suddendorf

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

    See more on the author's page
  2. Jonathan Redshaw

    Jonathan Redshaw

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Jonathan Redshaw is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Queensland. He has published extensively on the development and evolution of mental time travel, focusing on how children and animals think about uncertain future events. He was named a 2021 Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Science. He lives in Brisbane, Australia.

    See more on the author's page
  3. Adam Bulley

    Adam Bulley

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    ADAM BULLEY is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Sydney and at Harvard University, where he researches the cognitive science of foresight and decision-making. He has won numerous honors and awards for his research and teaching. He lives in Sydney, Australia.

    See more on the author's page
Next page

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
23 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Thomas Cochard
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating story of our incredible (for best and worst) abilities
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2022
Verified Purchase
Wonderfully written, an incredible research work and a lot of fascinating Anecdotes.
Helpful
 Report
DrGina
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating exploration of human foresight
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2023
The authors provide a seminal work on the evolution of the human brain and its unique gifts. Rich with detail, photographs, and illustrations, the book shows how humans evolved the capacity for foresight, planning, innovation, and abstract thinking. We also possess self-destructive propensities that need correcting, such as addressing climate change. The authors leave us with the hopeful message, "With the right balance between humility and confidence, we can tackle the challenges ahead." We can use our mental time machines to improve and heal our world. Now that's a powerful, positive, hopeful message.
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Virginia M
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!
Reviewed in Belgium on September 26, 2023
Verified Purchase
A fantastic analysis of the origins and and mechanisms of our human mental model of past, present and future. The central argument of the book (resting on the fact that we perceive the future using the same mental machinery as we perceive the past) has changed my understanding of human time perception. It's also very well written in a very accessible, relatable style, making it a a great read for anyone interested in foresight and its various applications!
Report
Christian
1.0 out of 5 stars à ne pas lire
Reviewed in France on January 29, 2024
Verified Purchase
arguments stériles
Report