Ours is the most dynamic era in human history. The benefits of four centuries of technological and organizational change are at last reaching a previously excluded global majority. This transformation will create large-scale opportunities in richer countries like the United States just as it has in poorer countries now in the ascent.
In The Coming Prosperity, Philip E. Auerswald argues that it is time to overcome the outdated narratives of fear that dominate public discourse and to grasp the powerful momentum of progress. Acknowledging the gravity of today's greatest global challenges--like climate change, water scarcity, and rapid urbanization--Auerswald emphasizes that the choices we make today will determine the extent and reach of the coming prosperity. To make the most of this epochal transition, he writes, the key is entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs introduce new products and services, expand the range of global knowledge networks, and, most importantly, challenge established business interests, maintaining the vitality of mature capitalist economies and enhancing the viability of emerging ones. Auerswald frames narratives of inspiring entrepreneurs within the sweep of human history. The book's deft analysis of economic trends is enlivened by stories of entrepreneurs making an outsize difference in their
communities and the world--people like Karim Khoja, who led the creation of the first mobile phone company in Afghanistan; Leila Janah, who is bringing digital-age opportunity to talented people trapped in refugee camps; and Victoria Hale, whose non-profit pharmaceutical company turned an orphan drug into a cure for black fever.
Engagingly written and bracingly realistic about the prospects of our historical moment, The Coming Prosperity disarms the current narratives of fear and brings to light the vast new opportunities in the expanding global economy.
Industry Reviews
"Philip Auerswald shows the role that innovators must play if we are to create 'The Coming Prosperity.' In this important book, he reminds us that challenging the status quo is the inescapable first step toward building the future of our dreams." --President Bill Clinton, Founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and 42nd president of the United States
"Auerswald...digs down to show the many ways in which progress depends on creativity, not to mention persistence and luck...a lively writing style, and the analysis is lightened with personal anecdotes and pop-culture references." --The Wall Street Journal
"If you want to understand where and how the economy will recover, read this book. The Coming Prosperity illuminates our current historical moment and shines a light on the future we can have. Philip Auerswald weaves together a rich tapestry of insights that underpin a desperately needed 'reset' in our policies, institutions, economy and society." --Richard Florida, Director, Martin Prosperity Institute, Rotman School of Management, University of
Toronto, Senior Editor at The Atlantic, and author of The Rise of the Creative Class
"The brilliant book you're holding isn't just a chronicle of necessary economic transformation -- it's a field guide to being a builder, an architect, a prime mover of the next global economy. One that's not just optimized for the industrial age pursuit of more, bigger, faster, cheaper, but for fundamentally better in terms that matter to humans. So if your goal might be summarized thus -- 'Ignore the haters. Listen to what matters. Topple the status quo' --
then fasten your seatbelt, take a deep breath, and get ready to create the future." --Umair Haque, author of The New Capitalist Manifesto: Building a Disruptively Better Business
"The Coming Prosperity is a refreshingly optimistic look at the role of entrepreneurship in building a more just and interconnected world. Auerswald is not only an economist, but also a real storyteller-this book is a relevant and engaging read for all of us interested in creating a more prosperous planet." --Jacqueline Novogratz, founder and CEO of Acumen Fund
"Philip Auerswald has given us a tonic for troubled times, one carefully calibrated to meet every skeptic's objection. His message is one of entrepreneurship, collaboration, and connection, unlocking the creative talent of billions all over the world. The Coming Prosperity is a compelling read." --Anne-Marie Slaughter, Bert G. Kerstetter '66 University Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University
"With compelling writing, Auerswald offers an enjoyable and thought-provoking read." --Publishers Weekly
"The main reason for his optimism is the promise of people---both in numbers and in individuals. As a mass, the several billion people newly and ever-more connected to the rest of the world through advances in communication represent a lot of productive potential. He notes that "the creativity of individual people powers human productivity" and cites a number of cases in which a single person, with the right idea, in the right place, and in concert with
others, has been able to bring about positive and significant change. Auerswald, in short, believes in the power of entrepreneurship." --Contemporary Sociology
