Linear thinking and linear pursuits are out. Chaos is in. Older people can’t
cope with the discontinuities of the present world, speeding ever faster aboard
the technological juggernaut, let alone the world that the net-surfing, fractal
future will bring. But “kids”, as Douglas Rushkoff, the author of Children of
Chaos (HarperCollins, £12.99, ISBN 0 00 255626) relentlessly calls them,
can accept and adapt, seeing the underlying patterns in apparent confusion. The
only hope for adults is to learn from these “advance scouts”. The case is argued
headlong. Hold the book in one hand, your hat with the other. Now available in
Britain, but published in the US as Playing the Future (reviewed 25 July
1995).
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features

Mind
The relationship recession is even bigger for Gen Z than we thought
News

Technology
Killer robots are here – we must finally decide whether to accept them
Leader

Technology
Quantum computer quickly mines cryptocurrency while using less energy
News

Mind
How to sparkle in conversation with strangers
Comment
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Fully autonomous drones have killed human soldiers for the first time
2
What is a ‘normal’ memory slowdown, and when should I worry?
3
Understanding anorexia’s grip on the brain could unlock new therapies
4
Global map reveals the vast scale of underground fungal networks
5
Toy universe shows that time could be a quantum illusion
6
Why we should all take quantum physics extremely personally
7
Wolves seen hunting European bison in rare camera-trap recording
8
How to sparkle in conversation with strangers
9
First working nuclear clock heralds a new era in timekeeping
10
El Niño has started and the weather could get weird