It was a great surprise when in 2023 the book “The Good Ancestor: How to Think Long-Term in a Short-Term World“ by Roman Krznaric came to me. This time, I listened to it. Taking advantage of some of my car journeys and daily walks, I got used to using Audiobook platforms. And on that spring day in 2023, I started with the one by the contemporary philosopher (Australia, 1971). From the first moment of the reading until the end, I was captivated by a concept I had heard many times, but never before had anyone explained it to me with such rigor, addressing a holistic perspective of society in which geopolitics, energy, and the environment must always be part of that vision. I liked it so much that the day after finishing the listen, I bought it in the original version, which I have since used for review and marking.

“The Good Ancestor” embarks on the crucial task of examining our ingrained temporal myopia and its devastating consequences. The book seeks to unravel why modern society, both individually and institutionally, has become so focused on the short term, ignoring the long-term implications of its actions. Krznaric argues that this “tyranny of the now” prevents us from effectively addressing global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and environmental degradation, threatening the well-being of future generations.

P.71 “Why should I care about future generations? What have they ever done for me? Although often attribute to Groucho Marx, this clever quip has in fact been circulating for more than 200 years. But in our age of accelerating climate change, rapid species extinction and the spectre of IA and nontechnology risk, the joke is starting to ring hollow: suddenly it is clear that the burning issue is what we are doing to them. There may no other momento in history when the actions of the present have had such monumental consequences for the future. We are now faced with one of the most urgent social questions of the twenty-first century: what obligations and responsibilities do we have to the generations who will succeed us?”

To address this problem, Krznaric explores various facets of what he calls “long-term thinking” or “deep time thinking.” He delves into history, philosophy, psychology, economics, and politics, seeking examples and principles that can guide a more intergenerational approach. His method involves dismantling the psychological and cultural barriers that prevent us from thinking beyond our own lives and adopting a mindset more geared towards legacy.

P.94 “The concept of cathedral thinking acts as a shorthand for the kind of long-term vision evident in sacred architecture but largely absent from politics or business”.

The author does this through an exhaustive examination of what he calls the “six ways of think long.” These include “Deep-time humility” (recognizing our smallness and ephemerality within the cosmic and geological scale of time), “Legacy Mindset” (shifting our fundamental identity from a consumer to an ancestor), “Intergenerational Justice” (ethical commitment to fairness between generations), “Cathedral Thinking” (capacity for long-term commitment to projects that require patience and dedication across generations), “Holistic Forecasting” (long-term vision), and “Transcendet Goal” (articulation of a compelling, shared, long-term purpose for human civilization.).

P.166. The title of chapter 7 is remarkable: “Holistic Forecasting. Long-term pathways for civilization”

Krznaric argues that to become “good ancestors,” we must cultivate “deep-time empathy,” the capacity to feel and care about the experiences of people who are not yet born. He highlights how past societies and some indigenous cultures have demonstrated this capacity, building structures and making decisions with a much wider temporal horizon. He contrasts this vision with the current Western model, driven by immediate consumption and instant gratification.

P.144. The autor include a section titled “Utopian Dream: visions of an ideal society”, and states “…A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not worth even glancing at, wrote Oscar Wild. Utopias, by their very nature, are suffused with long-termism: they offer a vision of an ideal society to which we might aspire, with no illusion that it can be achieved overnight”.

The book is not limited to theory but also offers practical examples and case studies of how long-term thinking can be implemented. From the movement to reintroduce species to sustainable urban planning and investment in resilient infrastructure, Krznaric shows that change is possible. He also examines the need to reform institutions and systems, such as politics and economics, so that they prioritize long-term well-being over short-term gain.

P.176. He creates a new concept and states “…among the most popular options is the creation of “guardians of the future”. These are public officials or institutions with the specific remit to represent future citizens – not just children, but also unborn generations- who are left out of traditional democratic processes”.

Regarding the conclusions, Krznaric emphasizes that the key to being a good ancestor lies in a fundamental shift in our collective and individual mindset. He proposes that we must move from a “use and dispose” mentality to a “care and bequeath” mentality. This involves not only political and economic actions but also a cultural transformation that values persistence, patience, and a sense of intergenerational responsibility.

Finally, the author concludes that action cannot be postponed. The challenge of the Anthropocene demands that we urgently adopt a long-term perspective to ensure the viability of life on Earth for generations to come. “The Good Ancestor” is, in essence, a call to action, a reminder that we have the power and the obligation to leave a positive legacy, transforming the tyranny of the now into a wisdom for the future.

Recommendation by Jose Ramon Largo (CEO at RAMPALLO Consulting S.L.) on the edition by Penguin Books, published in 2020. ISBN 9780753554517