Johnson Steven. Future Perfect: The Case For Progress In A Networked Age

Riverhead Books, 2012. — 272 p. — ISBN 9781594488207, 1594488207.The main idea that Johnson promotes in Future Perfect is that productivity and innovation are best achieved through the collaborative efforts of a peer network rather than the restrictive structure of a hierarchical system. In a peer network, individuals aren’t as interested in competition or profit. Johnson presents his idea as a new political movement, with its followers referring to themselves as «peer progressives». This new political view avoids the traditional ideas of both big government and also big markets.«Future Perfect» is characterized by applicable anecdotes that aid in giving deeper explanations of his ideas. Johnson uses stories that highlight successful peer networks, such as the 3-1-1 call system, a program used in New York City that allows residents to call in issues that need to be addressed throughout the city, or also the story of a prize-based system developed by a small group of men in 18th century Britain that offered incentives to citizens who could help foster innovation in manufacturing and the arts. Johnson also uses examples of failed systems and projects, and then he analyzes the cause of the failure to determine how to learn from their mistakes. In a hierarchical organization, all of the intelligence is kept in the center of the network, leading to the decision-making being non-inclusive and stifling the flow of information. The story of the Legrand Star, the inefficiently designed French railway system that uses Paris as a central hub for all passenger trains, is Johnson’s main illustration of a failed system. These stories all promote Johnson’s idea of a decentralized peer network, one where there isn’t a clear group or location that has more power or control than another. Johnson argues that a large, diverse group of non-experts will generally make larger leaps in innovation than a small group of experts.Introduction.
Progress, actually.
The peer progressives.
Peer networks at work.
Communities the maple syrup event.
Journalism the pothole paradox.
Technology what does the internet want?
Incentives we have a winner!
Governance liquid democracies.
Corporations conscious capitalism.
Conclusion.
The peer society.
Acknowledgments.
Notes.
Index.
About the Author.