It is that time of year when many of us are taking a break and catching up on some reading. This year I want to especially mention some of the marvellous books I brought back from the Dubai Future Forum. You can see from the photo below that I brought back quite a few and I will only mention some of these until I read the rest! There are also some other books and resources I encourage you to read along with some good podcasts, websites and videos. If you have recommendations please share so I can add recommendations to my 2026 list.
| Future Forum Titles | Comments |
|---|---|
| How to Synthesise the Future – Cecilia MoSze Tham & Mark Dixon Būnger | A 240-page methodology book complete with a playbook (disguised as dust covers) that combines rigorous science with imaginative design. I love the way this book shares a journey and provides some practical resources, especially useful as you start planning for the next year. I snaffled an advance copy at the DFF so if you are envious join their Kickstarter! |
| What Makes a Futurist – APF Compass Magazine | This Special Edition provides free access to global perspectives on futures and foresight – collective imagination in action. Twelve articles from futurists covering topics such as Absurd Beings, The Pragmatic Futurist and The Future is Ours to Author: How Black African Women Futurists Are Rewriting Tomorrow. |
| Using the Future: Contributions to the Field of Foresight | The Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies is a world leader in foresight and futures studies. This report provides ideas and conversations for extending thinking for the long term from a range of highly credible authors. Check out the novel foresight method – The Seven Provocations. |
| Pace Layers – The Long Now Foundation | This annual journal is a treasure trove exploring the ancient past and distant future of the present moment through essays, interviews, fiction, poetry, and visual art. If you haven’t come across Pace Layers or the Long Now Foundation it’s time you did! |
| Aotearoa Titles | Comments |
|---|---|
| Intergenerational Ambition: A Wayfinding tool for the future | Of course I am biased as this is a resource I put together sharing the ways in which Aotearoa New Zealand is developing a greater focus on intergenerational thinking. It builds on the global work on IGF. Note: You will need to download the resource in order to access the many links and examples provided. |
| Tomorrow Together – WEAll | A discussion document designed to spark conversations across Aotearoa about what it really means to put future generations at the heart of our decisions. This is a critical document that shares what is already happening and provides some policy levers for a fair future. Explore the Key Questions then fill in their survey. |
| Aotearoa Futures Barometer – Tokona Te Raki | Think Beyond | Truwind Research (now The Curiosity Company) | We created our own Aotearoa specific Futures Barometer to gain a sense of how New Zealanders are feeling about the future, to enable us to think creatively about potential solutions that will positively impact our next generations. This was based on the Copenhagen Futures Barometer. At this year’s Dubai Future Forum we workshopped ideas for a Global Futures Barometer so expect to hear more on this front next year. |
| Other resources | Comments |
|---|---|
| Dubai Future Forum Resource Library | This links to a number of great resources including a Future Persona Playbook, which is one of my favourite playbooks for 2025. Exploring the Unknown is also a key feature. |
| Futures Lab by Students – CIFS | Building futures literacy in the Futures Lab is a seven-workshop learning journey built on futures literacy, strategic foresight, and collective exploration – especially focused on the transition from study to working life. |
| Dubai Future Forum recordings Day 1 and Day 2 | These recordings feature the presentations on the main stage. Other presentations, workshops and panels will be uploaded shortly. |
| The Chalk Face Futurist – Kylie Horgan | If you are interested in education then following Kylie is a must. “The Chalk Face Futurist. Where the dust never really settles” |
| Thriving Together – Human Futures: Insights for the Futurati – WFSF | Some great articles from the World Futures Studies Federation. Themes include: Honouring Many ways of Knowing: Plural World Views and Indigenous Wisdom and Crossing the Threshhold of Tomorrow: Emerging Technologies and Existential Dilemmas. |
| Futures Compilations Docuseries – What Does the Future Hold? Leading scientists and futurists sharing profound insights into the shape of tomorrow. A repository of curated resources about Foresight A growing repository of curated resources about Foresight. | Fiction Compilations Imagining bold futures for our sea of islands – winners of the Pacific Futurists Writing Competition 2025 – a regional celebration of imagination, futures foresight and Pacific-led future-making. Future Stories – Winners of the 2025 Dubai Future Forum Sci-Fi Short Stories competition. |
| Movies (some profound themes in both these) Mickey 17 – During a human expedition to colonize space, Mickey 17, a so-called “expendable” employee, is sent to explore an ice planet. After Yang – In a near future, a family reckons with questions of love, connection, and loss after their A.I. helper unexpectedly breaks down. | Blogs Measuring the Unmeasurable Deborah Hayek and Sabrina Sullivan explore how foresight creates impact, why it’s so hard to measure, and ideas to move forward. The Problem with Single-Point Solutions Endre Berentzen writes an excellent post that challenges us to think beyond systems thinking. |
Okay – I could go on forever and I haven’t even written about my favourite podcasts or research articles. I will add them soon! Please share your own favorites with us. #foreverlearning