Lots of alarming facts - perhaps not as much thorough context as there could have been. ( )

Trees on Mars: Our Obsession with the Future by Hal Niedzviecki is an invaluable book that explores the pop culture of chasing tomorrow. The book reminded the reader of Alvin Toffler’s The Third Wave at first glance. Based on many social surveys, interviews of people from all walks of life, and tremendous research, the author has provided the reader with facts and provoking thoughts on technology and the future. Many unique points have been made and can be adopted by think tanks. The parts about students and schools interest the reader the most. It is surprising facts that many college students were encouraged to join tech sectors as a way of chasing the future even before they finished their degrees and that a pursuit of higher education was considered as a waste of time and money. Meanwhile many elementary school students were offered iPads as a way to prepare them ready for the future. The phenomena raise these questions: Is the ability to read and write less important than the ability to use a digital device? Is higher education less important than just learning instant lessons about technology? Can innovation really help the young generation embrace the unknown future?

Using the time of Homo erectus to the civilization of Mesopotamia and the culture of the Chumash people on Southern California’s Channel Islands as evidences, the author offers his thought that “for most of human life there is little tradition of embracing chaos, of fostering the new, of empowering people to be change agents.” (P.180) It is not shocking to know that the result of the author’s focus group of university graduates that they “have grown up with every possible privilege. And yet they are confused and wounded with no idea of what is coming next,” (P. 227) as Niedzviecki concludes.

The reader enjoys The End chapter of the book and admires Christy Foley for her ambition and bravery getting ready to explore Mars. The life cycle of birth and death also applies to Earth. If we humans desire to outlive the planet Earth, colonization on Mars is perhaps an excellent option.

Y Generation does not have Baby Boomers’ luck, neither has gained enough life experience and establishment as X Generation has, but Y Generation doe own more future even though they face more challenge. However, standing on the shoulders of the older generations, they are living their lives, ups and downs, through the future shock era. ( )