Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

From the world-renowned trendspotting duo who has predicted everything from metrosexuality to the growth of global brands comes a new, enlightening look at the future. Based on intensive research and interviews as well as the authors' real-world and business experience in locations across the globe, this book yields surprising conclusions about everything from work (the end of permanent full-time employment) to sex (disappearing gender boundaries) to business (the emergence of true one-to-one marketing and the birth of "Chindia"). Essential reading for managers, marketers, and just about everyone else.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Acknowledgments (p. vii)
• Introduction (p. 1)
• Section I The Whole Next World
• Chapter 1 Big Next: The Age of Anxiety (p. 9)
• Chapter 2 Big Next: The Shrinking Globe (p. 23)
• Chapter 3 Big Next: Yin Meets Yang in Chindia (p. 37)
• Chapter 4 Big Next: Europe in a Post-European World (p. 51)
• Chapter 5 Big Next: America Inside, Outside, and Caught in the (Tyranny of the) Middle? (p. 71)
• Section II Cultural Nexts
• Chapter 6 Big Next: Blended and Blurred Reality (p. 95)
• Chapter 7 Big Next: Ages Without Stages (p. 113)
• Chapter 8 Big Next: New Identities (p. 127)
• Chapter 9 Big Next: Our Branded Universe (p. 137)
• Section III Personal Nexts
• Chapter 10 Big Next: Extended Family Trees (p. 159)
• Chapter 11 Big Next: Bringing It All Home (p. 173)
• Chapter 12 Big Next: The Pace and Place of Work (p. 191)
• Chapter 13 Big Next: It's a Shopper's Planet (p. 211)
• Chapter 14 Big Next: The Art of Eating Well (p. 233)
• Chapter 15 Big Next: Entertainment Evolved (p. 253)
• Conclusion: Then, Now, Next (p. 267)
• Notes (p. 277)
• Index (p. 299)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Few books, other than almanacs, have the breadth of coverage of this attempt at trend forecasting by ad exec Salzman and marketing consultant Matathia (coauthors of Next). Here's what they have to say about homosexuality and religion: "Religious communities are being torn apart by the battle over gay rights and civil unions. A number of the world's 37 Anglican primates are refusing to take communion with the American primate Frank Griswold because he ordained a gay bishop." That's it for homosexuality; the next factoid is that the religion sector was worth $6.8 billion in 2003. Three pages later, religion is over and the topic is politics. Despite the subtitle, the book focuses on the recent past rather than the future. Most citations are from popular news sources, lobbying groups or market research surveys up to three years old. The authors also draw on movies, Web sites, television shows and commercials for examples of trends in such areas as the workplace, business and sex. Fortunately, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Out of a collection of random, dated accounts of questionable reliability, the book manages to convey the mood swings of popular culture, though it doesn't muster the depth or rigor to tell you where things are going. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved