I managed to read through your (part one) chapters last week and, as always, was impressed by the breadth of your reading and the clarity of your arguments. There are many references that I will need to follow up myself, so thanks for drawing my attention to some excellent material. Overall, it’s an excellent, forensic analysis of the mess we are in and a framework that might help us find a way out of it.

I’ve just finished reading through your manuscript and wanted to share some thoughts. As always, you write with wonderful clarity and scholarship, which makes reading the work a pleasure in spite of the gloomy subject matter (in Part One). I certainly think the argument stands up to scrutiny and is one that needs to get more attention. I particularly enjoyed your exploration of the shadow in the social domain – I’d like to see more of this.

Dr Chris Riedy, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney.

I’ve read chapters 8 and 9 today and am really impressed with the flow and coherence of your argument. It is also inspirational in many ways, opening up areas of hope that many of us have gradually lost as the years and opportunities have slipped by!  The analysis of the fourteen well-chosen books was quite an eye-opener, – I will be tempted to buy Greer and one or two more when I’ve time! Thanks for the privilege of reading such an interesting and beautifully woven text.

David Berry, Media Analyst and Futurist, Ringwood, Hampshire, UK

Just a brief response but what I’ve seen in the first read through is very strong and will be a valuable contribution. I’m already thinking of this as a textbook in a ‘new’ unit in the Masters… You should be proud of this. It is some of your best work. Chapter 10 makes it seem possible (but a challenge). Chapter 11 will certainly push some buttons but needs to be said – if we need development then maybe I should be developing – the examples at the end of Chapter 11 are great.  A very strong and forthright conclusion.

Dr. Peter Hayward, Convenor, Foresight Program, Faculty of Business and Enterprise, Swinburne University, Melbourne.

I really like the story and the argument that you’ve presented in Part Two – and you’ve made the case extremely well.

Gretchen Young, Foresight Practitioner, Young Futures, Kenmore, Brisbane

I have just finished skimming your chapters. WOW! It just fascinates me to see how aligned we are in our thinking. Your work really pushes the edge and is a most pertinent addition to the literature at a time when it is so badly needed. I have no concrete suggestions that would improve what you already have. Your writing is meticulous.

Dr. Richard Hames, Director, Asian Foresight Institute, Bangkok, Thailand

On Chapter 11, section on post-collapse, post-descent futures:

I really enjoyed this section – you come across as positive but not starry-eyed, passionate, but not crazy. You have mapped out a positive direction of individual and cultural transformation, in the context of a “high tech” external reality – which is much more likely to grab people’s attention, than the “monastic,” low tech approach of the last couple of thousand years. (Overall) I think your book makes a major and needed contribution to the debate, and further opens the Integral method to an area where it is much needed.

Adolph Hanich, Family therapist and former Director of the Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship, Swinburne University, Melbourne.

The Biggest Wake Up Call in History is a must read for anyone who cares about the future their children and grandchildren will inherit. Powerful and hard hitting as it must be for a wake-up call, yet visionary as it must be to inspire.

John Renesch, Businessman-turned–Futurist, author, Getting to the Better Future.

Inspired from the Integral Perspective, this superbly written, well-structured book that will enjoy a broad general readership follows a problem statement and problem solution line of argument. It sheds light on a number of crucial world-shaping processes and wicked issues such as climate change, global warming, the onset of peak oil, and in general sustainability. By using the metaphor of “wake up call” the author attempts to “tone down language, apply understatement and generally try to present the evidence without causing undue alarm.” Throughout the book he raises awareness about the futures and contributes to further learning by highlighting the point that the humans’ individual and social sphere of thought and experience is limitless, unbounded, untapped, and thus yet not released. The central theme of this post-conventional work in futures studies is that the human agency ought to be encouraged, informed, and motivated by alternative worldviews and it should “go beyond what is already known.”

Vahid Motlagh, Independent Futurist, Tehran, Iran

Just a quick note to say congratulations re: The Biggest Wake Up Call in History. The cover is terrific and so is the Introduction.

Wendell Bell, Professor Emeritus, Yale University, USA

Longer, in-depth, reviews can be found here: http://www.foresightinternational.com.au/reviews