The Good Ancestor, Roman Krznaric

In the generous spirit of Jonas Salk, who in 1953 renounced the patenting of the polio vaccine for the benefit of the greatest number of people, The Good Ancestor asks an essential question: what kind of world do we want to leave to future generations? And this lively and well-documented text provides a whole series of answers that point to the same culprit of our failures: the short-termism that is rampant within companies, institutions and in our individual practices. To get out of it, it won’t be easy.

The role of the younger generation, which should be better engaged in the cause of progress, is emphasized, as well as six keys to transformations that allow us to “switch” to long-term thinking and actions. The book also values empathy towards future generations as a source of justice and sustainability of the world.