Anticipatory Biographies: Personal Histories of the Future

By David Staley

Anticipatory Biographies is a collection of future scenarios written in the form of individual biographies that span the breadth of human experience: from the privileged to the marginalized and across diverse cultures. Grounded in design fiction, futures research, anticipation science, and scenario writing, the essays in this book envision how the world will be reshaped by artificial intelligence, technological automation, climate change, political disintegration, and the decline of higher education. Each chapter brings readers into the perspective of a fictional person living in this anticipated world, capturing how future technologies and societal shifts will impact daily lives. and personal choices. In exploring the the inner lives of these individuals, Anticipatory Biographies innovates beyond conventional scenario writing, inviting readers to contemplate not only the technological and political dimensions of the future but also the emotional, ethical, and existential aspects. This work of creative non-fiction bridges literary and scholarly forms, blending biography and design fiction with research-based insights. to offer an immersive, narrative-based method for exploring futures. This work pushes beyond speculative visions toward an experiential understanding of the future.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 3032089115
• ISBN13: 9783032089113
• Release Date: December 2025
• Publisher: Springer
• Length: 175 Pages