The Fourth Industrial Revolution was written in 2016 by Klaus Schwab and on its face it seems relatively benign.
In the foreword, Klaus plainly states on page vii
“These rapid advances in technology, however, are doing more than providing us with new capabilities - they are changing the way we live, work, and relate to one another.”
I don’t think anyone would disagree with that statement, and therefore the book seems almost gentle in its approach.
The prevailing feeling I get when I read it is that we are heading down this road already, so it’s only inevitable that the milestones discussed in the book will become a reality.
The odd thing about this book, at least in my eyes, is of 116 pages of content, there are only 7 pages attributed directly to the individual. Then there is a 50 page appendix that has some interesting things we will touch on shortly.
The problem is the subtlety in which it discusses the tenants of the Communist Manifesto.
So subtle that a quick read and you probably won’t even notice it, but when he says things like on page 1, makes you wonder exactly what he has in store for us.
"… which entails nothing less than a transformation of humankind.”
A somewhat exaggerated claim some would suggest but remember, in The Communist Manifesto, Marx stated he wanted a new society and when you read The Fourth Industrial Revolution, Klaus wants the same thing.