Few times does a book have such a powerful effect on me. Not coincidentally is this 2005 book by Wharton School Publishing titled Powerful Times. The book is written by the CEO of the Global Business Network, a group self-described as a "future-oriented network and consulting firm."

Any assumptions you come to the book with will be strongly challenged, not to convince you to steer left or right, but rather to open up your mind to one clear and indisputable truth: these are changing times, and we might as well realize that in order to be able to deal with the world we are embarked on and the world of the coming decade.

Kelly presents the reader with a deep yet easy-to-follow set of trends, most of which are represented by opposite forces pulling in different directions. Chances are you may identify yourself with one of the forces in most of the trends, yet Kelly's effectiveness lies in his ability to present all forces in a very balanced way, which allows you to open yourself to what others may be thinking.

Once all the trends have been covered, he goes into what he considers to be the three most likely scenarios to take place in the coming decade, depending on the outcome of two basic yet fundamental crossroads we are in the process of going through. He emphasizes that no single scenario should be expected to prevail in a unique way, but rather to dominate the scene, "sprinkled" with elements from the other scenarios.

Finally, he provides the reader with an extensive framework for him to assess his place and that of his company in this new world we're entering. This framework, along with a handful of additional tools and resources, is provided through the book's web site at www.PowerfulTimes.net.

I cannot do less but give the book five shining stars for shedding a brilliant light on some of today's impossibly contradictory issues, and giving us readers a tool with which to steer through the troubled waters of the coming decade.
Edited: [GH]