Spanning over twenty years of inquiry, teaching, and writing in futures studies, psychology, philosophy, and science fiction these essays comprehensively address a critically important issue regarding the future of humanity. How may human psychology and human consciousness transform and evolve in the future? Of special significance, what are the preferable and desirable directions for our psychological and conscious evolution? The broad array of topics covered in these essays include: Psychological growth versus stagnation and coping with rapid and accelerative social and technological change; developing a globally-expansive and fluid sense of self-identity; Western and Eastern views of the human self and human society; the primacy and mystery of consciousness; the technological augmentation of the human mind; men and women and masculine and feminist mindsets; education for the mind of the future; the evolution of the science of psychology; pop psychology and the ongoing transformation of mental health and mental illness; technological immersion, virtual reality, and wise cyborgs; emotion, thinking, imagination, creativity, and human virtues with an eye on the future; ethics, evil, and disasters in the future; creating wisdom narratives for the future and the wise society; the centrality of consciousness of the future in the future evolution of consciousness; science fiction visions of the future of the human mind; and ecological and cosmic consciousness.
Advanced Praise for Essays on the Future of Psychology and Consciousness
“A superbly written encyclopedia of futures studies approached from the lens of psychology which opens your mind to the fascinating mystery of consciousness and the epic story of cosmic evolution.”
Victor V. Motti, President and CEO, Alternative Planetary Futures Institute (APFI), Washington DC, and Executive Director of the World Futures Studies Federation
“Essays on the Future of Psychology and Consciousness, together with the other contributions in Tom Lombardo’s wide-ranging oeuvre, stands head and shoulders above most writings by more conventional professional futurists. It is well worthwhile.”
Oliver Markley, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus and former Chair, Graduate Program in Studies of the Future, University of Houston-Clear Lake
“A cornucopia of thoughts about consciousness, evolution, and things to come, from one of the leading futurists of our age.”
Allan Combs, Ph.D., Author of Consciousness Explained Better; The Radiance of Being; and Thomas Berry: Dreamer of the Earth; Former President of the Society of Consciousness Studies
“This collection of remarkable essays chart a roadmap not only for the future of psychology but for the survival of a humanity that is increasingly at risk. Read it, and be astonished!”
Stanley Krippner, Ph.D. Affiliated Distinguished Professor, California Institute of Integral Studies
“Thomas Lombardo is a psychologist who also sees the great value in philosophy—as do I—and he has studied the nexus of these subjects for many decades. In this book, he really caught my attention with the statement “The highest expression of heightened future consciousness is wisdom.” This is a very insightful and thought-provoking examination of one of the most complex phenomena in the known universe.”
Jason Merchey, M.S., Author of Wisdom: A Very Valuable Virtue That Cannot Be Bought and Values and Ethics: From Living Room to Boardroom
“Since the pandemic, the issue of mental health has erupted in businesses, schools, the and healthcare system. At the same time, digitalization, the transformation of work and family, social networks, and the Alien Gen are the premises of a profound change in the human mind. This new and brilliant book by Professor Lombardo, therefore, arrives at the right time to structure this reflection and should meet a very large audience, well beyond the thinkers of the future, his usual aficionados.”
Fabienne Goux-Baudiment, CEO of proGective, Research Centre for Futures Studies, Former President of the World Futures Studies Federation
“Tom Lombardo is a prolific and insightful author, and this book is a worthy addition to his early output. It covers a wide range of topics and is an invaluable starting point for anyone with a serious interest in the future of humanity. Its underlying messages are urgently needed to be taken on board by decision-makers in today’s troubled world —if we want a future of any kind!”
Dr. Bruce Lloyd, Emeritus Professor of Strategic Management, London South Bank University
“This is a really high quality book. Lombardo maintains that we will increasingly guide our psychological evolution, and in this collection of essays he identifies ways by which this may happen, and how it should happen. For anyone interested in a thoughtful and knowledgeable view of human consciousness, and how it may be understood and evolved in the future, Essays on the Future of Psychology and Consciousness will be a welcome resource.”
Richard Trowbridge, Ph.D. Author of The Scientific Approach to Wisdom and Advisory Board Member and Former Director of The Wisdom Page
The interesting thing about Tom Lombardo is his ability to combine a futurist perspective with knowledge and wisdom from different professions. This collection of outstanding essays address nothing less than the future of human psychology.Overwhelmed by the richness of perspectives and insights combined with a futures approach, you feel honored and grateful at the same time. Just simply a brilliant collection of essays by one of the world leading futurists!“
Dr. Erik F. Øverland, President World Futures Studies Federation
“Our planet is under turmoil as humanity experiences unprecedented suffering and anxiety. Futurists and wisdom teachers like Dr Lombardo have been blowing the trumpet for decades. We need to understand the underlying intrinsic dimensions of consciousness to articulate long term solutions for addressing our wicked problems. Lombardo’s latest treatise attempts to clarify these intricacies across a variety of themes and does justice to them as his usual style. Thorough, clear, simple and powerful. A must read.”
Dr. Stephen Awoyemi, CEO, Global Wisdom Consultancy
Center for Future Consciousness 