Looking Forward

The author respectfully submits it as his firm and immovable conviction, that the United States of America, in the years to come, will govern the entire Western Hemisphere. These words, written by Arthur Bird in 1899, were his premonition as to the direction of the US one hundred years in the future. Not only did Bird cover the financial status of our country, but the world as a whole. While many of his predictions were quite outlandish, several were remarkably visionary and accurateincluding Birds early drawing of Aerial Navigation before the Wright brothers ever took flight. Included in this book are predictions that: Our lunches would consist of nutritious pelletsDrunkenness would be very rareCigarette smokers would be arrested on sightEvery American home would include a robot valet And much more! Looking Forward is an incredible view of the world before the turn of the twentieth century. While weve come far as a country since 1899, there are many things Bird mentions to which we still aspire. He had high hopes for our civilization as a whole and as a superpower. While we have indeed accomplished a great deal, theres always room for improvement, and Birds vision of his future remains relevant in shaping our own.