Strickler, Yancey. _This Could Be Our Future._, 2020. # Progressive Summary Strickler argues for a move from "value" to "values", from the dominant value of financial maximization, to a broad spectrum of values that we care about. He thinks this is a generational change that will have to be fought for incrementally over a period of 30 years, and wants us to think of what we want our future to look like in 2050 (the book was written in 2020.) His solution is Bentoism, or Beyond Near-Term Orientation. He ecnourages us to think of the values, not just of Now-Me, but of Now-Us, Future-Me, and Future-Us. He has taken some ideas from philosophers such as Michael Walser and Elisabeth Anderson, and put it into easy, accessible language. In many ways, this book is a model of how to communicate important ideas in a way that is simple enough for most people to understand. # Key Points The current definitions of "rational" and "self-interest" are too narrow. Financial maximization has become the only value in today's world Today's thinking: 1. It’s rational to behave in your self-interest. 2. Maximization of financial value is in your self-interest. 3. Therefore, financial maximization is the rational value all the time. Strickler advocates for a new kind of thinking: 1. It’s rational to behave in your self-interest. 2. Your values and context shape your self-interest. 3. Therefore, making values- and context-specific decisions is rational all the time. We need to explore a wider range of values, which Strickler puts in different buckets. Now Me is the world of financial maximization, security, pleasure and autonomy. Now Us includes values of community, fairness and tradition. Future Me covers values to do with personal growth and grit. Future Us has the values of holistic awareness and sustainability. The Bento Box is his metaphor for how to expand our range of values and introducing variety. # Resonances # Oppositions # Questions / Comments # Quotes ![[Reference Notes/Highlights/Books/This Could Be Our Future#Highlights]] ![[Reference Notes/Highlights/Books/This Could Be Our Future#New highlights added September 30 2021 at 3 00 PM]]