A Final Comment

Historians are known for their reluctance to use the past to predict the future. It's often possible to predict change a few years forward, but after that new developments start to interact, and even the most informed person can't speculate past these events with any hope of accuracy. However, historians do argue that, while the past can't predict, it does provide an "essential guide" to understanding the future. I hope this book helps as you watch and participate in the rapid changes in technology and the social and economic developments they produce.