The Great Reset: How New Ways of Living and Working Drive Post-Crash Prosperity

We tend to view prolonged economic downturns, such as the Great Depression of the 1930s and the Long Depression of the late nineteenth century, in terms of the crisis and pain they cause. But history teaches us that these great crises also represent opportunities to remake our economy and society and to generate whole new eras of economic growth and prosperity. In terms of innovation, invention, and energetic risk taking, these periods of "creative destruction" have been some of the most fertile in history, and the changes they put into motion can set the stage for full-scale recovery.

In The Great Reset, bestselling author and economic development expert Richard Florida provides an engaging and sweeping examination of these previous economic epochs, or "resets." He distills the deep forces that have altered physical and social landscapes and eventually reshaped economies and societies. Looking toward the future, Florida identifies the patterns that will drive the next Great Reset and transform virtually every aspect of our lives—from how and where we live, to how we work, to how we invest in individuals and infrastructure, to how we shape our cities and regions. Florida shows how these forces, when combined, will spur a fresh era of growth and prosperity, define a new geography of progress, and create surprising opportunities for all of us. Among these forces will be

• new patterns of consumption, and new attitudes toward ownership that are less centered on houses and cars
• the transformation of millions of service jobs into middle class careers that engage workers as a source of innovation
• new forms of infrastructure that speed the movement of people, goods, and ideas
• a radically altered and much denser economic landscape organized around "megaregions" that will drive the development of new industries, new jobs, and a whole new way of life

We've weathered tough times before. They are a necessary part of economic cycles, giving us a chance to clearly see what's working and what's not. Societies can be reborn in such crises, emerging fresh, strong, and refocused. Now is our opportunity to anticipate what that brighter future will look like and to take the steps that will get us there faster.

With his trademark blend of wit, irreverence, and rigorous research and analysis, Florida presents an optimistic and counterintuitive vision of our future, calling into question long-held beliefs about the nature of economic progress and forcing us to reassess our very way of life. He argues convincingly that it's time to turn our efforts—as individuals, as governments, and as a society—to putting the necessary pieces in place for a vibrant, prosperous future.

"In this optimistic but too-broad look at the present economic crisis and the opportunities it presents, social and business commentator Florida (The Rise of the Creative Class) examines the latest of the 'Great Resets,' moments of transformative upheaval (like the Great Depression) 'when new technologies and technological systems arise, when the economy is recast and society remade, and when the places where we live and work change to suit new needs.' Though he cautions that 'not all Resets are the same,' and presents enough real-life examples, Florida too often rushes back to neat generalities and cheerleading: 'we must do all we can to turn service jobs into more innovative, more engaging, more fulfilling and much better-paid work.' Florida also has a tendency toward gratuitous personal stories. Though the book would have benefited from fewer platitudes and authorial intrusions, the problem that looms largest for Florida-and other post-crash survival guide authors-is that the national economic calamity hasn't fully played itself out, meaning that the ability of any observer to describe the specifics of its turnaround are necessarily limited." Publishers Weekly (Copyright PWyxz LLC)

Florida (management, U. of Toronto, Canada) examines the Great Depression and the Long Depression of the late nineteenth century, as well as the recent economic crisis, viewing them as economic "resets," in which the economy had the chance to remake itself. He details the forces that reshape economy and society, how to guide or accelerate them while ameliorating their costs, and the patterns that will drive the next reset, including new patterns of consumption, new forms of infrastructure, and an altered economic landscape that will drive the development of new industries and jobs. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

From Richard Florida, author of the bestselling books The Rise of the Creative Class and Whos Your City?, comes a book that frames the economic meltdown of 2008-09 not as a crisis but as an opportunity to “reset.” In doing so, he paints a fascinating picture of what our economy, society, and geography will look like—of how we will work and live—in the future.

Richard Florida is the author of the national and international bestsellers The Rise of the Creative Class and Who's Your City? He is the director of the Martin Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management and the founder of the Creative Class Group.