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  • The Fourth Industrial Revolution

  • Written by: Klaus Schwab
  • Narrated by: Nicholas Guy Smith
  • Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins
  • 3.7 out of 5 stars (66 ratings)

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The Fourth Industrial Revolution

Written by: Klaus Schwab
Narrated by: Nicholas Guy Smith
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Publisher's Summary

World-renowned economist Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, explains that we have an opportunity to shape the fourth industrial revolution, which will fundamentally alter how we live and work.

Schwab argues that this revolution is different in scale, scope, and complexity from any that have come before. Characterized by a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital, and biological worlds, the developments are affecting all disciplines, economies, industries, and governments and even challenging ideas about what it means to be human.

Artificial intelligence is already all around us, from supercomputers, drones, and virtual assistants to 3-D printing, DNA sequencing, smart thermostats, wearable sensors, and microchips smaller than a grain of sand. But this is just the beginning: nanomaterials 200 times stronger than steel and a million times thinner than a strand of hair and the first transplant of a 3-D printed liver are already in development. Imagine "smart factories" in which global systems of manufacturing are coordinated virtually or implantable mobile phones made of biosynthetic materials.

The fourth industrial revolution, says Schwab, is more significant, and its ramifications more profound than in any prior period of human history. He outlines the key technologies driving this revolution and discusses the major impacts expected on government, business, civil society, and individuals. Schwab also offers bold ideas on how to harness these changes and shape a better future - one in which technology empowers people rather than replaces them; in which progress serves society rather than disrupts it; and in which innovators respect moral and ethical boundaries rather than cross them. We all have the opportunity to contribute to developing new frameworks that advance progress.

©2017 Klaus Schwab (P)2017 Random House Audio

What the critics say

"Only organizations driven by purpose and values will be fully able to shape and benefit from the seismic technological, social and economic transformations underway. Klaus Schwab compellingly outlines why all of us must work to ensure that the fourth industrial revolution has at its heart the stakeholder principle, ensuring that the benefits of transformation are as much a public good as a private gain. This book is required reading for my entire leadership team." (Marc R. Benioff, chairman and chief executive officer, Salesforce)
"In The Fourth Industrial Revolution, professor Klaus Schwab puts forth a thoughtful framework for leaders to meet the challenge of maximizing the benefits of the profound technological, social, and economic transformation reshaping society. Drawing on over four decades of bringing together governments, private sector, and other parts of civil society, Schwab starts a wide-ranging discussion on how we can help to ensure that the fourth industrial revolution drives progress for humankind."(Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO and founder of LeanIn.Org)

What listeners say about The Fourth Industrial Revolution

Average Customer Ratings
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    3 out of 5 stars

fascinating read

It was pretty good, lot's of accurate "predictions" and insights. The author is a high IQ individual.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Thought provoking

It is a thought provoking book but nothing too informative beyond what we already know. And the reader tries to sound dramatic like it’s a documentary on National Geographic.
I’d recommend it as a read because it’s very short otherwise I’d suggest skipping.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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hindsight is 20/20

This book did a remarkable job of predicting trends and direction of progress in technology.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Interesting

I got this to know what the WEF had in store for us. I discovered that I will be just fine in his fascist utopia, yet those that support his Left Wing Minions will pay the heaviest toll. It is Ironic.

Great information to follow different stocks and sectors to invest in for the future.

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1 person found this helpful

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Huzzah!

in a word: Huzzah!

An absolute must read.

Welcome to the future, you'll find the exits here, here and here.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Important Story that Puts Me To Sleep

The message contained in this book is very important and I believe the author is extremely qualified to broach it, but I must admit that the way it is read, I am rarely able to stay focused on listening. The voice is clear enough, but it is so methodical that it puts me to sleep.

Secondly, because there are a lot of subheadings obviously contained in the book, it's hard to tell what is the start of a new topic or chapter and what is simply a sub-heading of a topic already under discussion.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

awesome read

very insightful and should be read by all business leaders otherwise will be caught off guard.

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Listened to it at 1.40x speed 💥💥💥💥💥

Listened to it at 1.40x speed. Any slower and it would have dragged on. Great topic, great information, great when ingested quickly.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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another globalist elite

Klaus schwab is just another globalist pushing outlandish fantastical ideas jockeying for a power position and lobbying for a one government world.
this book is trash 🗑

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Out to lunch

Completely disregards so many ideologies ideas etc you can tell this was written with an agenda in mind

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5 people found this helpful