The Dilbert Future

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The Dilbert Future (1997) is a book published by Scott Adams as a satire of humanity that breaks the net motivations of humanity down into stupidity, selfishness, and "horniness", and presents various ideas for profiting from human nature. The final chapter invites the reader to ponder upon several open ended questions, such as the nature of gravity and the utility of affirmations, which are further addressed in God’s Debris.

Adams makes several "predictions" throughout the book intended for humorous effect.

• "There will be two types of people: Superstars and perspiration wipers. Those who are neither will be managers"
• "In the Future, the value of your job will decrease, thanks to the godforsaken hellhole of North Dakota".
• The book anticipates a fictional food item (which Adam references as the Dilberito) which is explained as a food source containing 100% of a human's daily nutritional requirements (the point being that otherwise an individual needs a supercomputer and a team of scientists to determine dietary needs.)

Scott Adams did publish in issue 15 of his Dilbert Newsletter (sent to all members of Dogbert's New Ruling Class) an excerpt from this book with permission for it to be re-published (if kept with the copyright text)^[1].

Adams introduced the word confusopoly in this book. The word is a combination of confusion and monopoly (or rather oligopoly), defining it as "a group of companies with similar products who intentionally confuse customers instead of competing on price". Examples of industries in which confusopolies exist (according to Adams) include telephone service, insurance, mortgage loans, banking, and financial services. Adams also reveals the secret of affirmations, which have worked for him in the past.

[edit] External links

• HarperCollins' official Dilbert Future page
• Scott Adams and the 'Dilbert Future' - Jon Blumenfeld 7/1/2000

[edit] References

• Scott Adams, The Dilbert Future, Published by HarperCollins June 1, 1997, ISBN 0-7522-1161-7

v • d • e Dilbert books Comic strips Always Postpone Meetings with Time-Wasting Morons · Shave the Whales · Bring Me the Head of Willy the Mailboy! · It's Obvious You Won't Survive By Your Wits Alone · Still Pumped from Using the Mouse · Fugitive From the Cubicle Police · Casual Day Has Gone Too Far · I'm Not Anti-Business, I'm Anti-Idiot · Journey to Cubeville · Don't Step In The Leadership · Random Acts of Management · Excuse Me While I Wag · When Did Ignorance Become A Point Of View? · Another Day In Cubicle Paradise · When Body Language Goes Bad · Words You Don't Want to Hear During Your Annual Performance Review · Don't Stand Where the Comet is Assumed to Strike Oil · The Fluorescent Light Glistens Off Your Head · Thriving on Vague Objectives · Try Rebooting Yourself · Positive Attitude Compilations Seven Years of Highly Defective People · Dilbert Gives You the Business · A Treasury of Sunday Strips: Version 00 · What Do You Call A Sociopath In A Cubicle? Answer: A Coworker · It's Not Funny If I Have To Explain It Original strips Build a Better Life By Stealing Office Supplies · Dogbert's Clues for the Clueless Business books The Dilbert Principle · Dogbert's Top Secret Management Handbook · The Dilbert Future · The Joy of Work · Dilbert and the Way of the Weasel Other Telling It Like It Isn't · Work is a Contact Sport · Random Acts of Catness · Work, the Wally Way · Alice In Blunderland · The Boss: Nameless, Blameless and Shameless · You Don't Need Experience If You've Got Attitude · Access Denied: Dilbert's Quest for Love in the Nineties · The Dilbert Bunch