Two months ago I received word that an old and valued acquaintance had died. He was the futurist author, F.M. Esfandiary — who in the mid-1970’s– had legally changed his name to FM-2030. He was, he said, “a 21st Century person who was accidentally launched in the 20th.” He confessed to having “a deep nostalgia […]
Author: floraschnall
A Tribute to FM-2030
The visions of the future held by FM-2030 were strong. So strong and so positive, perhaps, that they might have almost been paralyzing to most of those who read what he wrote and heard what he said. For decades, those who followed him saw the future unfolding just as he told them it might. Yet […]
FM-2030, Futurist
He was so forward thinking in terms of the human potential that he changed his name to FM-2030 and fiercely proclaimed his belief that he would never, ever die. But on Saturday night, the Miami futurist – who taught a course on “transhumanism’” at Florida International University, died at a friend’s apartment in Manhattan. Aware […]
Futurist Known as FM-2030 Is Dead at 69
A futurist who changed his given name to something a little more forward looking, FM-2030 to be specific, died Saturday night at a friend’s Manhattan apartment. An author, teacher and consultant to corporations, he was 69 and lived in Miami. The FM might have stood for Future Man, Future Modular or Future Marvel, but he […]
FM-2030 on All Things Considered
A futurist who changed his name to FM-2030 died last weekend of pancreatic cancer. FM-2030 was originally named F.M. Esfandiary. In 1977, he predicted scientists would one day correct people’s genetic flaws. In 1980, he predicted telecommunications technology would change the way people shop. Noah talks with Flora Schnall, an attorney and longtime friend of […]
F.M. Esfandiary; Futurist Predicted Immortality
F.M. Esfandiary, who legally changed his name to FM2030 because of his confidence that he would live to 100 and beyond, has died at 69. The “chronic optimist,” who believed age was irrelevant because a person might have artificial body parts of many different ages–he had a hip that was only 2 years old–died Saturday […]
Intimacy In A Fluid World
THE YEAR IS 1885, 100 years ago. You decide to leave the farm and move to the city with your wife and kids. Suddenly you are no longer part of an extended family; you’re a nuclear family. You think of the relatives you left behind, and wonder what happened to your commitment and loyalty. Now, […]
Back to the Future…
“I am a 21st century person who was accidentally launched in the 20th,” he writes in his books about the future. When he’s not making a living writing about the future, he’s getting paid to make speeches about it. In his latest lecture series, set for takeoff early next century at the Wolfsonian at Florida International University, 1001 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, he will tell people to get ready for families based on the Club Med model, and genius machines that do our work for us, and space travel and immortality, too.
Commentary; The Future Demands Attitude Adjustment; Trends: The new technology and the new social revolution are part of the same continuum.
“How prepared are you for the future?” I asked at a recent business seminar. “I surf the Net and hang out on the Web,” someone volunteered. “Splendid. How else are you preparing for the coming years?” “I use a videophone and have a satellite dish,” someone else joined in. “This is encouraging. What else?” I […]
Beyond 2000: Three Views of What’s Ahead
Cloning, brain transplants, laser-guided cybersoldiers, gene-altered cucumbers; in the past two weeks alone, these future-shock topics have made newspaper headlines around the world. Suddenly, it seems, the future is rushing at us. And we can’t tell whether to cheer or huddle deeper into our mental caves. For good reason. Top futurists’ current theories of how […]