Most `Futures-Thinking' Not So Fantastical

In the book review ``Probing the Cultural Roots of War,'' Jan. 4, the author makes the following statement in reference to the latest book by Alvin and Heidi Toffler: ``Like all futurist tomes, `War and Anti-War' has a tendency to indulge in large amounts of technological fantasy prediction.'' This is in the same league with statements that all journalists are superficial sensation-mongers.

I have been reviewing futures literature full time for the past 15 years. ``Technological fantasy prediction'' - not to be confused with serious technology assessment - is a very small part of futures-thinking.

The reviewer also misinterprets the cutesy chapter subheads in the Tofflers' book. Of course the serious reader doesn't need ``that kind of hype.''

But this book is not aimed at the serious reader. The frenetic style was employed in all of the previous Toffler bestsellers.

It is a mistake to judge the book on intellectual terms, rather than as show biz between covers. Michael Marien, LaFayette, N.Y.

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