A feature review by: Christopher P. Skroupa, Editor-in-Chief, Founder & CEO, Skytop Media Group

Osvald Bjelland, together with 60 accomplished contributors, curates a compelling collection of thought-provoking essays by global game changers, all emanating from themes of hope, transformation, and the well-being of the planet—and projecting forward seven generations into the future.

For those of us whose nightstands resemble book museums, stacked with titles we swear we’ll read one day (perhaps in retirement, or the afterlife), this anthology offers nourishment without requiring a cover-to-cover commitment. Each piece is bite-sized but potent, a literary amuse-bouche for the soul.

Through a prism of experiential wisdom, contributors explore how to navigate life, love, and personal understanding in a world that often feels like it’s kicking you when you're already down. In these chaotic times, when the world seems to be reshaping at warp speed, the challenges can feel enormous. Yet Finian Tan, contributor and private equity investor, reminds us, “The world’s biggest problems are also its biggest opportunities.”

Tan recounts his early career investment in a fledgling search engine with no revenue and one client—Baidu. Representing Draper Fisher Jurvetson ePlant, he invested $7.5 million in exchange for two board seats and a 25% stake. Baidu's IPO became legendary, soaring 354% on its first day, and still today remains a top performer.

Although a record breaking beginning, Tan has much to share on hits, misses, and foul balls. So perhaps it's time to turn off the “West Wing” reruns, silence the noise, and read just one contributor at a time. The group is remarkably diverse—choose a favorite and work your way outwards. Each chapter offers insight and inspiration, and the stories unfold as though you are looking out through windows into possibility.

Inspiration for Seven Generations

What immediately caught my attention was the title’s suffix: Inspiration for Seven Generations. This principle—shared across many indigenous traditions—asks us to view each decision not as a personal choice, but as a sacred commitment to those who will walk the Earth long after us.

To embrace this wisdom is to honor the planet not as a resource, but as a revered ancestor. It’s a worldview that fosters legacy, stewardship, and introspective reverence. The ripple effect of our decisions begins here.

The contributors offer personal twists on universal themes. Together, they present “actionable intelligence”—nuggets of insight that don’t just inform but empower. Hope, far from a fluffy sentiment, becomes disciplined practice. It’s a re-frame that asks us to show up—again and again—with intentionality.

But to discover how each contributor explores this hope, you’ll need to read on.

Crisis as Catalyst

Amani Abou-Zeid, Global Development Leader and former Africa Commissioner, offers a truth familiar to seasoned strategists: “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” She breaks down how this shift in mindset invites possibility. Inertia thrives in stable times, but in crisis, innovation flourishes.

Jonathan Granoff, Nobel Laureate nominee, builds on this by anchoring hope in ethics and historical imperative. “Never doubt the capacity of vision based on ‘ought’ coupled with the power of hope to create change for the better,” he says.

His call for moral reform may provoke eye rolls from skeptics—but it’s a powerful lens for long-term change. Robert Thurman, the first American to be ordained a Buddhist monk by the Dali Lama adds with his signature lightness that we might stir in a tablespoon of joy. He adds, “Joy always helps us get stuff done.”

From Trauma to Tenacity

Lord John Browne’s reflections thread resilience, sexuality, climate, and engineering into one compelling narrative. The optimism he inherited from his Birkenau camp-survivor mother becomes central: “My mother’s unwavering faith in the human condition… can inspire us.”

He reminds us that meritocracy—when inclusive—is one of humanity’s greatest accelerants. Technology and innovation become keys to liberation, so long as they’re wielded with care. Abou-Zeid, reflecting on the pandemic, shares how digital tools sustained communities in Africa, proving that innovation isn’t just an economic driver—it can be a lifeline.

Toward a Culture of Resilience

A throughline of the book: crisis fractures the old, making way for transformation. Hope—activated by action—becomes the engine of resilience.

“Despair,”Lord Browne insists, “is simply not an acceptable permanent posture.” Abou-Zeid affirms this, having witnessed Egypt’s journey from wartime to bold steps toward peace.

Disruption, Legacy, and the Power of Choice

Finian Tan reminds us that while the journey ahead may be fraught with setbacks, wrong swings and unanticipated twists, the journey itself holds potential for deep progress. Technology’s double-edged nature is made clear: a jet can be a vehicle or a weapon. It’s not the invention itself, but how we choose to use it. Quoting Georgius Agricola, Lord Browne notes, “Good men employ them for good… the wicked use them badly.”

And in the closing notes, Robert Thurman offers a dreamscape of possibility: “We can choose to participate positively in a cheerful society where others equally flourish.” In that sentiment, Shambhala meets the American Dream—visions of collective flourishing grounded in real, actionable hope. Combine this with Lord Browne’s insights on meritocracy and you have yourself a formula to test and adapt for yourself.

You don’t need to read this book all at once. Taking it all in at once may be the cause for too much reflection, which might limit what you absorb. However, you’ll likely find yourself drawn into exploring each contributor, chapter by chapter. Each contribution offers not just wisdom, but warmth, and a sense that, even in these uncertain times, a better world is within reach.

Let it inspire you—not just for now, but for those seven generations yet to come.

Hope for the Planet and for Seven Generations to Come