Powershift: Knowledge, Wealth, and Power

at the Edge of the 21st Century

4.00
1,044 ratings46 reviews

In Powershift, Alvin Toffler brings to a climax the ideas set forth in his previous works to offer a
stunning vision of the future that will change your life.

In Powershift, Toffler argues that while headlines focus on shifts of power at the global level,
equally significant shifts are taking place in the everyday world we all inhabit - the world of
supermarkets and hospitals, banks and business offices, television and telephones, politics and
personal life. The very nature of power is changing under your eyes.

Nonfiction Politics Sociology Economics

640 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Alvin Toffler

36 books573 followers
Alvin Toffler was an American writer and futurist, known for his works discussing the digital
revolution, communications revolution, corporate revolution and technological singularity. A
former associate editor of Fortune magazine, his early work focused on technology and its
impact (through effects like information overload.

Accenture, the management consultancy, has dubbed him the third most influential voice among
business leaders, after Bill Gates and Peter Drucker. He has also been described in the Financial
Times as the "world's most famous futurologist". People's Daily classes him among the 50
foreigners that shaped modern China.

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Saadia B. || CritiConscience
158 reviews48 followers
Edited April 28, 2021
The core argument of Toffler is about the idea that knowledge is becoming the key currency of a
new super-symbolic economy, thereby leaving behind the overall materiality of the Industrial
Age.

The book in itself is a visionary lens on how political, social and economic powers are changing
in the Information Age. Knowledge or lack of it holds power and determines worth nowadays
more than ever. Topics like networked knowledge, the role of intuition and the value of adding
context have made their place in the world.

Blog | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Ahmad Sharabiani
9,458 reviews53.9k followers
Edited November 8, 2017
Power Shift (Knowledge, Wealth, and Violence at the edge of the 21st Century), Alvin Toffler
‫ ﺁﻟﻮﻳﻦ‬:‫ ﺩﺍﻧﺎﺋﯽ ﻭ ﺛﺮﻭﺕ ﻭ ﺧﺸﻮﻧﺖ ﺩﺭ ﺁﺳﺘﺎﻧﻪ ی ﻗﺮﻥ ﺑﻴﺴﺖ ﻭ ﻳﮑﻢ؛ ﺍﺛﺮ‬، ‫ ﺗﻐﻴﻴﺮ ﻣﺎﻫﻴﺖ ﻗﺪﺭﺕ؛ ﺟﺎﺑﺠﺎﻳﯽ ﺩﺭ ﻗﺪﺭﺕ‬:‫ﻋﻨﻮﺍﻧﻬﺎ‬
‫ ﻣﻴﻼﺩی‬1991 ‫ ﻣﺎﻩ ﻧﻮﺍﻣﺒﺮ ﺳﺎﻝ‬:‫ﺗﺎﻓﻠﺮ؛ﺗﺎﺭﻳﺦ ﻧﺨﺴﺘﻴﻦ ﺧﻮﺍﻧﺶ‬
‫ ﺣﺴﻦ ﺍﻣﻴﺮﺷﺎﻫﯽ؛‬:‫ ﺣﺴﻴﻦ ﻧﻮﺭﺍﺋﯽ ﺑﻴﺪﺧﺖ؛ ﺷﺎﻫﺮﺥ ﺑﻬﺎﺭ؛ ﻭﻳﺮﺍﺳﺘﺎﺭ‬:‫ ﺁﻟﻮﻳﻦ ﺗﺎﻓﻠﺮ؛ ﻣﺘﺮﺟﻢ‬:‫ ﺗﻐﻴﻴﺮ ﻣﺎﻫﻴﺖ ﻗﺪﺭﺕ؛ ﺍﺛﺮ‬:‫ﻋﻨﻮﺍﻥ‬
‫ ﻗﺮﻥ‬- ‫ ﺳﻴﺎﺳﯽ‬- ‫ ﺗﺎﺭﻳﺦ ﺍﺟﺘﻤﺎﻋﯽ‬:‫ ﺹ؛ ﻣﻮﺿﻮﻉ‬704 ‫؛ ﺩﺭ‬1370 ،‫ ﻣﺮﮐﺰ ﺗﺮﺟﻤﻪ ﻭ ﻧﺸﺮ ﮐﺘﺎﺏ‬،‫ ﺟﻮﺍﺩ ﻻﺭﻳﺠﺎﻧﯽ؛ ﺗﻬﺮﺍﻥ‬:‫ﻣﻘﺪﻣﻪ‬
20 ‫ﻡ‬
‫ﻋﻨﻮﺍﻥ‪ :‬ﺟﺎﺑﺠﺎﻳﯽ ﺩﺭ ﻗﺪﺭﺕ ‪ ،‬ﺩﺍﻧﺎﺋﯽ ﻭ ﺛﺮﻭﺕ ﻭ ﺧﺸﻮﻧﺖ ﺩﺭ ﺁﺳﺘﺎﻧﻪ ی ﻗﺮﻥ ﺑﻴﺴﺖ ﻭ ﻳﮑﻢ؛ ﺍﺛﺮ‪ :‬ﺁﻟﻮﻳﻦ ﺗﺎﻓﻠﺮ؛ ﻣﺘﺮﺟﻢ‪ :‬ﺷﻬﻴﻨﺪﺧﺖ‬
‫‪،‬ﺧﻮﺍﺭﺯﻣﯽ؛ ﺗﻬﺮﺍﻥ‪ ،‬ﻣﺘﺮﺟﻢ‪1370 ،‬؛ ﺩﺭ ﺩﻭ ﺟﻠﺪ ﻭ ﺩﺭ ‪ 833‬ﺹ؛ ﭼﺎپ ﺩﻭﻡ ‪ 1372‬ﺩﺭ ﺷﺶ ﻭ ‪ 747‬ﺹ؛ ﭼﺎپ ﺩﻳﮕﺮ‪ :‬ﺗﻬﺮﺍﻥ‬
‫‪:‬ﻧﺸﺮ ﺳﻴﻤﺮﻍ‪ 1374 ،‬؛ ﺩﺭ ﺷﺶ ﻭ ‪ 747‬ﺹ؛ ﭼﺎپ ﺩﻳﮕﺮ‪ :‬ﺗﻬﺮﺍﻥ‪ ،‬ﻋﻠﻢ‪ ،1379 ،‬ﺩﺭ ﺷﺶ ﻭ ‪ 747‬ﺹ‪ ،‬ﺷﺎﺑﮏ‬
‫؛ ﭼﺎپ ﺩﻳﮕﺮ‪ :‬ﺗﻬﺮﺍﻥ‪ ،‬ﻓﺮﻫﻨﮓ ﻧﺸﺮ ﻧﻮ‪ ،1388 ،‬ﺷﺎﺑﮏ‪9789647443487 :‬؛‪9644050975‬‬
‫ﻓﻬﺮﺳﺖ‪ :‬ﻣﻌﻨﺎی ﺗﺎﺯﻩ ﻗﺪﺭﺕ‪ ،‬ﺷﺎﻣﻞ‪ :‬ﻋﺼﺮ ﺟﺎﺑﺠﺎﺋﯽ ﻗﺪﺭﺕ‪ ،‬ﻋﻀﻠﻪ ﭘﻮﻝ ﻣﻐﺰ؛‬
‫‪ ...‬ﺯﻧﺪﮔﯽ ﺩﺭ ﺍﻗﺘﺼﺎﺩ ﻓﻮﻕ ﻧﻤﺎﺩﻳﻦ‪ ،‬ﺷﺎﻣﻞ‪ :‬ﻓﺮﺍﺳﻮی ﻋﺼﺮ ﺯﺭﻕ ﻭ ﺑﺮﻕ‪ ،‬ﺯﻭﺭ ﻋﺎﻣﻞ ﻳﺎﮐﻮﺯﺍﺋﯽ‪ ،‬ﺛﺮﻭﺕ ﻣﻮﺭﮔﺎﻥ ﻣﻴﻠﮑﻦ ﻭ‬
‫ﺑﻌﺪﻳﻬﺎ‪ ،‬ﺩﺍﻧﺎﻳﯽ ﺛﺮﻭﺗﯽ ﺍﺯ ﻧﻤﺎﺩﻫﺎ‪ ،‬ﻣﺎﺗﺮﻳﺎﻟﻴﺴﻢ ﺧﺸﻦ‪ ،‬ﺟﺎﻧﺸﻴﻦ ﻏﺎﺋﯽ‬
‫ﺟﻨﮕﻬﺎی ﺍﻁﻼﻋﺎﺗﯽ‪ ،‬ﺷﺎﻣﻞ‪ :‬ﮐﺎﺭﺯﺍﺭ ﺩﺭ ﭘﺎی ﺻﻨﺪﻭﻕ ﭘﺮﺩﺍﺧﺖ‪ ،‬ﻗﺪﺭﺕ ﺷﺒﮑﻪ‪ ،‬ﺟﻨﮓ ﺭﻭ ﺑﻪ ﮔﺴﺘﺮﺵ‪ ،‬ﭘﻠﻴﺲ ﺍﻓﮑﺎﺭ ﺍﺟﺮﺍﺋﯽ‪ ،‬ﺟﻨﮓ‬
‫ﺍﻁﻼﻋﺎﺗﯽ ﺗﻤﺎﻡ ﻋﻴﺎﺭ‪ ،‬ﻓﺮﻭﭘﺎﺷﯽ ﺍﺗﺎﻗﮏ ﻫﺎ‪ ،‬ﺑﻨﮕﺎﻩ ﻫﺎی ﺍﻧﻌﻄﺎﻑ ﭘﺬﻳﺮ‪ ،‬ﺭﻭﺳﺎی ﻗﺒﻴﻠﻪ ﺍی ﻭ ﮐﻤﻴﺴﺮﻫﺎی ﺷﺮﮐﺘﯽ‪ ،‬ﮐﺎﺭﻣﻨﺪ‬
‫ﺧﻮﺩﻣﺨﺘﺎﺭ‪ ،‬ﻣﻮﺯﺍﺋﻴﮏ ﻗﺪﺭﺕ‪ ،‬ﻧﻈﺎﻡ ﻧﻮﻳﻦ ﺗﻮﻟﻴﺪ ﺛﺮﻭﺕ‬
‫ﻗﺪﺭﺕ ﺍﺯ ﻟﻮﻟﻪ ﺗﻔﻨﮓ ﺑﺮﻣﻴﺨﻴﺰﺩ‪ .‬ﻣﺎﺋﻮ‬
‫ﭘﻮﻝ ﻫﻤﻪ ﺟﺎ ﺳﺨﻦ ﻣﻴﮕﻮﻳﺪ‪ .‬ﻳﮏ ﻧﺎﺷﻨﺎﺱ‬
‫ﺩﺍﻧﺎﻳﯽ ﺑﻪ ﺧﻮﺩی ﺧﻮﺩ ﻗﺪﺭﺕ ﺍﺳﺖ‪ .‬ﻓﺮﺍﻧﺴﻴﺲ ﺑﻴﮑﻦ‬
‫ﺍ‪ .‬ﺷﺮﺑﻴﺎﻧﯽ‬
‫‪20th-century articles non-fiction‬‬

‫‪Brad Acker‬‬
‫‪17 reviews15 followers‬‬
‫‪May 4, 2010‬‬
‫‪Power comes from muscle, money, and mind (violence, wealth, knowledge). Change is‬‬
‫‪occurring at hyper-speeds today. Facts become obsolete faster than ever before as new‬‬
‫‪knowledge supplants old facts. Older forms of power are now dependent on knowledge‬‬
‫‪(weapons developed using sophisticated technologies based on exponentially accelerating‬‬
‫‪technological advances); wealth turning into electronic blips that circulate the globe at the speed‬‬
‫‪of light and vanish in an economic meltdown. Radical change is underway as knowledge may‬‬
‫‪becoming the currency of the future. Those who understand this powershift will be in a position‬‬
‫‪to help guide the future amazing technological unfolding and merger of man and machine.‬‬
TK Keanini
305 reviews48 followers
Edited April 9, 2007
I still reference this book in my writings. Even back in 1991, Toffler could see the transformation
that was taking place as we shifted our epistemology from the assembly line to information.
heroes

CD
656 reviews66 followers
Edited February 12, 2015
This has been the Toffler book for me that has been the most prescient about the early 21st
Century. From the extrapolations of futurism that hint at the exact financial problems and the
shifts in economic impact, Toffler was clearly on target.

Violence as a theme of 'the future' we are now in has been uncannily forecast as a component of
the geo-political/economic reality.

My opinion and 'rating' of this will undoubtedly evolve, like the future, but here nearing a decade
in this new century, this I feel is Toffler best realized futurism writing.

Read again in 2015. Finished February 11

Zhijing Jin
250 reviews16 followers
Edited October 9, 2021
We usually see the many revolutions brought by technology/politician regime shift, which is like
a re-shuffling of the socioeconomic classes. This book gives the reader a perspective to look at
this.

1) Three sources of power: violence (the least flexible), wealth (intermediate flexible),
knowledge (the most flexible, and penetrating).

2) Whenever a new technology emerges, the power structure evolves around it. Old structures
are replaced gradually. Solutions:
(a) Structure our organizations flexibly (e.g., by modularize many components) so that when new
changes come, we can restructure faster than others.
(b) Curate an eye to see future changes, e.g., an exercise question can be whether quantum
computing will happen; if so, how to invest our time and external collaboration on this.
(c) When our domain is in its peak time (e.g., computer science, artificial intelligence), cherish it,
maximize our efforts, and don't expect it to be permanent. Prepare for new changes.

---
More resources:
- Audiobook in Chinese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8lnn...
- Text to Speech: https://www.textfromtospeech.com/en/t...
https://www.naturalreaders.com/online/
thoughtbreaker

Anwer Ali
13 reviews
Edited December 8, 2017
One of the most informative books I have ever read. The author covered a complex topic with
such an eloquence just matchless. A prophetic view on future almost 27 years ago is just mind-
boggling. I will recommend this book for everyone just to change your view on the global
politics and the game of power control.

Matt Mayevsky
Author
16 books5 followers
Edited April 5, 2021
Toffler eternally alive.

Powershift was issued in 1990. It appears that the description, the movement of tectonic plates of
power in corporations, social structures and the global order of the late twentieth century, it will
be a sufficient argument, that the book is not worth reading.
Mistake. Toffler describes the trends that still exist, and in some cases their existence is felt
today more than a quarter century ago.

I think some parts of the Powershift should be mandatory reading for all politicians.
future-studies
GERALD RANDY
20 reviews
November 7, 2021
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Brent Newhall
82 reviews1 follower
Read
May 27, 2020
Toffler remains remarkably prescient in this 1990 book about how the information age shifts
power. The book remains useful, even 30 years later, to orient the reader to the changing winds
of the times.

I particularly appreciated his insight about the evolving importance of possessions, wealth, and
knowledge (each dominant in its own era), and the implications of basing one's value to the
world on one's knowledge (particularly the increasingly short lifetime of a fact).

I admit I didn't read the last part of the book, as it shifted into geopolitical prognostications that
I'm sure are valid but are too far outside my locus of control.
Fadl
57 reviews1 follower
January 16, 2022
This book is a must-read for any futurist. Alvin does a great job of interrogating the past and
present to predict the future of power and authority. He - and his wife - looked deeply into the
structure of power in history: violence, wealth, and knowledge to conclude logically that it is the
knowledge that will define power in the future. This will change the structure of human societies,
work, and organizations.
Alvin died in 2016
James Chung
3 reviews
February 2, 2018
Very insightful even from hindsight. Many of his projections did come to fruition, while others
have turned out different. Nonetheless, the underlying thought process that led to his conclusions
are interesting to read even from hindsight.
Mats Matsael
4 reviews
February 19, 2020
very good book, it's like an insight into geopolitical space, and how it may look in the future if
you interested in the in such topics. What Alvin has mentioned in this book is actually
happening, i will give a better review when i get the time

David Leemon
301 reviews2 followers
February 18, 2018
A great book to understand how interpersonal power works, and how it is changing with the new
technology
current-events dork-ages economics
Stuart Johnstone
49 reviews
August 20, 2019
Not completed, found the book very dated!

Michele
94 reviews2 followers
June 18, 2020
A lot more detail that I want to wade through but he has interesting points and ideas.
Whissteria
2 reviews
November 7, 2020
For a book written in 1990, remarkably prescient.
futures

Sean
289 reviews
January 11, 2021
Visionary book about current and future trends.
future
Duilio
6 reviews
March 11, 2021
fue un libro para mi, en los comienzos de los 90, con el que supe comprender los cambios que
ocurrieron, y siguen ocurriendo
management
Emil Modoran
13 reviews2 followers
Want to Read
March 23, 2021
Powershift. Puterea in miscare
Cunoasterea, bogatia si violenta in pragul secolului XXI

Editura: Antet
1995
our-library
Alashers
25 reviews
Edited May 19, 2021
Ну и написал одно и тоже много раз но интересно в целом
Молодец
Amber
9 reviews1 follower
Edited September 11, 2016
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.

Eddie Chua
84 reviews
Edited December 19, 2020
There are 3 pillars of power; violence (force), money and knowledge. As this was written back in
the 80s, Toffler was already able to identify how knowledge itself will expand, and overtake the
previous 2 pillars of power. His narrative was this will pillar will overtake and the previous 2,
though need to work in together for greater influence and control over world events. Information
and knowledge, like how power and money, is not distributed equally, and thus creates a new
disparity and inequality of life. The key difference, force and money are finite and have
limitations, while knowledge is infinite. Thus, he who has knowledge, controls the rest.

"control the quality, quantity and distribution of knowledge within their domains". This line
speaks so much and depending on how I wish to take it, it can either be scary or bring me to
greater awareness of my situation. Being here in Singapore, I can say I have access to a lot of
information, and restriction is low, comparing to other countries. In the past, without improved
technology, or maybe a lack of understanding of it, I thought that the internet would be the
gateway to unlimited and open information. How that has changed, as witnessing how certain
sites and information can be made unavailable to different regions, all under the discretion of the
those in charge. Would one be able to gather all critical information freely? Unlikely, and would
be reserve for a small selected few only.

As the main pillar of power shifts from force to money (industrial) to knowledge, the ones that
holds the power changes as well. Without the ability to change, thinking that the old forms still
rules (which many nations and people still behave and believe as such), one will get left behind
in the trails of the exponential growth of the pillar of knowledge. When looking at this trinity of
pillar, who has them today? The definition and those who occupy the seats of global
"superpowers" is / have changed. It's not to be complacent, for again, knowledge changes
everything, and knowledge can be easily shared and transferrable.

Sergey
5 reviews
Edited August 5, 2013
Не смотря на то, что книга описывает события в мире на момент примерно 1990 года, она
не сомненно, покрывает гораздо большее время за счёт развития идей и тенденций
происходивших в мире на тот момент.
Мир открывается для меня по новому - теперь мне более ясны точки приложения усилий
различных стран и мотивы.

Что я вынес для себя? Да собственно то, что мне говорили родители: "Знание - сила". Да,
не обладая государственной властью вкупе с военной силой и силой денег, можно по-
прежнему уверенно себя чувствовать, обладая знанием.
Более того, знанием нужно не просто обладать, но и управлять и понимать, как им
управляют другие.
Знание более не является оторванным от власти силы и денег, оно не только дополняет их,
но порой и приводит к ним, а иногда может действовать независимо.

Хотелось бы такого же подробного разбора событий по новейшей истории.

khashayar XerXes
15 reviews31 followers
Edited April 23, 2007
U must read this b4 having or telling or discussing any Opinion about anything around your
world!
it gives u a glass to see!
best sociology book ever!
if u r by any chance a part of the world between 1960-260
u Have 2 read these aalvin tofler series!

1970...future shock
smthing is gonna change,it will change in the fastest way it could!
here he discuss the effect that the rate may cause,& leave
the tehem of the "change" 4 his next book to discuss!

1980...third wave
he define us the chaneg we r facing or going to face in future decades in details

1990...power shift
this change "third wave" will affect the basics of distribution of the meaning of the "power" in
society!

Alexander Temerev
185 reviews14 followers
Edited August 28, 2015
Alvin Toffler is a political genius and a master predictor.

Here are some of his predictions he made in "Powershift" back in 1990:

— Revival of religion, especially religious fundamentalism;

Some of his predictions are yet to come (e.g., in "Third Wave" — the near-collapse of nuclear
family and massive eradication of office jobs), but we'll be there in a few more years.

He also gives a strategy of living and winning through the changes. Must read.
Al Carlson
8 reviews1 follower
June 5, 2008
Published in 1990, this book is still full of 'right on' and 'as yet unrealized' ideas. It is the third in
a series, preceded by "Future shock" and "The Third Wave".

When I read it in the very early 90's, I was blown away by his analysis. I read it first, then got his
two previous books. Now, I look at his ideas and say, "Well, yeah!"
future-think

Joredos
82 reviews1 follower
July 25, 2013
It is interesting how vast problem is divided into pieces by Toffler without useless
explanations.This book is so actual nowadays but although some nations and societies are still
doing mistakes already explained from Toffler. The author is explained symptoms,way of
avoidance and future perspectives without force his reader to accept it.
society

Darina
121 reviews41 followers
Edited October 19, 2020
Power comes from violence, money or knowledge.
Force is inflexible, wealth can be used to intimidate or to reward.
"A power shift is a transfer of power. A 'powershift' is 'a deep-level change in the very nature of
power."
Interesting that even less than 30 years ago China was not considered a major player.