Book description
'This is the book our children's children will thank us for reading' - The Edge, U2
How can we be good ancestors?
From the first seeds sown thousands of years ago, to the construction of the cities we still inhabit, to the scientific discoveries that have ensured our survival, we…
Why read it?
2 authors picked The Good Ancestor as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
The concept of the ‘good ancestor,’ originally coined by physician Jonas Salk, is the focus of Roman Krznaric’s excellent book about our relationship with future generations.
I’ve known Roman for a few years now: he spoke about long-term time on a panel I organised at the Hay Festival a few years ago, and he makes an appearance in my own book on a trip we both made to the House of Lords to watch a debate about future generation policy.
He is a crystal clear thinker and communicator, and I’ve learnt a lot from him. One of the most interesting…
From Richard's list on to take a longer view of time.
The Good Ancestor is a rallying cry for considering the interests of future generations. The author, philosopher Roman Krznaric, brings a holistic, empathetic eye to our stewardship of the planet. The book is big on activism and creativity, full of fascinating references to mind-expanding art projects that re-frame our relationship with the future, explorations of transcendent goals for our species, and ideas about how to build more just, equitable relationships with each other and all those who will follow us.
From Adam's list on harnessing the power of human foresight.
If you love The Good Ancestor...
December on 5C4
Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!
On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…
Want books like The Good Ancestor?
Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Good Ancestor.
Share your top 3 reads of 2025!
And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.
1,278
readers submitted
so far, will you?
📚 If you like The Good Ancestor, you might also like...
The Bridge
The Bridge provides a compassionate and well researched window into the worlds of linear and circular thinking. A core pattern to the inner workings of these two thinking styles is revealed, and most importantly, insight into how to cross the distance between them. Some fascinating features emerged such as, circular…
And Then They Were Gone
Of the 918 Americans who died in the shocking murder-suicides of November 18, 1978, in the tiny South American country of Guyana, a third were under eighteen. More than half were in their twenties or younger.
The authors taught in a small high school in San Francisco where Reverend Jim…
