Book SummaryCould Should Might Don't, by Nick Foster

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Could Should Might Don't

A lot of us have visions of the future that aren’t really our own; rather, they’re pieced together from ideas we’ve been absorbing from parents, teachers, peers, and media since birth. In Could Should Might Don’t (2025) futurist Nick Foster maps out various ways of thinking about the future so you can recognize where your ideas come from and evaluate them more critically. In short, this book is designed to teach the average person how to think about the future, rather than what to think about it. Foster argues that this skill is more important than ever because technology is advancing at an incredible pace, and most of us are woefully unprepared for the futures humanity might create.

Foster spent over a decade leading the Design Fiction group at Google X, the company’s self-described “moonshot” division, where he helped imagine and prototype...

Could Should Might Don't Summary Important Terms

Before we start, it we’ll define two key terms:

1. Futurism: A general term for a way of...

Could Should Might Don't Summary Examine How You Think About the Future

Foster says his goal is to help people think more critically about the future. To that end, this section will start by examining numerous ways that people’s predictions tend to be flawed. We’ll then present Foster’s approach: a grounded, moderate way of thinking that rejects extreme utopian and dystopian visions.

Common Flaws in Futures Work

Foster explains several common mistakes people make when thinking about the future:

1. Assuming the future will replace the present, rather than build upon it
2. Being overly optimistic; ignoring the reality that there have always been problems and there always will be
3. Placing too much trust in existing predictions and models

Flaw #1: Ignoring the Present

Foster argues that people often imagine that the future will completely replace the present. However, anything new must build upon and integrate what already exists. This tendency to examine new ideas in isolation, rather than considering how they might fit into the bigger picture, creates enormous blind spots in people’s visions.

The modern world is a complex web of systems, laws, infrastructure, and cultural norms. A new technology might emerge practically...

Could Should Might Don't Summary What *Can* We Do, and What *Should* We Do?

So far we’ve talked about futures work in a general sense: common mistakes people make and Foster’s idea of the proper mindset for thinking about the future. For the remainder of this guide, we’ll present what Foster sees as the pros and cons of Foster’s four types of futurism. This will help you recognize the kinds of futuristic ideas people present to you, and the ways those visions are likely to be flawed.

This section will focus on the two aspirational approaches to futures work. We’ll start by discussing prediction of what may be possible in the future—what could happen. We’ll then examine the related style of futurism that discusses what people ought to do in the future: what should happen.

Approach #1: Could Futurism—What Is Possible?

Could Futurism is concerned with what is technically possible, what technology might someday enable us to do, and what we could create if present-day limitations were removed.

Pros: Could Futurism Is Exciting and Engaging

Foster explains that Could Futurism is the most visible and culturally dominant form of futurism. **It draws heavily on the traditions of science fiction, modernist art, world’s fairs, and...

Could Should Might Don't Summary What’s *Likely* to Happen, and What *Shouldn’t* Happen?

We’ve explored the aspirational kinds of futurism: what could happen and what should happen. In this last section, we’ll explore two analytical styles of futures work that are, arguably, more practical.

First we’ll examine Might Futurism, wherein people try to determine the most likely futures, rather than the most exciting or compelling ones. Finally, we’ll talk about Don’t Futurism: the practice of imagining undesirable futures and working to prevent them.

Approach #3: Might Futurism—What’s Most Likely to Happen?

Foster’s third approach, Might Futurism, examines various possibilities and tries to determine how likely each of them is. This approach relies on rationality, tools, and structure, rather than just imagination and emotion.

Pros: Might Futurism Encourages Structured Analysis

Foster says that Might Futurism is most valuable for its honesty and practicality—it acknowledges the future is uncertain and presents many possibilities rather than a single prediction. As a result, Might Futurists are prepared for a variety of situations and can adapt as their circumstances change.

Furthermore, Might Futurism gives people concrete tools...

Shortform Exercise: Practice Some Futures Work

You’re now familiar with some common flaws in how people think about the future, four styles of futurism, and Foster’s practice of focusing on the mundanities of life in the future. Using Foster’s principles as a foundation, take a few minutes to try some futures work of your own.

What’s one detail that stands out when you imagine the future? For example, perhaps you envision a certain style of architecture, a notable piece of technology, or a cultural norm that’s very different from the present day.