Predicting the future has become bigger business than ever, as more recognise the need to figure out where our civilisation is headed. But to understand the future, you must understand the past — including the most interesting, important and influential futurists throughout history. From Delphi's virgin visionaries to science-fiction writers and trend gurus, this book explores what they have done for us. While the historical aspect grounds this investigation, there are also fascinating insights into how trends are identified, 'made' and marketed on an international scale — You will be surprised by how many think-tanks are the behind the success of marketing drives or even political campaigns!