Happy Back to the Future Day: Seven Books That Will Propel Your Business Into the Future

Haven’t made plans for October 21? Set aside at least two—or a full six—hours because the date has been designated Back to the Future Day. In Part II of the iconic movie trilogy that spawned a generation of “Make like a tree and get outta here” quipsters, Marty McFly travels forward in time to October 21, 2015.

Setting aside what a great vehicle the film proved to be for Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, Back to the Future and its sequels provide great fodder for talking about where we’ve been and where we’re going. So if you’re not planning a BTTF party, consider how your business will change in the coming decades based on the lessons of the past. The following seven books will give your thinking some extra thrust.

The Emoji Revolution by Philip Seargeant

Every generation has its own lingo. When teenage Lorraine calls time-traveling Marty a “dreamboat,” she’s using the slang of her era. In his book, The Emoji Revolution, Philip Seargeant argues that emojis have become a powerful new way of getting a message across—not just for young people, but for everyone. He provides a fresh perspective on these pictograms and challenges us to think beyond their silliness or simplicity. Since putting down The Emoji Revolution, I’ve chosen my emojis more purposefully, thinking of them as a communication tool and not just fun shorthand.

Success Through Diversity by Carol Fulp

Researchers regularly tout the benefits of diverse workforces, noting just how well inclusive companies perform against averages. A key reason for this, argues Carol Fulp, is that diversity yields teams that collectively are more able to think outside the box. Just as Doc Brown reimagined the possibilities for a silver DeLorean, staying competitive in business today requires novel solutions—the kind that emerge from a range of employee experiences. I’m a huge proponent of soliciting diverse viewpoints. It’s helped me revive a teetering organization and launch a new career path.

Blockchain: The Complete Guide to Uncovering Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency, Bitcoin Technology and the Future of Money by Alan Wright and Andrew Johnson

What if you had a crystal ball, like the sports almanac Biff receives in Back to the Future II, which allows him to make bets in the past to earn a fortune for the future? Alan Wright and Andrew Johnson provide something of the sort in Blockchain, which will help you understand the many ways people can invest in the emerging cryptocurrency market. I haven’t fully jumped into the blockchain world yet, but I’m fascinated by where it’s taking us. If you’re looking for a potential tech investment vehicle, start by reading this book.

Rebooting AI: Building Artificial Intelligence We Can Trust by Gary Marcus and Ernest Davis

In Back to the Future II, audiences saw a glimpse of 2015 that included flying cars and robots. Although we haven’t quite reached the stage where lifelike robots are an everyday presence, we’re getting more accustomed to artificial intelligence. In Rebooting AI, the authors discuss the types of trustworthy AI-enabled tools we can conceivably make to ease our lives and improve productivity. Personally, I look forward to letting machine learning tackle more of my tasks in order to free up my time.

High Frequency Change by Tom Cheesewright

Is your head spinning with how fast the world is changing? You can bury your head in the nearest sand dune like timid George McFly, or you can take Marty’s bold approach and go with the flow (no skateboard required). In High Frequency Change, Tom Cheesewright argues that we’re living in an era where staying on top of change and learning how to swiftly construct and apply forward-thinking solutions is de rigeur. I’m all about trying to stay one step ahead whenever I can, and this book has definitely given me the motivation and insights to ride the change wave.

IMPACT by Paul Gibbons

Will the future be one of boredom and drudgery? Not as long as we think like Doc Brown and look at everything as an opportunity. From Paul Gibbons’ point of view, our work lives in the coming years could be nothing short of exciting, rewarding and exceptional. The key will be understanding how to grow with global transformations and continually up-skill ourselves and our teams. While reading Impact, I jotted down several of the author’s suggestions regarding digital and personal transformation to guide my professional choices in the coming months.

The Digital Big Bang by Phil Quade

While villains like Biff were pretty clear in Back to the Future, they’re not always as identifiable in real life. Unsurprisingly, cybercriminals operate in the dark shadows of the Web. Our responsibility, explains Phil Quade, is to deeply understand how to protect ourselves, our businesses and our employees in a digital environment. I found the tips from high-level security personnel especially informative and have already changed some of my methods of safeguarding my Web-connected world.