The first eighteen chapters develop an understanding of how human societies evolved and why civilizations rise and fall. That leaves Chapter 19 to project a logical picture of how social evolution will change the world in the years and decades to come. These projections are made neither to scare nor reassure the readers but to provide the only real way to demonstrate the accuracy of social evolution as explained in the book. There is no other way to test or to prove, it.

       The forecasts need not even be especially accurate---just more accurate than projections based on consensus social theory. Social theorists do not even make such forecasts for fear of exposing themselves to embarrassment. Consensus social theory is rationalized. It has to skirt around social-evolutionary theory because accepting that religions serve an evolutionary function would understandably offend religious sensibilities. Social theorists have had to avoid such offense because science and religion have to seem compatible or society loses the unity it has and needs to survive.  How have the book's forecasts turned out so far?

The book was published in 2010, and the prediction time-frame is described in paragraph 3 of page 21 as “years or decades.” So most of what is forecast has yet to come, but how is it going so far? Below are specific forecasts that have or are being validated already:

Pages 211-212 and 218-219 forecast the world-wide fading of US secular ideals. That is so clearly happening as to be newsworthy. See: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/us/we-the-people-loses-appeal-with-people-around-the-world.html?_r=2&partner=MYWAY&ei=5065 TShe reason for the weakening of faith in the Western secular ideology is explained on pages 172-173.

The second paragraph of page 220 predicts continued neglect of the US infrastructure.

It continues to be neglected. Why is explained on the last paragraph on page 188 and on page 217.

Pages 217-218 indicate that US will continue moving towards a matriarchal system. That the trend continues is indicated by: http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-201_162-20057608.html.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38628278/ns/today-parenting and, family/t/when-roles-reverse-rise-stay-at-home-husband/ The reason or causes for the trend is explained on pages 172-174.

The third paragraph of 219 and second of 221 predict growing world social unrest & disorder. It is being lumped into the words “the Arab Spring.” In addition, there are the civil wars in Africa and riotous demonstrations in Southern Europe. Why it is increasing is explained on pages 157, 188-190, and 208-212.

Pages 35-36,72-74, 160 and the first paragraph of page 186 explains why gay culture will become increasingly prominent. Some current examples are: http://www.missvera.com/ and: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/09/virginia-school-district-considers-ban-on-cross-dressing-students/ as well as the several gay-loaded comedy TV series. The reasons for the trend are given on pages 160,172-174.

The first paragraph of page 220 describes Bin Laden as a god to Muslim militants whether alive or dead.He is now definitely dead but he continues to motivate and unite Muslim militants as predicted. See: http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/02/panetta-osama-bin-laden-influence-continues/

He even lives on as a “ghost” or god: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/54113.html The explanation for both the growth and spread of Islamic terrorism is found on pages 177 and 213-214.

Page 53 predicts any further US led Israeli-Palestinian peace initiatives would fail. One more was attempted and did fail. So far no more have been even started. The explanation for the attempts and their failures is on pages 177 and 213-214.

On page 178, respect for science is projected to decline in the US in response to religious regression. That is now happening among theeducated elite:

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/03/chart--conservatives-dont-trust-science

http://www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk/2012/04/02/25823/decline-in-conservatives-trust-science

The reasons for the decline of science in the West is explained on pages 158, 173-174, and 187.

Pages 175, 189-190, the second paragraph of page 216, and the first, second and third paragraphs of page 220 all project the continued per-capita growth in stress and hostility. Since publication, both have increased, especially in the U.S. Stress is known to cause health problems and is largely responsible for the disproportionate rise in health care costs. It also explains the rising levels of suicide, insomnia and depression and the increasing per-capita levels of narcotic addiction, domestic abuse, men going berserk, and political and corporate corruption. The crime rate has even started to rise again. We know from polls that the American public is feeling a sense of hopelessness, of impending doom. In fact, “Doomsday Prepping” is growing as people are beginning to buy bunkers and stock them with food and guns. Since publication of the book, it has become noticeable enough to become the subject of documentaries, even TV series. Bunker orders are even coming in from other nations. See: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/doomsday-2012-preppers-prepare-worst-turn-profit/story?id=15523533&page=2 and: http://tvblogs.nationalgeographic.com/2012/02/07/the-results-are-in-is-it-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it-survey-says/ The reason for the growth in the stress level is explained on pages 158, 188-189, and 218. It is of note, however, that the book does not predict any doomsday. (See the last sentence on page 225).

So, is all this coming true really so unusual? What happens in our world is not normally seen by the individual as trends because the causes are not known. Once the causes are explained in the book, however, they are only then seen as trends. Once identified as trends, it is normal for the individual to “hind-sight,” that is, to look back and, finally seeing them as trends, finding no reason why he or she would have ever expected them to be reversed. The individual then conviently assumes that he would have also predicted then to continue had the question then have ever been raised. This is known as “rationalizing” and is a natural maneuvering of the conscious, society's-ideology-shaped and word-driven, mental system by the brain's pre-lingual, subconscious and non-verbal one. The word “rationalizing” is defined in the book's Glossary, and the process itself is explained on pages.

It is of note that none of the specific social trends the book identifies and prpjects show any sign of being reversed. The reader can check out the book pages and verify by placing Amazon. the last civilization in your search engine.(Use Bing if there is a problem). Then, finding the photo of the book and clicking on it. Then scroll from the cover down to the Table of Contents and to the page you are looking for.

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If the reader prefers to check this all out in your own book copy, it can be obtained at:

http://www.booksamillion.com/search?query=The Last Civilization;where=Books;No=20&id=5267157806275

or:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=stripbooks&field-keywords=The+Last+Civilization&x=15&y=19

It can also be ordered from book stores.

(In the case of a student who cannot afford a copy, use the e-mail address at the lower right to request a free copy)

With so many people on Earth, we need more of both room and resources. We have all but ended the Age of Discovery. Ultimately, we need to expand out into space---and need to be working towards that goal right now..

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       a space colony as envisioned