Farsighted: How We Make the Decisions That Matter the Most by Steven Johnson

When faced with the major decisions in life, it can be incredibly difficult to navigate the often harsh terrain of uncertainty and make the choices that are best for our wellbeing. In Steven Johnson’s groundbreaking book Farsighted: How We Make the Decisions That Matter the Most, he provides a roadmap for how to craft decisions that are most likely to benefit society and individual wellbeing in the long run. Using real-life examples, Johnson highlights the need for long-term thinking when considering major decisions and takes the reader through the steps to consider the consequences of their decisions in the long term.

At the heart of this project, is Johnson’s approach to problem solving, which he calls “farsightedness”. Johnson believes that when we are faced with difficult decisions, the best approach is to look past immediate benefits and consider long-term implications. In doing so, Johnson argues that we can take into consideration the cascading effects of our decisions and craft solutions that unlock far-reaching benefits. In Johnson’s words, farsightedness is the ability to “envision the distant consequences of our choices and to use our imagination to craft decisions that will help move us closer to the preferred future.”

Johnson breaks down this approach into four core elements: understanding, visioning, forecasting, and synthesizing. In order to understand how to make the best decisions, Johnson urges readers to first understand the background to the issue. By understanding the historical context of the issue, possible drivers for change, and the short-term effects, readers can build a better mental framework for decision making. Once a deep level of understanding is achieved, Johnson recommends turning to visioning to articulate what the best desired future state would look like. By throwing out previously held assumptions and creating a blank canvas of the future, readers can create idealized visions of the best future outcomes. From this, readers can move to forecasting, which Johnson defines as the process of considering possible paths and potential roadblocks to achieving the desirable futures. This process helps to flesh out the feasibility and practicality of each proposed solution. Finally, Johnson advises readers to use the synthesizing step to bring it all together and select the best decision. Through careful consideration of the different elements of farsightedness, Johnson believes readers can craft decisions that will have the best long-term effect both on themselves and their surroundings.

Throughout Farsighted: How We Make The Decisions That Matter the Most, Johnson uses the stories of key figures throughout history to elucidate the importance of considering the long-term effects of decisions. He discusses how Darwin had to fully consider the implications of his theories before making them public and how President Lincoln navigated the unique minefield of moral and practical consequences of his decision to emancipate slaves in the United States. Johnson uses these real-world illustrations to provide a practical backdrop to his theoretical approaches and show that the core tenants of his farsighted approach can be applied to the big decisions of life.

If you are looking to develop an approach to decision making that considers the long-term consequences, then Steven Johnson’s Farsighted: How We Make the Decisions That Matter the Most is an essential read. Johnson carefully deconstructs the elements of farsightedness to equip readers with the tools to consider the world beyond their immediate circumstances and craft decisions that create meaningful change for the betterment of all. Through a combination of real-world examples and an approachable writing style, Johnson provides the reader with ample insight into the process of farsighted decision making, unlocking the potential of long-term problem solving.