Artist Jeremy Rifkin

Self-described futurists are as ubiquitous as the next killer app that’s bound to change everything. Jeremy Rifkin is different in that he actually delivers the goods: He’s penned 19 books, including the hugely influential The End Of Work, a 1995 discourse that foretold many of the downsizing ill effects of the new tech culture. When he’s not writing, Rifkin spends his free time as the president of the Foundation on Economic Trends, and advises various governments on everything from climate change to energy security. Of late, Rifkin’s been arguing the next great economic era will be powered by hydrogen, and that Europe’s more humane approach to capitalism is better than the ol’ U.S. of A.’s. 

Updated 11/16/2009