What makes a good ancestor? Roman Krznaric argues that we are living in an era where short-term thinking – the Tyranny of the Now – overshadows the long-term interests of both humanity and the planet. He offers a powerful plea for intergenerational thinking: a way of living and acting in which the rights and needs of future generations carry just as much weight as those of the present.

One of the stories that has inspired me most deeply is that of the Iroquois Confederacy. These Indigenous peoples had enshrined in their constitution the principle that every important decision should be made with the impact on the next seven generations in mind. This principle was also known as the Children’s Fire – a sacred flame that burned continuously at the heart of political decision-making, reminding leaders that no decision should ever harm the lives of children, now or in the future. That image – fire as a moral compass – continues to bring me back to the essence of sustainable design: full responsibility, not just for oneself, but for the whole, and for all that is yet to come.

Krznaric outlines six pillars of long-term thinking:

Deep Time Humility – the awareness that we are just a speck on the Earth’s timeline, and that our impact reaches far beyond our own lifespan.

Legacy Mindset – the desire to leave behind a positive legacy, not only for our children and grandchildren, but for the greater whole.

Intergenerational Justice – the ethical principle that future generations have the right to a livable world.

Cathedral Thinking – the ability to begin projects that will only be completed long after we are gone, like medieval cathedrals or large-scale reforestation efforts.

Holistic Forecasting – thinking systemically in scenarios and long-term consequences, beyond profit models and spreadsheets.

Transcendent Goal – the formulation of goals greater than personal or sectoral interests: goals that are collective, ecological, and existential.

What I deeply appreciate is how Krznaric weaves together philosophy, history and activism. He draws inspiration from Jonas Salk, the inventor of the polio vaccine, who once asked: Are we being good ancestors? But also from Indigenous wisdom, futures thinking, and ethical philosophy. The book invites action – not through shouting, but with a quiet, persistent voice that pulls you gently out of your comfort zone and into radical responsibility. Not easy, but essential.

At AMORV, this book resonates deeply. It touches on our vision of regenerative design, systemic transformation, and the role of architecture and art as vessels of long-term meaning.