Patricia Martin explores the hidden forces shaping our sense of self in an age of relentless connectivity and surging transformation. Based on a ten-year study of the changing nature of identity as influenced by technology, she reveals conditions unraveling who we are: persona fog, chronic self-doubt, and cascading crossroads. Readers will recognize the ensuing symptoms, which they’ve likely felt but couldn’t pin down. The research is brought to life by stories of people who faced their crossroads, built resilience for uncertainty, and fed their souls as they transformed their lives. Told through the eyes of the researcher whose identity is torn asunder by a succession of surprising blows, what started as a systematic examination of the impact of technology on the psyche morphed into a revelatory adventure of what it means to regain the thread of self in an era of churning dynamism. Blending memoir, psychology, cultural criticism, and reportage, the book offers a psychological and soulful portrait of the person who will thrive in the digital age.
James Hollis, Jungian analyst, author of ‘Swamplands of the Soul’ and ‘Living with Borrowed Dust’ –
‘Courageous, urgent, and deeply necessary, this work offers what so many of us desperately need: not just an understanding of our disorientation, but a map home to ourselves. Patricia Martin masterfully captures the defining crisis of our time: the relentless assault of stimuli that collapses boundaries, distorts reality, and erodes the very beliefs that once anchored our lives. But this isn’t just diagnosis – it’s deliverance. Where others see only chaos, Martin illuminates a way through: a luminous thread leading out of the labyrinth of numbness and existential drift. This is a path back to the soul – that timeless inner compass that knows who we are beneath every mask, every performance, every imposed identity. It’s radical reclamation. It’s how we recover our agency, restore our sovereignty, and rediscover our truth in an age designed to make us forget.’
Robert Tyminski, Jungian psychoanalyst and author of ‘Male Alienation at the Crossroads of Identity, Culture and Cyberspace’ –
‘A highly compelling exploration of identity and self, which technological advances are challenging in the early twenty-first century as never before. Deeply researched, the book examines the psychosocial impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), the flooding effects of digital contents on the brain, and the presentation of countless online crossroads that tempt us with trickster energy to zigzag one way, then another. She asks a core question of our time: given a multitude of technologically driven choices, how does a person find a path toward a purposeful life? This is a highly engaging read for anyone wondering how current technology is affecting – and distorting – the human psyche.’
Nora Swan-Foster, Jungian analyst, author of ‘Jungian Art Therapy: Images, Dreams and Analytical Psychology’ –
‘This book bravely invites us to investigate how our lived experiences are shaped and transformed by invisible forces such as social media and technology. Patricia Martin’s writing explores fascinating questions within the collective that lead to personal possibilities. The writing flows like an unencumbered river, weaving together heartfelt questions with probing research and interviews. Martin’s deep exploration becomes an urgent call for us to fully enter into the creative waters of self-reflection and soul-making.’
John Zogby, pollster and author of ‘We Are Many, We Are One: Neo-Tribes and Tribal Analytics in 21st Century America’ –
‘Brilliant and accessible. Patricia Martin’s work is always prescient and not only offers solid analysis but also provides a blueprint for those who are navigating their lives through turbulent times. Both intensely personal and universal, Will the Future Like You? takes us a major step forward in describing what is happening to our sense of self and the search for meaning in our lives.’
Glen Slater, author of ‘Jung vs Borg: Finding the Deeply Human in a Posthuman Age’ –
‘A critical guide to navigating the pressures of self-optimization in the digital age. Patricia Martin exposes the key dynamics at work in this hothousing of identity and provides wise counsel for finding more authentic and sustainable forms of individual transformation.’
Brandy Agerbeck, author of ‘The Idea Shapers: The Power of Putting Your Thinking into Your Own Hands’ –
‘Patricia Martin draws an indispensable map for navigating the psychosocial swamp of being human in this digital age. Packed with research, clear mental models, and Patricia Martin’s warm, engaging voice, Will the Future Like You? gives you the tools to reclaim your own voice and your agency in these murky times.’