25 Books That Predicted The Future And Were Right

Posted by , Updated on March 22, 2024

People are often fascinated by predictions, particularly when they become a reality (especially if the predictions are favorable). While most associate predictions with seers and foretelling, different sources like writers could also make these. Throughout the ages, many audacious predictions have emerged from authors keen to share their narratives. Some of these predictions are significantly more remarkable than others, yet these authors have demonstrated a keen insight into the future. Ranging from the invention of waterbeds to the emergence of the internet, these are the 25 books that accurately foresaw the future!

25

Mars has two moons

MarsSource: wikipedia

In his book Gulliver’s Travels (1735), Jonathan Swift writes that Mars has two moons. 142 years later in 1872 we discovered that Mars does in fact have two moons.

24

Solar sails

Solar sailSource: wikipedia

In 1865 when Jules Verne wrote From The Earth To The Moon he included the idea of solar sails. 145 years later, in 2010, the first solar sail (IKAROS) was successfully used.

23

Electric submarines

submarineSource: wikipedia

5 years after he wrote From The Earth To The Moon Jules Verne wrote 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1870). In this book he writes about the exploits of an electric powered submarine. 90 years later, in the 1960s, electric powered submarines were put into service.

22

Credit cards

credit cardSource: wikipedia

When Edward Bellamy wrote Looking Backwards in 1888 he predicted the use of credit cards. 62 years later, in 1950, they were invented.

21

Skywriting

SkywritingSource: wikipedia

Jules Verne’s book In The Year 2889 (1889) includes the concept of planes writing messages in the sky (skywriting). 26 years later, in 1915, this was done for the first time at an airshow in San Francisco.

20

Automatic motion sensing doors

Automatic motion sensing doorsSource: wikipedia

In 1899 H.G. Wells included automatic motion sensing doors in his novel When The Sleeper Wakes. About 60 years later, in 1960, these types of doors were first invented.

19

Tanks

tankSource: wikipedia

Several years later, in 1903, H.G. Wells wrote a book called The Land Ironclads which is basically about tanks. 13 years after that, during World War I, the first tanks were used.

18

Lie detector test

polygraphSource: wikipedia

In 1910 Edwin Balmer and William MacHarg wrote The Achievements of Luther Trant in which they mention a lie detector test. 14 years later, in 1924, the first polygraph test was used.

17

Solar energy

Solar energySource: wikipedia

It was 1911 when Hugo Gernsback wrote Ralph 124C 41+ (yes, that is the actual name of the book) in which he predicted the use of solar energy. 67 years later, in 1978, the first solar powered calculators were invented.

16

Atomic bombs

atomic bombSource: wikipedia

In what is probably one of the more grim predictions on this list, H.G. Wells predicted the use of atomic bombs in his 1914 novel, A World Set Free. 31 years later, in 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped over Japan.

15

Voicemail

VoicemailSource: wikipedia

Nine years after A World Set Free, when he wrote Men Like Gods, H.G. Wells predicted the use of voice mail. It took 57 more years (1980) until voicemail was popularized.

14

In vitro fertilization

In vitro fertilizationSource: wikipedia

Daedalus; or, Science and the Future was a book written by J.B.S. Haldane in 1924. The story includes the concept of in vitro fertilization. It wasn’t until 53 years later, in 1977, that the first successful in vitro fertilization was performed.

13

Genetic engineering

Genetic engineeringSource: wikipedia

In his popular 1932 book A Brave New World Aldous Huxley predicts the use of genetic engineering. 40 years later, in 1972, the first genetic manipulation was performed.

12

Government spying

spyingSource: wikipedia

In his 1948 book called 1984 (confusing right?), George Orwell predicted widespread government spying. 16 years later, in 2013, the NSA spying scandal made headlines.

11

In ear headphones

earbudsSource: wikipedia

His 1950 book Fahrenheit 451 includes the idea of earbuds, or in ear headphones. 51 years later, in 2001, Apple earbuds were released.

10

Communication Satellites

Communication SatelliteSource: wikipedia

In 1951 when Arthur C. Clarke wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey he predicted the use of communication satellites. 14 years later, in 1965, the first communication satellite was launched.

9

Virtual reality

Virtual realitySource: wikipedia

5 years later Arthur wrote The City And The Stars (1956) which mentions virtual reality video games. 10 years later, in 1966, the first flight simulator was developed.

8

Waterbeds

WaterbedsSource: wikipedia

In 1961 Robert Heinlein wrote the book Stranger in a Strange Land where he mentions the idea of waterbeds. The modern waterbed was patented in 1971, 10 years later.

7

Space Tourism

Space TourismSource: wikipedia

In his book A Fall of Moondust (1962) Arthur C. Clarke predicts that people will “tour” space. 39 years later, in 2001, Dennis Tito became the first space tourist.

6

The European Union

The European UnionSource: wikipedia

In his 1969 book Stand on Zanzibar, John Brunner mentions the European Union. 24 years later, in 1993, the EU came into existence.

5

Bionic limbs

Bionic limbSource: wikipedia

In his book Cyborg (1972) Martin Caidin predicts the use of bionic limbs. 41 years later, in 2013, the first bionic leg implant was performed.

4

Real time audio translation

translationSource: wikipedia

In the Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy (1980) by Douglas Adam’s, the concept of real time, automatic voice translation is mentioned. 34 years later, in 2014, Google updated its translate app to include this feature.

3

World Wide Web

World Wide WebSource: wikipedia

In his 1984 book Neuromancer William Gibson predicts cyberspace and hacking. 7 years later, in the early 1990s, the world wide web became extremely popular.

2

Best human chess player being beat by a computer before 2000

chessSource: wikipedia

Considering that his book The Age Of Intelligent Machines was written in 1990, Ray Kurzweil only had 10 years for his prediction to be fulfilled but he was right. Only 7 years later, in 1997, IBM’s Deep Blue computer became the world chess champion.

1

Lunar modules would launch from Florida and then return to Earth as splashdown capsules

Apollo 16Source: wikipedia

A boldly specific prediction, in his book From The Earth To The Moon (1865), Jules Verne wrote about this scenario 104 years before the 1969 Apollo mission did exactly that.