7 Surprising Ways ‘Longpath’ Will Change How You Think About the Future (and Yourself)

Discover how Ari Wallach’s ‘Longpath’ challenges everything you know about leaving a legacy—and why it matters today.

Have you ever wondered if your daily choices—what you say, how you love, what you build—will matter a hundred years from now? Ari Wallach’s groundbreaking book, Longpath: Becoming the Great Ancestors Our Future Needs, answers with a resounding ‘yes.’ But it’s not just a book about legacy—it’s a call to transform how we live, lead, and connect, starting now.

Wallach begins by introducing the Longpath mindset: the radical idea that we are links in a chain stretching from the distant past to an unknowable future. Imagine standing in the Roman Colosseum, feeling the weight of millennia—and then picturing who might stand there a thousand years from now. This exercise isn’t just poetic; it’s a tool for expanding your sense of responsibility and possibility.

One of the book’s most powerful insights is the danger of short-termism. We live in a world designed for instant rewards: digital notifications, fast food, quick fixes. Wallach uses the metaphor of sandbagging a house during a flood—effective in the moment, but useless if we never address the rising waters. He challenges us to see time as a continuum, to embrace the analog clock over the digital—because only then can we step off the treadmill of urgency and begin to build something that lasts.

But how do we break free from the present’s grip? Wallach offers the practice of transgenerational empathy. This isn’t just about honoring ancestors or worrying about grandchildren; it’s a living, breathing connection to the entire human story. He shares exercises like the mirror ritual—placing a hand on your heart and belly, feeling the pulse of those who came before and those yet to come. This empathy, he argues, is the key to healing personal and societal wounds.

The book is rich with practical tools. The Voros Cone helps you map not just the future handed to you, but the many possible and desired futures you can help create. The trim tab metaphor—borrowed from engineering—reminds us that even the smallest, well-placed action can steer the course of history. Wallach illustrates this with examples from urban planning to personal rituals, showing that collective flourishing begins with tiny acts of kindness and intention.

Perhaps the most heartening message is that you don’t have to move the whole ship—just your trim tab. Small, consistent behaviors, like daily gratitude or regular check-ins, have exponential impact over time. In families, organizations, and communities, these micro-actions accumulate, creating cultures of trust, hope, and resilience.

Wallach also explores the role of rituals and storytelling in transmitting values across generations. Whether it’s setting an empty chair for future descendants or journaling lessons learned, these practices anchor us in the present while opening doors to the future. Research shows that families who share both hardships and triumphs raise more resilient children—a testament to the power of narrative in shaping destiny.

In the end, ‘Longpath’ is a gentle, yet urgent invitation: become the ancestor your descendants will thank. Live with foresight, empathy, and courage. The future is not a distant place; it’s being made, right here, every day.

Ready to start your Longpath journey? Begin with a single act of kindness, a moment of gratitude, or a story shared. The ripples will travel farther than you can imagine.