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Publishing December 21, 2026
The Predictive Present
Language, Time, and the Rise of Information
by Dan Herbatschek
A sweeping intellectual history of how language, time, and quantification braided together across centuries — and how that braid produced the predictive world we now inhabit.
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The Kindle edition is available for pre-order now and delivers automatically on December 21, 2026. Hardcover, paperback, and audiobook editions are still to be announced.
Where to pre-order
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The Kindle edition is available for pre-order from Amazon now. Additional retailers will be added as print and audio editions are confirmed.
What to expect
What you’ll get
A richly researched, narrative-driven work of intellectual history. The book traces the convergence of language, time, and information from ancient grammar and ritual calendars to modern AI and recommendation systems.
Written for the intellectually curious general reader. No specialized background required. When mathematics clarifies the story, it appears in short “windows” — illuminating, never intimidating.
The Kindle edition publishes on December 21, 2026 and is available for pre-order now. Print and audiobook editions will be announced here as they are confirmed.
Pre-order FAQ
Common questions
Kindle pre-orders are delivered automatically to your device on December 21, 2026 — there is nothing further you need to do. Shipping details for print editions will follow once those editions are confirmed.
Pre-order cancellation and modification policies depend on the retailer. Please contact your retailer directly for changes to your order.
Details about special editions, including signed copies, will be announced closer to publication. Follow this page for updates.
For bulk orders (10+ copies) for book clubs, classrooms, or corporate events, please contact [email protected] for pricing.