Sapiens meets Happy City in this profound exploration of human innovation and global upheaval. Set against the audacious backdrop of NEOM, Saudi Arabia’s provocative city of the future, author Douglas S. McDaniel's forthcoming nonfiction work, Citizen One: Our Cities, Ourselves, and Our Uncertain Yet Extraordinary Future, bridges visionary thinking, practical action, and personal transformation, inspiring readers to participate in shaping our complex urban future for a better tomorrow.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Citizen One: Our Cities, Ourselves, and Our Uncertain Yet Extraordinary Future, due out in September 2025 from Fast Company Press, is a groundbreaking exploration of the forces shaping the cities of tomorrow and the challenges of adapting those we inhabit today. Combining insights from urban planning, social science, and cutting-edge technology, Douglas S. McDaniel examines the complex intersection of innovation, sustainability, and humanity in the 21st century.
Set around the backdrop of NEOM—Saudi Arabia’s ambitious and controversial vision for the future of urban living—Citizen One delves into the ethical, cultural, and practical dilemmas of building a city from the ground up. McDaniel draws on his extensive experience in urban research and innovation to investigate the global trends reshaping urban environments, including the integration of artificial intelligence, the urgency of climate resilience, and the pursuit of equitable design principles.
From ancient pilgrimage routes from Spain's Camino de Santiago to the ancient and futuristic trade routes of the Arabian Peninsula, Citizen One connects historical precedents with modern challenges, exploring how lessons from the past can inform a more sustainable and inclusive urban future. McDaniel highlights innovations like ancient Arabian water and wind conservation techniques in Petra and Al Ula with modern architectural advancements showcased at NEOM’s 2023 Venice Architectural Biennale debut, offering a broad perspective on the evolution of urban spaces and systems.
Through in-depth interviews with leading architects, city scientists, and science fiction futurists, McDaniel captures the diverse approaches to reimagining cities, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, livability, and equity. Citizen One critically examines the role of power, privilege, and politics in urban development, challenging conventional wisdom about who cities serve and how they evolve.
This thought-provoking book calls on policymakers, planners, and citizens alike to rethink urban living, balancing technological progress with the needs of diverse communities. Citizen One is not just about future cities—it’s a guide to transforming the cities we have into more inclusive, affordable, and sustainable spaces for all.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Douglas S. McDaniel is an innovation veteran, storyteller, and thinker whose work explores the intersections of technology, transformation, and the human experience. With decades of experience in research and innovation, McDaniel has navigated the cutting edges of urban planning, visual storytelling, AI-driven design, and global engineering and construction development. His career includes pivotal roles in groundbreaking projects such as NEOM, Saudi Arabia's ambitious city of the future, where he served as a senior manager of research and innovation in urban planning for four years. This unique vantage point has given him unparalleled insight into the promises and perils of our rapidly changing world.
Prior to his role at NEOM, Doug spent 17 years at Bechtel, a global leader in engineering and construction, where he led a number of initiatives across the nuclear, space, and civil infrastructure sectors. His standout achievement was as one of the authors of Bechtel’s landmark proposal for the NEOM Spine, which earned his team the prestigious 2020 Bechtel Global Marketing and Business Development Award.
McDaniel has become recognized for his thought leadership in urban innovation, sustainability, and the future of cities. His forthcoming book, Citizen One: Our Cities, Ourselves, and Our Uncertain yet Extraordinary Future (Fast Company Press, 2025), further delves into these themes, offering a visionary blueprint for a more resilient, collaborative, and human-centered future.
McDaniel's work has always sought to provoke dialogue and inspire action, whether through consulting, public speaking, or writing. He believes in the power of stories to challenge assumptions, spark ethical reflection, and explore the complexities of human ambition. His narrative style is sharp, immersive, and unflinchingly honest and personal, capturing both the awe and the anxiety of living in a time of unprecedented change.
Now based in Barcelona, McDaniel continues to consult on global innovation projects while developing new narratives that push the boundaries of speculative fiction and nonfiction to confront the ethical quandaries of tomorrow, today.