Alvin Toffler, the Jewish author of a series of highly influential books predicting the transformation of society has died at his home in California, aged 87.

Mr Toffler’s first book, ‘Future Shock’, discussed the social difficulties caused by rapid shifts in society, and foresaw the shift from industry to the information economy.

It popularised the term “information overload” as one of the consequences of such fast-moving change. Published in 1970, it sold millions of copies and is still in print today.

Mr Toffler wrote two more works predicting society’s future - ‘The Third Wave’ in 1980 and ‘Powershift’ in 1990.

He was born and raised in New York, the son of Polish Jewish Immigrants. In his youth he was a dedicated trade unionist and civil rights activist, helping to register black voters in North Carolina.

It was on a visit home where he met his future wife and co-author, Heidi, with whom he would spend the next 68 years. He is survived by her.