Publishers Weekly
08/28/2023
The unsatisfying latest from Ingram (The Science of Why), the former host of Discovery Channel Canada’s Daily Planet, muses on how coming technological advances might influence how humans live. Unfortunately, Ingram’s commentary is largely familiar and superficial. Examining the future of aging, he repeats the common prediction that the “first 150-year-old is already alive today” and notes that “scientists are now hot on the trail of identifying the substance(s) in the blood that could be responsible for literally turning back the clock” without further discussing the research. He also comes up short in interpreting his data, as when he strings together brief anecdotes about the “well-planned public transit” in Curitiba, Brazil; the high-tech methods Chattanooga, Tenn., has implemented to ease traffic; and Seoul’s mass surveillance to make the obvious point that “enhanced technology will be ubiquitous in how cities are shaped.” Despite touching on such potentially fascinating topics as the benefits of lab-grown pet foods, advances in prosthetic limbs, and strategies for mitigating climate change, the discussions are cursory and feel rudderless in the absence of overarching analysis tying the disparate evidence together. Readers curious about the future would be better off with a Magic 8 Ball. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
We are the only species on Earth capable of radically changing our future. In The Future of Us, Jay Ingram expertly reveals how state of the art science and technology is transforming the human body and the planetary body. From evolving extra fingers to cyborgs and from ‘sponge cities’ to space colonies, this book is an essential guide to understanding the challenges and opportunities for humanity’s survival in the years ahead.”
— ZIYA TONG, award-winning broadcaster and author of The Reality Bubble
“Jay’s done it again, pulling threads from the past, present, and future to spin a surprising tale about where we’re headed as a species. I give The Future of Us two thumbs up . . . (and if Jay’s right about our future, maybe soon I’ll give it three or four!)”
— DAN RISKIN, evolutionary biologist, author, and former cohost of Daily Planet on Discovery
“Readers couldn't ask for a better guide through the weird and wonderful near future than Jay Ingram. In spite of the sometimes-troubling views of the world to come, Ingram writes with a clear sense of hope for a better tomorrow.”
— MARCELLO DI CINTIO, award-winning author of Walls and Driven
“In his fascinating book The Future of Us, author Jay Ingram pulls back the curtain on what our future might hold. While highlighting the promise of emerging innovations such as geoengineering, AI, and vertical farms, Jay also shines a critical light on impracticalities and ethical implications. This book is a must-read for anyone who desires a comprehensive and well-documented look at where the future is leading us, while avoiding the hype and technocratic jargon.”
— ROBERT THIRSK, former Canadian Space Agency astronaut
