The Next Fifty Years: Science in the First Half of the Twenty-First Century (Abridged)

by John Brockman Narrated by Henry Levya, Jennifer Wiltsie, Oliver Wyman, Simon Prebble

Overview

A brilliant ensemble of the world's most visionary scientists provides twenty-five original never-before-published essays about the advances in science and technology that we may see within our lifetimes.

Theoretical physicist and bestselling author Paul Davies examines the likelihood that by the year 2050 we will be able to establish a continuing human presence on Mars. Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi investigates the ramifications of engineering high-IQ, geneticially happy babies. Psychiatrist Nancy Etcoff explains current research into the creation of emotion-sensing jewelry that could gauge our moods and tell us when to take an anti-depressant pill. And evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins explores the probability that we will soon be able to obtain a genome printout that predicts our natural end for the same cost as a chest x-ray. (Will we want to read it? And will insurance companies and governments have access to it?) This fascinating and unprecedented book explores not only the practical possibilities of the near future, but also the social and political ramifications of the developments of the strange new world to come.

Also includes original essays by:

Lee Smolin
Martin Rees
Ian Stewart
Brian Goodwin
Marc D. Hauser
Alison Gopnik
Paul Bloom
Geoffrey Miller
Robert M. Sapolsky
Steven Strogatz
Stuart Kauffman
John H. Holland
Rodney Brooks
Peter Atkins
Roger C. Schank
Jaron Lanier
David Gelernter
Joseph LeDoux
Judith Rich Harris
Samuel Barondes
Paul W. Ewald

Editorial Reviews

DEC 02/JAN 03 - AudioFile

Twenty-five essays written by high-powered scientists look at what the future holds for their discipline. Most authors start with the status quo to provide background for their look forward, with an evolutionary biologist predicting a cheap gene analysis that will predict our natural end. Having three good readers adept at esoteric scientific vocabulary and taking turns with the brief compositions allows listeners to realize when the author has changed. They also demonstrate how a skilled narrator can add a nice flavor to insipid facts. The sophistication of the articles may challenge nonscience majors but will thrill minds looking for audiobooks a cut above the usual bestseller. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

DEC 02/JAN 03 - AudioFile

Twenty-five essays written by high-powered scientists look at what the future holds for their discipline. Most authors start with the status quo to provide background for their look forward, with an evolutionary biologist predicting a cheap gene analysis that will predict our natural end. Having three good readers adept at esoteric scientific vocabulary and taking turns with the brief compositions allows listeners to realize when the author has changed. They also demonstrate how a skilled narrator can add a nice flavor to insipid facts. The sophistication of the articles may challenge nonscience majors but will thrill minds looking for audiobooks a cut above the usual bestseller. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169379518
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	05/14/2002
Edition description:	Abridged

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