| Description |
xvii, 414 pages ; 24 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 383-395) and index. |
| Contents |
A glimpse of the future -- Part one. An introduction to the future: 1. Futurism, days future passed -- 2. A brief history of the future -- 3. The science of futurism -- Future fiction: 2063 CE -- Part two. Today's technology that will shape tomorrow (and tomorrow and tomorrow...) -- 4. Genetic manipulation -- 5. Stem cell technology -- 6. |
| Summary |
"Our predictions of the future are a wild fantasy, inextricably linked to our present hopes and fears, biases and ignorance. Whether they be the outlandish leaps predicted in the 1920s, like multi-purpose utility belts with climate control capabilities and planes the size of luxury cruise ships, or the forecasts of the '60s, which didn't anticipate the sexual revolution or women's liberation, the path to the present is littered with failed predictions and incorrect estimations. The best we can do is try to absorb the lessons from futurism's checkered past, perhaps learning to do a little better. In THE SKEPTICS' GUIDE TO THE FUTURE, Steven Novella and his co-authors build upon the work of futurists of the past by examining what they got right, what they got wrong, and how they came to those conclusions. By exploring the pitfalls of each era, they give their own speculations about the distant future, transformed by unbelievable technology ranging from genetic manipulation to artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Applying their trademark skepticism, they carefully extrapolate upon each scientific development, leaving no stone unturned as they lay out a vision for the future."-- Provided by publisher. |
| Subject |
Science -- Popular works.
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Science -- Forecasting -- Popular works.
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Technological forecasting -- Popular works.
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| Added Author |
Novella, Bob, author.
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Novella, Jay, author.
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| ISBN |
9781538709542 hardcover |
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1538709546 hardcover |
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9781538709542 : HRD (hardcover) |
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1538709546 : HRD (hardcover) |
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