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The Next Fifty Years (Abridged): Science in the First Half of the Twenty-First Century Audiobook
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(3.00) - 187 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
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
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"Very interesting book. The title is a but misleading at times, it's more, "what we believe but haven't yet proven" than anything else.Still a good read though. "
— Chris (4 out of 5 stars)
The Next Fifty Years Listener Reviews
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" A bit dated, and short-sighted. I didn't pick up that much from this book that wasn't covered better elsewhere, or was no longer relevant. There are a couple of chapters that were worth the read, however. "
— Jonathan, 9/5/2013 -
" A nice collection of essays in a variety of fields. "
— Ben, 12/16/2012 -
" Some neat concepts. Varying writing quality (expected in a book of this type). Found it a bit dated. "
— Saur, 9/9/2012 -
" It was very interesting. Some of the articles were too technical for easy enjoyment, but the broad variety of thought on the current state and future changes in science was very enlightening. "
— Jonathan, 7/10/2012 -
" Is there a shelf for "couldn't finish reading b/c it felt a little too much like homework"? i got halfway through and really enjoyed some of the softer essays...especially the one on the science of happiness. but then whatever science kick i was on when i bought it faded and i gave it to my mom. "
— Kate, 1/25/2012 -
" Just not good. "
— Alon, 11/21/2011 -
" Interesting ideas about what will happen in the next half-century. I enjoyed the psychology articles and the ideas that we are going to genetically engineer happiness. "
— Morgan, 9/27/2011 -
" Lots of fascinating ideas here. Not all of them are amazing, but some of them are very thought provoking, like the person that actively disbelieves in their own free will. "
— Karl, 12/21/2010 -
" Vignettes from experts on the cutting edge of science, this book is just fodder for the mill of any Sci-Fi writer's mind. "
— Jason, 2/12/2009 -
" goofy cover. crucial book. the future of mankind is somewhere in these pages...who will we be? "
— Jsalem, 1/13/2009 -
" The concept behind this work was more interesting than the execution. But since it is a collection, some essays are better than others. "
— Jason, 12/20/2008
About John Brockman
John Brockman, editor of many books, including The Next Fifty Years, is also the author of By the Late John Brockman, The Third Culture, and Digerati: Encounters with the Cyber Elite. He is the founder and CEO of Brockman Inc., a literary and software agency, and the publisher and editor of the website Edge. He lives in New York City.
About the Narrators
Henry Leyva, an Earphones Award-winning narrator, is a classically trained actor with extensive work in theater, television, film, and radio. He has appeared off Broadway and in regional theaters across the country in many plays, including Romeo and Juliet, Taming of the Shrew, and Street Car Named Desire. He has also performed in audio dramas for the Syfy Channel and National Public Radio
Jennifer Wiltsie is an actress and Earphones Award–winning narrator. Her films include Wendigo, Uninvited, and The Fever. She has guest starred on HBO’s The Sopranos and Masterpiece Theatre’s Clarissa. On Broadway she has performed with Matthew Broderick in Night Must Fall, and her off-Broadway credits include Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra. In London’s West-End, she starred in Alan Ayckbourn’s revival of Absurd Person Singular.
Oliver Wyman is an actor and award-winning audiobook narrator. He has won five Audie Awards from the Audio Publisher’s Association, fourteen Earphone Awards, and two Listen Up Awards from Publisher’s Weekly. He was named a 2008 Best Voice in Nonfiction & Culture by AudioFile magazine. He has appeared on stage as well as in film and television, and he is a veteran voice actor who can be heard in numerous cartoons and video games. He is one of the founders of New York City’s Collective Unconscious theater, and his performances include the award-winning “reality play” Charlie Victor Romeo and A. R. McElhinney’s cult classic film A Chronicle of Corpses.
Simon Prebble, a British-born performer, is a stage and television actor and veteran narrator of some three hundred audiobooks. As one of AudioFile’s Golden Voices, he has received thirty-seven Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie in 2010. He lives in New York.