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The Precipice
- Existential Risk and the Future of Humanity
- Narrated by: Toby Ord
- Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
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The Precipice
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Summary
This urgent and eye-opening book makes the case that protecting humanity's future is the central challenge of our time.
If all goes well, human history is just beginning. Our species could survive for billions of years - enough time to end disease, poverty, and injustice, and to flourish in ways unimaginable today. But this vast future is at risk. With the advent of nuclear weapons, humanity entered a new age, where we face existential catastrophes - those from which we could never come back. Since then, these dangers have only multiplied, from climate change to engineered pathogens and artificial intelligence. If we do not act fast to reach a place of safety, it will soon be too late.
Drawing on over a decade of research, The Precipice explores the cutting-edge science behind the risks we face. It puts them in the context of the greater story of humanity: showing how ending these risks is among the most pressing moral issues of our time. And it points the way forward, to the actions and strategies that can safeguard humanity.
An Oxford philosopher committed to putting ideas into action, Toby Ord has advised the US National Intelligence Council, the UK Prime Minister's Office, and the World Bank on the biggest questions facing humanity. In The Precipice, he offers a startling reassessment of human history, the future we are failing to protect, and the steps we must take to ensure that our generation is not the last.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jo Pearson
- 09-11-20
A precise exploration of existential risks
A fascinating book on a heady subject. I find that authors occasionally struggle when trying to thread the needle between usefulness and accessability, but Ord has no such issues. This works' tone and flow resembles that of an extended essay, and this is a particularly masterful one. In terms of feel and clarity of thought, this book reminded me most of Enlightenment texts by the likes of Thomas Paine. Ord's language is always only as technical as it needs to be, but without ever becoming so oversimplified as to be patronising. Regarding the book's structure, approximately the first quarter of the book is concerned with setting out the exact parameters of this exploration of existential risk. The second and third quarters are concerned with the identity and likelihood of the risks themselves. The fourth quarter is concerned with what I can only describe as 'an appeal to a better future'. Perhaps it is because I am already overwhelmingly in agreement with Ord before starting this book, but this final set of chapters is much weaker and more speculative than those that preceded it, and is the only reason this book doesn't rate a perfect score from me. But overall, this is a supremely worthy text for anyone who is interested in humanity's long-term future. Listening to it gives one what you might describe as 'a heady dose of perspective', which is something we certainly need more of.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- john
- 04-08-21
Broad and deep assessment of existential risks
Excellent analysis and thorough understanding of megatrends. Unusual in appraising each with statistical rigour leading to recommendations and actions we should take.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Lara Reusch
- 03-08-20
The future of humanity
A thoroughly researched and well argued work, brimming with information and insights. One of its most admirable qualities is that it is, quite deliberately, not the final word on the matter.
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- jellyberg
- 02-09-21
An immensely important book
Toby Ord lays out, elegantly, carefully, and passionately, the case for not safeguarding our future being a critical priority, and some steps towards how we do it.
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- Anonymous User
- 10-04-21
A book everyone should read
I was aware of a good bit of the content already from different books hit it didn't substract from this at all. The author does a fantastic job at bringing all the elements into a common currency, so you can clearly see and compare the different risks we face. What I enjoyed even more was the picture he paints of our potential, the possibility of our nearly endless discovery of the cosmos and the near infinity we have to do it, if we don't f**k up right now.
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- Amazon Customer
- 17-07-20
Tour de Force!
Excellent survey of the threats to human survival and what could or should be done to counter them. And the final chapter is a lyrical inspiring clarion call as to why humanity needs s grand strategy to maximise its potential.
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- Lucia
- 16-01-24
All of it.
As a Philosopher, I thought that Toby had done really well as PHYSICIST. He had certainly done his Homework. A jolly good read, or listen.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Lauren Blunt
- 09-09-20
Very insightful
I would definitely recommend this book. Really eye opening and insightful. Something everyone should read.
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- Anonymous User
- 05-05-20
A neglected story, an inspiring framing
Subject: the past, present and future (maybe) of humanity/earth-based life. Contents: profound insights, thoroughly researched ideas, transparent reasoning, thoughtful conclusions; a compelling story and vision for humanity. Significance: simultaneously obvious and profound; a clear statement of ideas with huge importance and universal appeal; ideas which are currently shockingly neglected.
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- Mr D
- 05-05-20
Long Term Thinking
Where are we heading? Towards a grim fate of AI or Nuclear Holocaust? Or into the vastness of space and a trillion years of exploration and development. We may never know, but the future of humanity will.
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