Scan barcode
jpelder1's review against another edition
5.0
As someone who love SMBC and learning about scientific advances in a variety of fields, I'm pretty much the target market for this book. I learned a lot and laughed a lot
pipareykir's review
4.0
SCIENCE (FICTION)! Although sometimes dense, the subjects treated have a good amount of humour strewn through it to keep it light.
The chapters on handling bio... stuff ended up to be more of an ethical discussion more than a practical discussion (for instance: at what point are we willing to stop brain-computer interfaces? Helping paralyzed people is laudable, but at some point *some* trader is going to use it to make quicker decisions and have an edge over his competitors/complete monopoly over the market).
The chapters on handling bio... stuff ended up to be more of an ethical discussion more than a practical discussion (for instance: at what point are we willing to stop brain-computer interfaces? Helping paralyzed people is laudable, but at some point *some* trader is going to use it to make quicker decisions and have an edge over his competitors/complete monopoly over the market).
ineffablebob's review against another edition
funny
informative
slow-paced
4.25
I am both the target audience for pop science books about near-future tech, and perhaps not exactly the ideal reader. I love to learn about all things science, particularly the new and exciting development, so that part is perfect. But I consume so much media on similar topics - podcasts, documentaries, other books - that a lot of what is covered here was already familiar to me. The authors did a good job explaining in an interesting way, certainly, and there's enough humor to break up any boredom from jargon or long explanations. Even though it wasn't really new territory for me, I enjoyed the read, and anyone not familiar with what's going on in these areas of scientific and technological development should get a lot more out of it. It will be interesting to look back on this in 10 or 15 years and see just how much things have changed - as predicted, or in completely different directions.
jandi's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very accessible overview of the current state of research into emerging technologies, from space exploration and multipurpose robots to medical innovations. Each technology receives a chapter, with a few pages for each of several different avenues to tackling the problem. The explanations are reasonably simple to follow, and are interweaved with single panel comics that mostly poke fun at the authors. The one thing that I felt was lacking was technical illustrations; it was not straightforward to visualize some of the solutions (particularly on the space and robotis related chapters), I would have far preferred that to the comics.
Very interesting read, and it is also a fast read (it took me a very long time to get through it because I was reading it one solution at a time along with breakfast).
Very interesting read, and it is also a fast read (it took me a very long time to get through it because I was reading it one solution at a time along with breakfast).
reasie's review against another edition
4.0
A fun mix of popular science and humor. Perhaps the best thing about the book is that it imparts a sense of hopeful optimism, that science is progressing in thousands of ways around us, and while 3d printed livers and space elevators are a while away, researchers looking toward these technologies are inventing super strong fibers and printable blood vessels along the way.
Also it offers important life advice. How to get on the inside track in the science field of your choice? Bribe researchers with cookies. Cheap ones are good enough. How to avoid the robot apocolypse? Don't accept their cookies. (Evidence is offered for both of these theories and yes, it's kind of related.)
Also it offers important life advice. How to get on the inside track in the science field of your choice? Bribe researchers with cookies. Cheap ones are good enough. How to avoid the robot apocolypse? Don't accept their cookies. (Evidence is offered for both of these theories and yes, it's kind of related.)
chris_davies's review against another edition
2.0
This one didn't really work for me, I'm afraid. Some of the science is interesting - particularly in the early chapters - but it's all a bit superficial. The humour misses its mark and I didn't find the cartoons were funny or added anything. This is also a very 'American' book - as a British reader I missed a number of the references and the pally tone grated a bit.
Overall, it was OK - the absolute definition of a two star read for me. But if you are looking for an entertaining book about science with cartoons, I suggest you pick up something by Randall Monroe instead.
Overall, it was OK - the absolute definition of a two star read for me. But if you are looking for an entertaining book about science with cartoons, I suggest you pick up something by Randall Monroe instead.
jonknightknighthunterbooks's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
I am not a big non-fiction reader. (Alas, I am a bigger non-fic _buyer_.) I have however, read the webcomic SMBC for what is certainly a decade, but might be two, so I was hoping I would get on with the author's voice - and it turned out I did.
I really appreciated the combination of depth of explanation (particularly when the bits that overlap with my knowledge base are right) and breadth. The latter is not so much on fields discussed - there are ten fields discussed - but the fact that the authors consider not just the pure science of the fields, but also the ethical, economic and regulatory dimensions (both of their development, and of sudden breakthroughs).
All of this to say the book is, pacy, funny, and where I have any prior knowledge (admittedly very small!), accurate.
I really appreciated the combination of depth of explanation (particularly when the bits that overlap with my knowledge base are right) and breadth. The latter is not so much on fields discussed - there are ten fields discussed - but the fact that the authors consider not just the pure science of the fields, but also the ethical, economic and regulatory dimensions (both of their development, and of sudden breakthroughs).
All of this to say the book is, pacy, funny, and where I have any prior knowledge (admittedly very small!), accurate.