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perilous1's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Stars
Told in Kaku's ever amiable, conversational, and mildly optimistic voice, this book is yet another installment in the author's efforts to make physics more accessible to laymen. This being a broad overview of the near (and exceedingly distant) future speculations on how we will branch out from our little blue marble of a planet.
The first 30-40 pages were dedicated to a bit of science history rather than futuristic speculation... but I'd expect nothing less for the sake of context. (Past progression can be a fair-enough indicator of future patterns.)
Kaku has a persuasive way of explaining things concerning the exploration of our immediate solar system, reasoning it out to be not just possible, but inevitable--and even potentially lucrative (and really, therein lies the most realistic motivation.) There are also monetary mentionings of how logical corners can be cut and costs reduced via innovations over time. Some of which we can already see with entrepenurial efforts such as Space X and Blue Origin offering alternatives and cooperative hands to NASA.
The part on Terraforming Mars was easily my favorite. (Although, I would have liked to see more on possible terraforming methods in general.) By all accounts, Mars would need some extensive environmental renovations. And...you know...a passable magnetic field. >.> Kaku is an anchor of reality when it comes to supposing how many long decades, if not centuries, it would take us to work out erecting and stabilizing a habitable atmosphere on a world that long-dead.
I was rather disappointed that Kaku at one point tried to use the biblical Garden of Eden account as an analogy without actually knowing it... (Someone PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong on this--I badly want to be, and I listened to this in audiobook, so I wasn't able to go back and verify... But I was left with the impression that the author apparently thinks Adam and Eve were thrown out of the garden for seeking immortality... unaware that they actually started out with it, and lost it.)
I don't know that his attempts at mythos tie-ins were particularly relevant or useful. But aside from that, the information he offers--while a glancing and broad overview--is certainly fuel for the curious and the imaginative.
Told in Kaku's ever amiable, conversational, and mildly optimistic voice, this book is yet another installment in the author's efforts to make physics more accessible to laymen. This being a broad overview of the near (and exceedingly distant) future speculations on how we will branch out from our little blue marble of a planet.
The first 30-40 pages were dedicated to a bit of science history rather than futuristic speculation... but I'd expect nothing less for the sake of context. (Past progression can be a fair-enough indicator of future patterns.)
Kaku has a persuasive way of explaining things concerning the exploration of our immediate solar system, reasoning it out to be not just possible, but inevitable--and even potentially lucrative (and really, therein lies the most realistic motivation.) There are also monetary mentionings of how logical corners can be cut and costs reduced via innovations over time. Some of which we can already see with entrepenurial efforts such as Space X and Blue Origin offering alternatives and cooperative hands to NASA.
The part on Terraforming Mars was easily my favorite. (Although, I would have liked to see more on possible terraforming methods in general.) By all accounts, Mars would need some extensive environmental renovations. And...you know...a passable magnetic field. >.> Kaku is an anchor of reality when it comes to supposing how many long decades, if not centuries, it would take us to work out erecting and stabilizing a habitable atmosphere on a world that long-dead.
I was rather disappointed that Kaku at one point tried to use the biblical Garden of Eden account as an analogy without actually knowing it... (Someone PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong on this--I badly want to be, and I listened to this in audiobook, so I wasn't able to go back and verify... But I was left with the impression that the author apparently thinks Adam and Eve were thrown out of the garden for seeking immortality... unaware that they actually started out with it, and lost it.)
I don't know that his attempts at mythos tie-ins were particularly relevant or useful. But aside from that, the information he offers--while a glancing and broad overview--is certainly fuel for the curious and the imaginative.
danielbeer's review against another edition
4.0
Very fascinating read and quite easy to get hooked in with Dr. Michio Kaku's style of writing. As always, Dr. Kaku does a fantastic job of tickling the part of the brain that gets one excited for the future possibilities of science and technology. The only thing keeping me from giving a higher score is that Dr. Kaku has once again fallen into his usual rhythm of overly-fantasized conjecture, particularly when he talks about his own area of expertise: theoretical physics. I won't doubt the possibilities, but a physicist of his level should perhaps consider emphasizing just how unlikely some of these things are. Postulating that we could see the use of his laser-porting concept "within the next century or so" is particularly far-fetched. Despite all that, this is still a book I would highly recommend for fans of astronomy, space exploration, and the future of technology. It certainly makes one think about what may be possible in the future.
xenlinde's review against another edition
4.0
Well, it got me to watch The Martian. Overall, this was a very interesting book. 90% of it seemed to stay at a level that would allow someone without a science degree to
understand what was being discussed.
understand what was being discussed.
reading_1's review against another edition
2.75
A book that devolves fast into absurd popscience "thought experiments". A good introduction to this field for a layperson, as seen in previous reviews but these kind of books that put more effort in sensationalism than science do more bad than good in the long run.
kabelon97's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
2.75
Good book. Very accessible for people interested in science but have not yet studied it in University as he always explains the scientific jargon in the book.
kb_208's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoy Kaku's future technology books. They are always very engaging and give a positive outlook on the world with science and technology. In this book he explores the idea of human's exploring the solar system and beyond and eventually colonizing other worlds far beyond Earth. He gives estimations of times and ways these feats could be accomplished.
My only issue with this book is, if you have read his others books that came before, there is a lot of redundant information that he gives in prior books. It's a small issue, because it is still interesting reading about future science possibilities and he is telling it in a different way with a new focus.
My only issue with this book is, if you have read his others books that came before, there is a lot of redundant information that he gives in prior books. It's a small issue, because it is still interesting reading about future science possibilities and he is telling it in a different way with a new focus.
lukaron's review against another edition
5.0
I can't express enough how much I love Dr. Kaku's books. He breaks down high-level physics into a format easily digestible by even those with no passing knowledge of science or math and presents this information in such a way as to be very engaging and informative. I started reading his works back in 2006 with his book "Hyperspace," and have made it a point to pick up every new one he publishes. This book, as the title suggests, focuses on the steps required and potential reality ahead of us as we expand upon our nascent efforts to colonize the moon and Mars. As in his previous works, he seeks information from the top minds in all relevant fields of science and technology and uses this data to draw conclusions about potential future developments.
I highly recommend this and ALL of Dr. Kaku's books for anyone with an interest in cutting-edge science and the direction we are taking as a species.
My wife and I had the fortune of meeting Dr. Kaku in Washington D.C. at a book-signing after a talk he gave and the man is incredible.
I highly recommend this and ALL of Dr. Kaku's books for anyone with an interest in cutting-edge science and the direction we are taking as a species.
My wife and I had the fortune of meeting Dr. Kaku in Washington D.C. at a book-signing after a talk he gave and the man is incredible.
kelseysej's review against another edition
3.0
The best parts of this book were the parts grounded in fact and current scientific research. The worst parts where the speculative science; that's why we have science fiction. Overall, very split on the book. Was it interesting? Yes. Could it/Should it have been shorter? Yes.
davecapp's review against another edition
3.0
For those readers looking to get out of the proverbial box of linear thinking, Dr. Kaku has a solution. This book is an exploration of the possibilities of science as mankind journeys to the stars. It begins with a bit of history and then makes logical steps, driven by ideas around the technologies that will be needed, for the evolution of our species from planet based, to solar system based, and eventually to a galactic focused species. Dr. Kaku references (and explains) quantum theory, string theory, light sails, Ion drives, worm holes, and everything in between, while giving his views on the viability of each in our overall transformation as a species. Asimov fans will love the many references to the Foundation and Empire series. Overall an interesting read, for those looking to expand their horizons a bit.
amanda_g_s's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0