A Compelling Vision of the Future
“Maynard has written a thoughtful and thought-provoking response to the moment we’re in, chronicling how we got here, where we’re going, and what role we have in that journey” ―Ramona Pringle, Director of Creative Innovation Studio and Associate Professor, Ryerson University
#1 New Release in Science & Math and Physics of Time
Human beings can―and do―change the future. Humanity has gained the ability not only to imagine the future, but to design and engineer it. At times entertaining, and at others profound, Future Rising provides an original perspective on our relationship with the future.
We have a responsibility to change the future for the better. As a species, we have become talented architects of our future. And yet, we so often struggle to come to terms with what this means. As innovation and rapidly shifting norms and expectations drive our world at breakneck speed, we sometimes need to find a still, quiet place to pause and think. Future Rising sets out to create such a quiet place, where we can take advantage of our species' knowledge of world history, and the importance of science to piece together a positive future.
To create a good future, rediscover the past. Our relationship with the future is inextricably intertwined with where we've come from, who we are, and what we aspire to. Written to be easy to pick up and hard to put down, Future Rising starts at the beginning of all things with the Big Bang and traces a pathway along the emergence of intelligent life, through what makes humans uniquely capable of imagining and creating different futures.
If you enjoy nonfiction science and history books like Life 3.0, The Future of Humanity, or Superintelligence, then you'll love Future Rising. In a series of sixty short reflections, Future Rising will take you on a journey into:
- What "the future" actually is
- How it molds and guides our lives
- How we can use the history of the world to change our future
Andrew Maynard, a former physicist, is a leading expert in the responsible development of emerging and converging technologies. Over the past twenty years, he has worked closely with experts from around the world on the challenges and opportunities presented by various technologies, ranging from nanotechnology and synthetic biology to artificial intelligence.
In addition to his impressive list of academic publications, Andrew writes for media platforms such as The Conversation, maintains a blog on technology and society called 2020 Science, produces the YouTube channel Risk Bites, and is active on Twitter @2020science. Andrew also regularly appears on radio and is a sought-out speaker on emerging and converging technologies.
Andrew is currently a professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society at Arizona State University, and Director of the ASU Risk Innovation Lab. He is a leading expert on the risks and benefits of nanotechnology, and he has testified before congressional committees and served on National Academy of Sciences committees. He is actively involved with the World Economic Forum and previously chaired the Global Agenda Council on Emerging Technologies. Andrew has a PhD in Physics from the University of Cambridge, UK.
Cady Coleman is a scientist, wife, mother, pilot, musician, retired NASA Astronaut and a veteran of two Space Shuttle missions and a six-month trip aboard the International Space Station (ISS)
