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What's Next?: Dispatches on the Future of Science
by
Max Brockman
Will climate change force a massive human migration to the Northern Rim?
How does our sense of morality arise from the structure of the brain?
What does the latest research in language acquisition tells us about the role of culture in the way we think?
What does current neurological research tell us about the nature of time?
This wide-ranging collection of never-before-publ...more
How does our sense of morality arise from the structure of the brain?
What does the latest research in language acquisition tells us about the role of culture in the way we think?
What does current neurological research tell us about the nature of time?
This wide-ranging collection of never-before-publ...more
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
May 26th 2009
by Vintage
(first published 2009)
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If this collection of essays is representative of where science is headed in the next decade or two, we can look forward to better understanding of human cognition, social/behavorial psychology, evolutionary biology, and climate change, not to mention more overlap between these fields. But IS it a representative collection? -- I was a little disappointed that the book didn't address obvious hot topics in more technological areas, such as particle physics, green energy, nanotechnology, or artific...more
The latest developments in science are the source of enduring fascination, by both the insiders and outsiders of the scientific community. Even more fascinating are the speculations about what may lay just around the corner, within next few years or decades of scientific research. The future always tends to be more exciting than even the most amazing advances of today. In that respect, this book is a very good overview of the status of some of the most advanced current research and the direction...more
I tend to agree with the comments made by David Giltinan (click on the book cover to check out his extensive review). Despite the fact that I like this type of book to keep up to date with various developments, this turned out to be a disappointment.
Indeed, the subjects are interesting, as is the apparent emphasis on neurological research (the essay on memory enhancement/erasure was particularly chilly...) but the fact that each researcher's literary style differed substantially (in my opinion)...more
Indeed, the subjects are interesting, as is the apparent emphasis on neurological research (the essay on memory enhancement/erasure was particularly chilly...) but the fact that each researcher's literary style differed substantially (in my opinion)...more
This collection was a disappointment. On the cover blurb Daniel Gilbert ("Stumbling on happiness") invites us to "find out what the best minds of the new generation are thinking before the Nobel Committee does". Let's be clear upfront - this book is not going to help you to do that. Fair enough - this wouldn't be the first book that fails to live up to its jacket-cover hype.
To understand why it doesn't, it is useful to consider Max Brockman's credentials: "Max Brockman is a literary agent at Bro...more
To understand why it doesn't, it is useful to consider Max Brockman's credentials: "Max Brockman is a literary agent at Bro...more
The title of this book is quite deceiving; the essays do not cover the gamut of science research, as two-thirds deal with neuroscience. Most areas of science are not even mentioned. Also, most of the essays are not about the future of science, but instead are about recent (and not-so-recent) findings in science.
Nevertheless, this is a fun, fascinating book. I particularly enjoyed the essay on the influence of language on human thinking. People with different native languages really do think diff...more
Nevertheless, this is a fun, fascinating book. I particularly enjoyed the essay on the influence of language on human thinking. People with different native languages really do think diff...more
Jul 10, 2010
Upom
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
science,
neuroscience,
biotechnology,
physics,
essays,
climate-change,
evolutionary-biology,
evolution,
biology,
nonfiction
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
For anyone who wonders what the near future holds and what exactly are all those scientists doing with the grants and tax dollar funding they receive, What’s Next? is a book with some answers. Featuring eighteen original essays that have never been published from some of today’s best scientists, What’s Next? will insight a curiosity in the reader on advances and research that is being made in the many fields of science.
While a little patience and perhaps some scientific background is recommended...more
While a little patience and perhaps some scientific background is recommended...more
Apr 10, 2009
Josephine
is currently reading it
I added this anthology to my "to read list" after hearing a fascinating article on NPR about Lera Boroditsky's essay, "How Does Our Language Shape the Way We Think?"
Boroditsky, who teaches psychology at Stanford University, discusses how the latest research in language acquisition tells us about the role of culture in the way we think. (To be released 05/09.)
Listen or read the NPR article here: http://bit.ly/3YE7c3
Boroditsky, who teaches psychology at Stanford University, discusses how the latest research in language acquisition tells us about the role of culture in the way we think. (To be released 05/09.)
Listen or read the NPR article here: http://bit.ly/3YE7c3
An ok book. Not very telling of what the future might hold, way too basic and dated even though its only a year or so old. I enjoyed some of it, thought most was just average. I enjoyed the essay about social insects and the last essay about science managing to stay interdisciplinary most.
A mixed bag of scientific writings, cant say much about it.
A mixed bag of scientific writings, cant say much about it.
Oct 03, 2009
Shinynickel
marked it as to-read
Off this review:
What’s Next: Dispatches on the Future of Science
Edited by Max Brockman (Vintage)
This tightly curated batch of original essays, edited by Edge Foundation, Inc.’s Max Brockman, introduces readers to 18 young scientists whose work is actively shaping our future. Each entry introduces a piece of leading-edge research, delving into everything from experimental manipulations of time perception and the role of mirror neurons in ethics to the ways that climate change may affect our migra...more
What’s Next: Dispatches on the Future of Science
Edited by Max Brockman (Vintage)
This tightly curated batch of original essays, edited by Edge Foundation, Inc.’s Max Brockman, introduces readers to 18 young scientists whose work is actively shaping our future. Each entry introduces a piece of leading-edge research, delving into everything from experimental manipulations of time perception and the role of mirror neurons in ethics to the ways that climate change may affect our migra...more
I love reading articles on the edge.org especially the answers to the annual question. Max Brockman is the son of edge.org founder, John Brockman, and is following in his fathers footsteps by publishing cutting edge science by up-coming scientists. Most of the essays are about neuroscience and evolutionary biology. It would have been nice to have the topics spread out across other disciplines - thus, 4 stars instead of 5. If you like Steven Pinker, you'll love this.
Contains a number of fascinating topics that modern scientists are studying. It gives a good range of theories, providing just enough information for an overview. I have been encouraged to look further into some of the ideas based on what I read here.
A great book that covers a wide variety of subjects focusing on the current trends in science. Short essay length chapters, each written by a 'younger' scientist on topics ranging from physics, biology, cognitive science and collaboration across scientific fields. A few of the essays are really terrific and the book as a whole is worth a read.
Max Brockman has assembled a very interesting collection of essays from up-and-coming thought leaders in a variety of scientific areas. One essay that caught my eye is the one by Matthew Lieberman called �What Makes Ideas Sticky?� It is not only an interesting discussion on how the human brain gets affected (or infected) by memes but also theories about this very subject that are sticky and difficult to dislodge from the scientific community. He suggests that the language of some big ideas t...more
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Sean Carroll's article is the best. ( I hope they'll find the Higgs boson, so everything'll change and I don't have to read his big book about spacetime geometery ) ~
A wonderful collection of thought-provoking essays musing on the cutting edge of life science today (or, at least, 2007).
Aug 02, 2011
Anibal
added it
Essays from people you should watch if you want to be informed about the science of the future
Jul 23, 2011
Elizabeth Moffat
added it
Good book of essays, especially enjoyed the neuroscience, psychology and language acquisition ones although all are interesting even if the psychics goes right over your head like it did me!
Some very thought-provoking essays about cosmology and neurobiology. The more philosophical essays left me cold.
My kind of book.
This book contains several essays about current scientific thought and research. Though some of the material was a little over my head, most of the essays were very thought provoking and exciting.
Great essays from scientists discussing questions they believe will be of interest in the future. I loved this book, extremely smart and intelligent, something to re-read and talk about!
The book explores different areas of science through the eyes of young scientists. Some entries are much better than others, ergo the three-star rating.
last chapter is the one to read-- talks about knowledge and cross-disciplinary and silo-breaking ways to broaden realms of knowable/workable information rather than become isolated by narrowness/specialization.
Jun 12, 2013
Laura Grow-nyberg
marked it as to-read
May 29, 2013
A.dada
marked it as to-read
May 29, 2013
Satenik Petrossian
marked it as to-read
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