Imagine, if you can, the world in the year 2100.
In Physics of the Future, Michio Kaku—the New York Times best...
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Oct 02, 2011
Colin
rated it: 
Wow. I'm super excited about the future! Michio Kaku connects work being accomplished the labs with the applications in the future. This isn't about imagining some mythical utopia, but looking at the discoveries and inventions that exist today and how they can be combined and utilized in the future once the economies of scale and mass production are flushed out.
For example: We already can remotely control micro robots and we have the ability to analyze cells on a single micro chip. More...
For example: We already can remotely control micro robots and we have the ability to analyze cells on a single micro chip. More...
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Feb 06, 2012
John
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According to Michio Kaku over the next century via nanotechnology our bodies will be chock full of tiny computers which will keep us healthy and happy. Imagine that, no longer do you have to download prurient photos of Betty Crocker (and who hasn't) and be compelled to have this becoming image filtered through your cornea – by golly you might download Betty and her muffins directly to the appropriate body part.
We will have flying cars and computers in our contact lenses. We will be More...
We will have flying cars and computers in our contact lenses. We will be More...
Nov 25, 2011
Robert
rated it: 
I got this book out of the local library because I heard the author on NPR and the book sounded interesting. I'm doing research for a near-future sci-fi novel and this sounded right up my alley.
First of all, the title is a misnomer. This book should be called Technology of the Future, as it's only tangentially about physics. The prose is painfully bad at times, tending toward cliches and mixed metaphors. Consider this gem, for example:
"Like a kid in a candy store, he del More...
First of all, the title is a misnomer. This book should be called Technology of the Future, as it's only tangentially about physics. The prose is painfully bad at times, tending toward cliches and mixed metaphors. Consider this gem, for example:
"Like a kid in a candy store, he del More...
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Oct 29, 2011
Jeffrey
rated it:
A fascinating look at how the world might change in the future, while also giving some good basic information on various subjects - for example, Kaku breaks down how gene therapy works, and also what it could lead to. Kaku's style of writing is informative and accessible, and the only time I found myself starting to lose focus was during the fictional narrative covering a typical day in 2100. In a way, that section suffers from a lack of imagination in what people would be like, despite having w
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Sep 25, 2011
Dave
rated it: 
It's not bad, it's just not great either.
I quickly got tired of the tone, which seems melodramatic. He talks incessantly about reclaiming the power described of ancient gods like the Greeks'.
It also takes a while to get going, and to understand the structure, which takes an area of technology and then explores it near, mid, and long term future.
After all of that, I felt like I had heard of most of the technologies he talks about before. The most interesting parts ar More...
I quickly got tired of the tone, which seems melodramatic. He talks incessantly about reclaiming the power described of ancient gods like the Greeks'.
It also takes a while to get going, and to understand the structure, which takes an area of technology and then explores it near, mid, and long term future.
After all of that, I felt like I had heard of most of the technologies he talks about before. The most interesting parts ar More...
Jun 24, 2011
Jorge
rated it: 
Physics of the Future by Michio Kaku
"Physics of the Future" is a fabulous, thought-provoking, engaging and accessible book on the physics of the future. What sets this book apart, is Dr. Kaku's prodigious knowledge and his innate ability to convey complex topics in an engaging conversational manner. This fantastic 416-page book is composed of the following nine chapters: 1. Future of the Computer: Mind over Matter, 2. Future of AI: Rise of the Machines, 3. Future of Medici More...
"Physics of the Future" is a fabulous, thought-provoking, engaging and accessible book on the physics of the future. What sets this book apart, is Dr. Kaku's prodigious knowledge and his innate ability to convey complex topics in an engaging conversational manner. This fantastic 416-page book is composed of the following nine chapters: 1. Future of the Computer: Mind over Matter, 2. Future of AI: Rise of the Machines, 3. Future of Medici More...
May 18, 2011
Michael
rated it:
When I was little I had a book about what would happen in the future, and it was one of my favorite things. Heavy on illustrations. I remember that the pictures were of people in floating cars, buildings under water, that sort of thing. Fanciful and mostly just made up, but tons of fun to think about. I am wishing right now I knew where it was. I guess there's no way that book or anyone could have imagined what actually has happened! Much more impressive in many ways. Hell, the internet came out
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May 05, 2011
Jimmy
rated it:
This book is very much like Visions, another book written by Kaku published in the 1990s. In both books, he attempts to predict technological advancements and its implications to people living in the future. What sets this book different than so many others is that Kaku calls himself an "insider" (Kaku is a world renowned theoretical physicist who works on string theory). With his connections, he is able to actually interview and get input from the scientists and engineers who actually
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May 01, 2011
Gendou
rated it: 
This books is more about the TECHNOLOGY of the future than the physics thereof.
Really, if you've kept up with Tech news, you can just skip reading this book...
I counted no fewer than 34 references to "God" or "gods", a bad sign on it's own.
There is more time dedicated to ancient mythology than to actual physics!
The most annoying is the indicative future used without proper qualifiers.
For example, he says something "will happen", instead of e More...
Really, if you've kept up with Tech news, you can just skip reading this book...
I counted no fewer than 34 references to "God" or "gods", a bad sign on it's own.
There is more time dedicated to ancient mythology than to actual physics!
The most annoying is the indicative future used without proper qualifiers.
For example, he says something "will happen", instead of e More...
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Jul 24, 2011
David
rated it:
Entertaining and very readable, Dr. Michio Kaku gives the account of a physicist's point-of-view towards what we can expect in scientific advancements in the next 100 years, focusing heavily on the increased development of robotics, use of magnetism, cellular and software technology, and nanotechnology. The author deals with genetic research, the facts - not the moral arguments. There are nine chapters followed by an entertaining epilogue dealing with a day in the life of 2100. This 2011 rele
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Jul 06, 2011
Amber
rated it:
This is an interesting book about how technology--I suspect some chemists and biologists would quibble with everything described in the book being called physics--is likely to change the world over the next 100 years. The author's experience in writing for broad audiences is clear, and he does a very good job describing these technologies in plain terms. Interestingly, most of this technology has already been developed, it "only" needs to be commercialized in the years to come.
Some of More...
Some of More...
Oct 14, 2011
Marks54
rated it:
The book was extremely informative about current trends in science (and some technology). It lives up to its title in discussing physics of the future. The author is a skilled writer who is gifted at communicating highly abstract and obscure ideas.
So why only two stars?
I did have some issues with the overall books and how this project was carried out. Some were more troubling than others. The major issues include:
1) Too much scientific triumphalism -- The clear More...
So why only two stars?
I did have some issues with the overall books and how this project was carried out. Some were more troubling than others. The major issues include:
1) Too much scientific triumphalism -- The clear More...
Jun 05, 2011
Mike
rated it:
Excellent when Kaku focuses on technology, physics or string theory. When he veers onto other topics such as history, education, or culture Kaku produces about one WTF? statement per page. Not only are his opinions on these subjects often totally unsupported by evidence, they occasionally contradict other assertions found a few pages away. Even when Kaku sticks with what he knows, his predictions for the future seem almost laughably optimistic and naive. Every problem has a technological solutio
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Dec 08, 2011
Sharon
rated it:
Kaku knows what he's talking about; not only a physicist, he's the co-founder of string field theory. As wildly outrageous as many of his assertions may first appear, he is a man of science, interested in practical realities. In fact, much of the science he predicts for the future is in its infancy now, and as such his guesses are highly educated ones, in both senses.
And I mention that because this book really is marvelously insane. Not that I argue against most of his predictions, but More...
And I mention that because this book really is marvelously insane. Not that I argue against most of his predictions, but More...
Nov 30, 2011
David
rated it:
This book changed my life, at least for the short while I was reading it. What I mean to say is that it was good enough to disrupt my routine. I ignored meals, stayed up late, woke up early, and did whatever I could do to read just a few more pages. When I wasn't reading, or couldn't read (at work), I would catch myself researching topics brought up by Kaku. I searched for ways to introduce elements of what I had read to colleagues. I emailed passages to friends to ask what they thought.
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Apr 07, 2011
David
rated it:
I have to appreciate this ambitious book, “The Physics of the Future”. Michio Kaku is a respected physicist and a man who has the ear and the pulse of modern scientists, and he is good at communicating the marvels of science. In this book Kaku often uses the phrase “In the future…” with an interesting and timing specific target for certain advances in our human development. Many others have attempted to predict the future with lame results but Kaku has provided a rational and logical extensio
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Nov 02, 2011
Erin
rated it:
The premise of this book is absolutely fascinating. Kaku has interviewed dozens of experts in cutting-edge scientific advancements, and uses this information to make predictions about the future of computing, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, medicine, wealth & commerce, and civilization. Each chapter is divided into three sections - advancements we may see from now until about 2030, 2030 to 2070, and 2070 to the year 2100 (and of course, as expected, the further out the predictions go,
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May 06, 2011
Maciej
rated it:
Is software the real bottleneck?
"The real bottleneck is software. Creating software can be done only the old-fashioned way. A human—sitting quietly in a chair with a pencil, paper, and laptop—is going to have to write the codes, line for line, that make these imaginary worlds come to life. One can mass-produce hardware and increase its power by piling on more and more chips, but you cannot mass-produce the brain."
Michio Kaku "The Physics of the Future"
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"The real bottleneck is software. Creating software can be done only the old-fashioned way. A human—sitting quietly in a chair with a pencil, paper, and laptop—is going to have to write the codes, line for line, that make these imaginary worlds come to life. One can mass-produce hardware and increase its power by piling on more and more chips, but you cannot mass-produce the brain."
Michio Kaku "The Physics of the Future"
More...
Feb 13, 2012
Doug
rated it:
Physics of the Future takes the reader on a scientific journey through the 21st century as envioned by Dr. Michio Kaku. The book explores, among other things, anticipated advances in the fields of biotechnology, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, telecommunications and energy. Dr. Kaku is obviously an extermely smart man and is well informed in areas of science other that his specialty of high energy physics. I have no doubt that most of the advances that he envisions will come to pass, in
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Sep 01, 2011
Eric
rated it:
Not too much actual physics discussed in this book. The book is basically just an introduction to today's developing technologies and the potential implications they pose. The author then extrapolates into the semi-distant future and speculates what life will be like when these technologies reach maturity. This is the type of subject matter I spend a lot of time doing personal research about... so nothing in this book was very surprising to me. For the average Joe, however, some of the ideas in
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Sep 21, 2011
Leon
rated it:
I was intending on giving this book only 3-stars because I don't like the writing style. Dr. Kaku goes from idea to idea too fluidly, giving the effect of being "run-together". This may be the product of a brilliant mind but it doesn't help readability. However, after finishing the entire book, I was impressed enough with the depth of his research, the breadth of his vision, and the way he concludes everything that I decided to give it 4-stars.
Throughout the book, one's min More...
Throughout the book, one's min More...
Apr 19, 2011
David
rated it:
I'm not sure about anybody's ability to predict a century into the future (especially if you give credence to the idea of accelerating returns in technology), but I was willing to give this book a shot after hearing Michio Kaku in interviews. In particular he piqued my curiosity with the claim that all the ideas in the book are grounded on currently existing prototypes or established scientific theory.
Now after having read it, I think Michio is only giving a survey of some select top More...
Now after having read it, I think Michio is only giving a survey of some select top More...
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Oct 09, 2011
Cheam
rated it:
An excellent summary of what we can expect in the future. The same conclusions you would arrive at by reading the tech blogs for a year. But with more detail and authority. I was disapointed that the author took more than a page at the outset to explain that his approach was intended to be scientific in opposition to what other futurists attempt. The author's treatment of robotics and of computing were excellent! The author's forays into
Psychology were less compelling with the continual r More...
Psychology were less compelling with the continual r More...
Dec 11, 2011
Tony
rated it:
Must read for Sci-fi fans.
As a fan of futuristic society, Kaku shows us that we're on the threshold of what was once only imagination. It's a different thrill to read about technology that could be and almost is. Kaku writes with ease, detailing the current state of technology from literature as well as his own experience. He makes it obvious that the geniuses of the human species know so much more than us regular people at the top of the bell and what can be done with it. His chapters More...
As a fan of futuristic society, Kaku shows us that we're on the threshold of what was once only imagination. It's a different thrill to read about technology that could be and almost is. Kaku writes with ease, detailing the current state of technology from literature as well as his own experience. He makes it obvious that the geniuses of the human species know so much more than us regular people at the top of the bell and what can be done with it. His chapters More...
Nov 26, 2011
Mike
rated it:
If you're not familiar with his name, you'd probably recognize Michio Kaku's face. He's been interviewed on and the host of many science/physics shows on various channels like Science, Discovery, etc.
Physics of the Future can be considered a compilation of a lot of his knowledge and first-hand experiences with the most current science there is. As a theoretical physicist dealing with quantum and particle physics, he brings a credence that a normal t.v. personality wouldn't have. I fo More...
Physics of the Future can be considered a compilation of a lot of his knowledge and first-hand experiences with the most current science there is. As a theoretical physicist dealing with quantum and particle physics, he brings a credence that a normal t.v. personality wouldn't have. I fo More...
May 09, 2011
Dennis
rated it:
I did read much of this book but I can't shake the distinct impression that no person actually wrote it. It has the sense of development to be found in a pile of undergraduate science papers. There are fascinating topics covered and several bits of information that made me want to continue reading Kaku's mind numbing prose organized by a rigid pattern - near future, around forty years hence and at the end of the 21st century. mostly I found Kaku's projections hobbled by ever so little distinct
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Apr 27, 2011
Angela
rated it:
I have a couple of comments, and the first one is not really a complaint so much as a pet peeve. He often references words that will fade from the English language in the upcoming 100 years. With all due respect, Mr. Kaku, you're a physicist not a linguist, so leave the English language alone. I highly doubt that the English language is going to change that dramatically.
And the final "Typical Day in 2100" section shows why Mr. Kaku is not a fiction writer. He managed to cra More...
And the final "Typical Day in 2100" section shows why Mr. Kaku is not a fiction writer. He managed to cra More...
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Jan 03, 2012
D.
rated it:
This is simply a great book to read. I like science and I like to dream about what things might be like in the future. Kaku brings those dreams to life by looking at what is being created in labs today and where these creations might take us in the future. While Kaku does not claim to be able to read the future, he can make an excellent educated guess based on his own vast knowledge combined with what he has gleaned from others who are currently working on bringing our future into a present real
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Jul 11, 2011
James
rated it:
This was a fun book, but I believe that he is wildly overly pessimistic with regard to his predictions concerning strong AI.
He proposed several "roadblocks to the singularity" which I would like to respond to. He writes:
“No one knows when robots may become as smart as humans. But personally, I would put the date close to the end of the century for
several reasons."
“First, the dazzling advances in computer technology have been due to Moore’ More...
He proposed several "roadblocks to the singularity" which I would like to respond to. He writes:
“No one knows when robots may become as smart as humans. But personally, I would put the date close to the end of the century for
several reasons."
“First, the dazzling advances in computer technology have been due to Moore’ More...
May 13, 2011
Jason
rated it:
A great glimpse into the future (and the past). Looking at the research going on today, Kaku extrapolates this forward and predicts what is to come -- in science, in our lives, and in society. What was the most exciting about Physics of the Future is it reaffirmed the power and majesty of science.
It was also interesting to see where the cutting edge research is taking place -- still overwhelmingly in the U.S., then Japan, then Europe. No mention of China -- which I think says a lot a More...
It was also interesting to see where the cutting edge research is taking place -- still overwhelmingly in the U.S., then Japan, then Europe. No mention of China -- which I think says a lot a More...
