An intriguing if bet-hedging work of futurology that calls into question the whole business of futurology itself.
A gimlet-eyed look at the promises of technology and futurists past.
If people were to live to be 1,000, and if one of them committed some heinous crime, would it be just for a life sentence to last multiple centuries? Thus one of the thought experiments in the latest by the Novellas, a follow-up to The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe. The authors argue that while we have made tremendous progress in technology in the past half-century, it’s been in arenas that we didn’t quite expect: not the cure for cancer or the solution to climate change but instead fun apps to distract us from the world. “I drive to work in a car that would most likely seem ordinary to a driver from the 1950s,” write the authors, “but they would likely be blown away by my GPS and entertainment system.” That we might expect different comes from the overselling of a gleaming future by science fiction—e.g., the promise in 2001 that we would have traveled to Jupiter two decades ago or the projection that we’d have so much leisure time that we’d all become masters of our various corners of the universe. Instead, as the authors note, modern life proves “the deep philosophical principle that shit happens,” with most of us incapable of seeing it coming. The authors venture a few predictions of their own, including the expansion of robotics and the mechanization of biology, creating replacement parts within our bodies that are far more effective than the current titanium knees and hips. “But why limit ourselves to the original body plan?” he rejoins. “We can even add extra limbs.” One thing may be certain: If we live forever or very nearly so as “genetically modified cyborgs,” there won’t be much need for children—so maybe don’t buy stock in diaper manufacturers.
An intriguing if bet-hedging work of futurology that calls into question the whole business of futurology itself.Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-538-70954-2
Page Count: 512
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
A lively and up-to-date survey of the key ideas of astrophysics.
A history of astrophysics, focused on a short list of fundamental discoveries.
Vaudo’s revolutions are familiar to most amateur followers of science. In chronological order, they are Isaac Newton’s formulation of the law of gravity; Albert Einstein’s theories of special and general relativity; Big Bang theory; and antimatter. Each of these discoveries is put in historical context, with some biographical data on the scientists who made the discoveries. The book also gives credit to the other, sometimes less famous, figures who contributed—often significantly—to the discoveries. This is especially true of the Big Bang and antimatter, which emerged from the work of several theorists and researchers. We learn about their professional rivalries, such as Newton’s feuds with Robert Hooke. Readers will also appreciate the author’s serving up a wealth of details related to the scientists or their discoveries—the presence of a chunk of wood from Newton’s apple tree aboard the International Space Station, or the fact that the potassium in a banana may decay and create tiny amounts of antimatter. While it’s nearly impossible to discuss ideas such as the existence of more than three dimensions without a certain amount of math, Vaudo manages to keep the equations from overwhelming the text. A concluding chapter speculates on what the next major breakthrough is likely to be. Vaudo suggests that the questions posed by dark matter and dark energy—which apparently make up far more of the universe than “normal” matter and energy—will provide the material for the next revolution. Until those issues are worked out, the current book provides as good an overview of the state of the science as any reader could wish for.
A lively and up-to-date survey of the key ideas of astrophysics.Pub Date: April 29, 2025
ISBN: 9781324089278
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Norton
Review Posted Online: Jan. 31, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
Raekwon’s raw memoir holds nothing back about his stormy life in Wu-Tang Clan and as one of hip-hop’s most-admired artists.
A memoir from the celebrated rapper.
The Wu-Tang Clan has always cultivated an air of mystery, and Raekwon is one of the most secretive of the Staten Island rappers, so it’s refreshing to see how forthcoming he is in his first book. Unlike most rappers, Raekwon, aka The Chef, doesn’t really speak or rhyme directly. The force behind the Wu-Tang hit “C.R.E.A.M.” and the classic solo album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… makes his points more through imagery and vivid descriptions than straightforward boasts. However, with the help of noted biographer Bozza, Raekwon tells his own compelling story with a limited number of artistic flourishes. The author tells his truth unflinchingly, refusing to gloss over his mistakes or the mistakes of others. He covers his troubled youth of petty robbery and drug-dealing and the realization after he was shot that he had a skill for writing rhymes. He offers a cleareyed walk-through of the decision-making process struggling hip-hop artists go through when faced with their first record deals. Even though they may not be getting what they are due, they often have no real leverage. The author applies his no-nonsense approach to the world around him. “When you grow up a young black man in a poor urban community,” he writes, “you become accustomed to what is in front of you and numb to circumstances that ain’t right. If you keep your wits about you and find a potential way out, you grab it and hold on with all you’ve got. As a fan, hip-hop was my escape from reality.” Raekwon offers revelations about how his relationship with Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA soured. He also discusses the Hulu series Wu-Tang: An American Sagaas well as how a rare Wu-Tang album ended up in the hands of “Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli.
Raekwon’s raw memoir holds nothing back about his stormy life in Wu-Tang Clan and as one of hip-hop’s most-admired artists.Pub Date: Nov. 9, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-982168-72-8
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 6, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2021
PERSPECTIVES
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