The Precipice

By Toby Ord,

Book cover of The Precipice: Existential Risk and the Future of Humanity

Book description

This urgent and eye-opening book makes the case that protecting humanity's future is the central challenge of our time.

If all goes well, human history is just beginning. Our species could survive for billions of years - enough time to end disease, poverty, and injustice, and to flourish in ways…

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Why read it?

3 authors picked The Precipice as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This is a fascinating book that explores the risks to humanity’s future, from well-documented threats such as climate change and weapons of mass destruction to less understood dangers emanating from disruptive technologies and man-made pandemics.

Ord, an Oxford philosopher, does an impressive job at explaining complex scientific issues in terms easily digestible for a broader audience. The book also develops important moral frameworks for tackling a wide range of existential risks.

The Precipice is a breathtaking work on the importance of the present era we live in, and the enormous challenges we face. In simple and clear prose, The Precipice goes into incredible detail about existential risks – from advanced artificial intelligence to engineered pathogens to nuclear war – that threaten the very existence of future generations. I learned something new in every chapter, even on topics I thought I knew well. 

From William's list on doing good.

The central metaphor of the book is that humanity stands at a precipice. With new technology, we are rapidly gaining the ability to destroy ourselves, and the threat of an existential catastrophe looms large over our generation. But, if we get things right, we might be able to enjoy a long and flourishing future. 

Toby’s book is the best resource we know of on what you need to know about these risks, and how you could have a high positive impact by working to prevent them.

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