The Precipice

Existential Risk and the Future of Humanity

By: Toby Ord

Narrated by: Toby Ord

Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

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 unimaginable today. But this vast future is at risk. With the advent of nuclear weapons, humanity entered a new age, where we face existential catastrophes - those from which we could never come back. Since then, these dangers have only multiplied, from climate change to engineered pathogens and artificial intelligence. If we do not act fast to reach a place of safety, it will soon be too late.

Drawing on over a decade of research, The Precipice explores the cutting-edge science behind the risks we face. It puts them in the context of the greater story of humanity: showing how ending these risks is among the most pressing moral issues of our time. And it points the way forward, to the actions and strategies that can safeguard humanity.

An Oxford philosopher committed to putting ideas into action, Toby Ord has advised the US National Intelligence Council, the UK Prime Minister's Office, and the World Bank on the biggest questions facing humanity. In The Precipice, he offers a startling reassessment of human history, the future we are failing to protect, and the steps we must take to ensure that our generation is not the last.

©2020 Toby Ord (P)2020 Recorded Books

Good summary of long-term risks

Good overview and introduction to long-term risks facing humanity. It balances accurate summaries of the problem with optimistic and hopeful outlooks for the future, as well as things readers can do to improve the likelihood that the future is positive.

Extremely important and impactful

This book by Toby Ord is extremely important review of the landscape of what could end Humanity completely, and what we can do about it. This is one of the most important books for this extremely important century.

Existential risk and exponential opportunity

An excellent introduction. Not as in depth, but more accessible, than “global existential risks”. 5 stars.

Excellent considerations

This book presents some very interesting considerations for the risks humanity faces but also presents the potential of humanity in the long term. I highly recommend it.

Outstanding book on a critical topic

I'm not gonna lie... If you don't want to be disturbed, maybe even a little depressed, beware of this book. Its subject matter isn't exactly cheerful. And lets be honest, humanity is facing multiple potential existinction level threats, many of which are completely manmade, in the very near future. Other possible extinction threats are not driven by human action, though the risk may be mitigated with targeted and thoughtful action right now, before those threats can become imminent.

Regardless of the source of our possible demise, mankind is in the unique position to understand, to act, or to stick our heads in the proverbial sand and hope the Big Scary just goes away... Which is unlikely.

Toby Ord was at least prescient and cognizant enough of humanity's precarious position on the precipice of complete annihilation to analyze the statistical probability of each way we could feasibly kill ourselves off. I don't want to give it away, but let's just say his estimate of this probability in the next 100 years is astonishing... And dreadful.

So, you should read this book. If you have children or want to, read this book. If you merely care about mankind's future, read this book. Then take what you learn and put some effort towards preventing these contingencies. Please.

Rquired reading for all citizens of the cosmos!

The topics in this book are the most important to contemplate. Wake up and live!

Excellent

This book is amazing, longtermism will be the philosophy of the future for all

Inspiring, important, and well written book

Exceptional book about an issue that has an excellent case for being the most important topic of our times. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Important Message

Through thoroughly expressed conceptual explanation, Ord paints a picture both terrifying and optimistic. I came away much more aware, yet viewing that awareness with absolute belief that the human experience can face those challenges effectively.

Informative

Great read. This book is a great reminder to all of us - especially for those who hold powerful positions, those who are intellectuals and visionaries, those who are well-off to understand their roles and behaviors they play in the world and the ecosystems.