The Precipice
Existential Risk and the Future of Humanity
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The Precipice
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Narrated by:
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Toby Ord
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By:
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Toby Ord
About this listen
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 BooksWhat listeners say about The Precipice
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- alex hinchliffe
- 19-01-2021
very thought provoking
Well worth the read, albeit quite repetitive. Opens up new ways of thinking about humanity and our potential. highly recommended.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 08-07-2024
A stark warning
A well read and high level book on existential risk. Good examples and rationale.
Recommend for anyone interested in the future of life on earth.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Luke Freeman
- 29-03-2020
Engaging guide to humanity's future survival
How will our species survive and thrive?
This is one of my favourite non-fiction reads to date. I love how Toby Ord leaves hype behind and uses sound reasoning to lay out the case for existential risk reduction. He has very strong arguments and a enjoyable writing style. He makes the case that existential risks are some of the the most important and neglected problems we face.
He covers major risks from nuclear and biological weapons to climate change, pandemics, artificial intelligence, asteroid impacts, and more.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 25-05-2020
A brilliantly crafted view of our potential
This author is capable of communicating the some very complex information in the most compelling way. I am equally trepidatious and hopeful of what the future holds.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- jordan
- 04-01-2021
Best book of 2020
An important message. Clearly written. Just the right level of detail.
Changed my prior beliefs on the probability of various existential risks.
Painted a picture for how unaligned AI can be dangerous to humanities future.
Forced me to contemplate the vastness of human potential.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kieren
- 31-08-2022
Fascinating, inspiring and urgent
The future could be incredible, but we face many threats to its realisation. let's get cracking on fixing the threats we've created, then let's protect ourselves from natural risks and build a truly great global society
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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- Rory Watts
- 04-10-2022
a very important reference
Toby Ord is an excellent writer, and does a good job presenting The Precipice, a case for why our current era may be uniquely positioned in the history of humanity.
If you are familiar with many of the topics, this book serves as an excellent reference, and I safely listened to it at 2x speed without any difficulty.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Jackson
- 09-03-2021
facinating thesis but a touch repetitive
fascinating an important topic, thoroughly explored and well told, but the last few chapters were at times a bit repetitive. well worth a listen though and definitely worth acting on!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Christine
- 22-01-2024
Amazing
I loved this book. So much to think about and wish I could be around for the new future
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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- MR R S BROOKES
- 01-10-2020
Not much factual content
I felt like it was a bit of a philosophical attempt to feel good about things without much justification. The wild sci fi speculation about the future towards the end also missed the mark for me.
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