Visions: How Science Will Revolutionize the 21st Century (Paperback)

~ (Author) "THREE CENTURIES AGO, Isaac Newton wrote: "...to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on a seashore, and diverting myself in..." (more)
Key Phrases: biomolecular revolution, intelligent planet, molecular robots, United States, New York, Big Bang (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Take it easy: that's Michio Kaku's motto. Given the extraordinary advances science has thrown up in time for the millennium, the only way you could possibly fit them into a single volume is by a correspondingly massive simplification.

Subtitled How Science Will Revolutionize the 21st Century and Beyond, Visions assumes that, by and large, scientists get to do whatever they like, that all technologies are consumer technologies, and that consumers welcome anything and everything science throws at them. Kaku gets away with this frankly dodgy strategy by dint of sheer hard work. He has based his predictions on interviews with more than 150 renowned working scientists; he integrates these interviews with a huge body of original journalistic material; and, above all, he roots that mass of information on an entirely reasonable model of what the purpose of science will be in the third millennium. Up until now, science has expended its efforts on decoding most of the fundamental natural processes--"the dance," as Kaku puts it, of elementary particles deep inside stars and the rhythms of DNA molecules coiling and uncoiling within our bodies. Science's task now, Kaku believes, is to cross-pollinate advances thrown up by the study of matter, biology, and mind--modern science's three main theaters of endeavor. "We are now making the transition from amateur chess players to grand masters," he writes, "from observers to choreographers of nature." Then again, he also believes that "the Internet ... will eventually become a 'Magic Mirror' that appears in fairy tales, able to speak with the wisdom of the human race." Kaku, in short, deserves a good slapping--but he also deserves to be read. --Simon Ings, Amazon.co.uk

From Kirkus Reviews

Here's another entry in the game of predicting what science and technology will come up with after the turn of the millennium, this one from a theoretical physicist. Kaku, author of Hyperspace (1994), defines his central thesis in a few words: We humans are about to make the transition ``from being passive observers of Nature to active choreographers of Nature.'' He forecasts major breakthroughs in three specific areas: computer science, molecular biology, and quantum physics. While all three of these disciplines have already had a significant impact on our daily lives, Kaku finds a broad consensus among scientists, many of whom believe that everything we have seen so far is merely a prelude to what lies in store. In particular, while the development to date of these areas of science has been marked by extreme specialization, the 21st century is likely to be an age of synergy, in which each area builds on the discoveries of the others. On a 20-year time frame, computer chips will become smaller, cheaper, and almost ubiquitous; genetic therapy will have cured many diseases, possibly including most cancers. But beyond that point, it appears that fundamental bottlenecks in both computer science and molecular biology will necessitate new breakthroughs, many of which will derive from quantum physics. This may fuel a new round of technological innovations, among them artificial intelligence (a robot in every home), tailor-made organisms (new foods and medicines), nanotechnology, and new energy sources. Kaku does not ignore the potential downside of these developments, examining such nightmare scenarios as robot killing machines fighting future wars and a revived eugenics movement. But if all goes well, says Kaku, we may well develop into a true planetary society, the first step toward making the entire universe our home. With this fascinating volume, Kaku positions himself as a worthy successor to the late Carl Sagan as a spokesman for the potential of science to revolutionize our lives. (Author tour) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Anchor (September 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385484992
• ISBN-13: 978-0385484992
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,749 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Physicist Looks at the Future, October 28, 1998

By	D. W. Casey (Sturbridge, MA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Superstring physicist Michio Kaku turns his eyes to the future, and sees many bright developments in the 21st century. What is really remarkable about this book is Kaku's ability to explain in a clear way how the Quantum revolution of the turn of the previous century has dramatically effected, or perhaps invented, the three great revolutions of the 20th century: computers, biotechnology, and quantum physics. Kaku is especially good in outlining his reasons for his view of the future; and gives pretty reasonable timelines for the achievement of certain goals. The book is easy for a layperson to read and understand, and gives a good overview of scientific development. Well worth reading, at times profound.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking, January 29, 2000

By	Laurence Lazarus (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is an easy read and probably begs more questions than it answers. Any one of Prof Kaku's "visions" of life embraced by 21st century technology are thought provoking and I am sure in time will evolve into major books in their own right. Prof Kaku writes about computers, quantum mechanics, DNA, future exploration, medical breakthroughs, longevity, etc. etc., in a manner that is understandable and, at times, breathtaking. I am sure that readers will either like or hate this book, depending upon whether they think the looking glass is either half full or half empty. I liked it and I am looking forward to the sequels.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Own the Future!, January 27, 2000

By	Larry D Blumenthal "Apollo sings!" (Silver City, New Mexico) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If the future seems frightening, ominous, perplexing, or in any way stressful to you, then Dr. Michio Kaku has the prescription for your affliction! Anyone who is expecting to intelligently live in the next few decades should be REQUIRED to read these clear and fascinating insights. I think very few human beings have had enough grasp to synthesize the most valid verifiable and truthful frontier information about what is going on at Planet Earth, make it accessibly simple to all of us, and yet be absolutely profound in his message. Knowledge is power. Fear not the future, own it! Buy this book, read it!