Global Catastrophic Risks 1st Edition

by Nick Bostrom (Editor), Milan M. Ćirković (Editor)

17 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0198570509

ISBN-10: 0198570503

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A global catastrophic risk is one with the potential to wreak death and destruction on a global scale. In human history, wars and plagues have done so on more than one occasion, and misguided ideologies and totalitarian regimes have darkened an entire era or a region. Advances in technology are adding dangers of a new kind. It could happen again.

In Global Catastrophic Risks 25 leading experts look at the gravest risks facing humanity in the 21st century, including asteroid impacts, gamma-ray bursts, Earth-based natural catastrophes, nuclear war, terrorism, global warming, biological weapons, totalitarianism, advanced nanotechnology, general artificial intelligence, and social collapse. The book also addresses over-arching issues - policy responses and methods for predicting and managing catastrophes.

This is invaluable reading for anyone interested in the big issues of our time; for students focusing on science, society, technology, and public policy; and for academics, policy-makers, and professionals working in these acutely important fields.

Global Catastrophic Risks

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"[Global Catastrophic Risks] gives a long overview on how we think about global risks and surveys the likelihood of various natural and man-made catastrophes. It is risk assessment meets science fiction."-- Disaster Prevention and Management
"Remarkably entertaining and readable."--Natural Hazards Observer

About the Author

Nick Bostrom, PhD, is Director of the Future of Humanity Institute, in the James Martin 21st Century School, at Oxford University. He previously taught at Yale University in the Department of Philosophy and in the Yale Institute for Social and Policy Studies. Bostrom has served as an expert consultant for the European Commission in Brussels and for the Central Intelligence Agency in Washington DC. He has advised the British Parliament, the European Parliament, and many other public bodies on issues relating to emerging technologies.

Milan M. Cirkovic, PhD, is a senior research associate of the Astronomical Observatory of Belgrade, (Serbia) and a professor of Cosmology at Department of Physics, University of Novi Sad (Serbia). He received both his PhD in Physics and his MSc in Earth and Space Sciences from the State University of New York at Stony Brook (USA) and his BSc in Theoretical Physics was received from the University of Belgrade.

Hardcover: 554 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press; 1 edition (September 15, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0198570503
ISBN-13: 978-0198570509
Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 1 x 6.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
Average Customer Review: 17 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,842,766 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1561 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Social Sciences > Disaster Relief
- #4068 in Books > Textbooks > Science & Mathematics > Earth Sciences
- #4280 in Books > Textbooks > Social Sciences > Political Science > Government

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A work of tremendous importance.

ByTretiaKon July 27, 2012

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This book is a compendium of what are referred to as GCRs (Global Catastrophic Risks) that represent future risks and cases, and merit much consideration if the human species is to survive into the future. Some of the cases given can seem "out there" so to speak in that they can seem like very futuristic and remote possibilities, but nonetheless are still very pertinent for the continuity of humanity. Social collapse, astrophysical catastrophes, technological breakthroughs, apocalyptic ideas given social consideration and credibility, thermonuclear war, and biases in human reasoning are all among the broad categories discussed within the books content. Some areas could have been expanded upon more, and other areas have an intermix of technical jargon here and there. This book would due very well to people looking to supplement their efforts for things like social work and for people in scientific disciplines, and to get a sense of general awareness and exposure from experts in the field as to how relevant these issues already are, or are going to become in the future.

Probably the most dangerous future risk is going to be the advent of real Artificial Intelligence within our lifetime or very near into the future. Eliezer Yudkowsky is the top figurehead and spokesman for factors involved in this risk and is the editor for this specific risk within the book. If our fears are to become a reality, then it doesn't matter much of whatever else we get right. Many of the other risks to worry about, we already have a wealth of information on their occurrences, how they work, how likely they are to affect us, and how they will affect us when they come. The risks concerning the arrival of AI however are far more dangerous in that this isn't an experiment that we get to practically represent so that reality can beat us over the head with the correct answer. If we are to achieve true FAI (Friendly Artificial Intelligence as Yudkowsky calls it) then a massive amount of dedication, money and effort is needed for research needed to avoid a real disaster. If our aims are achieved and realized however, many of the other risks and concerns we have can be offset to the handling of an intelligence much greater than ourselves with a higher probability and likelihood of being overcome.

We are passing through a stage where we are beginning to create problems that are beyond our current capacity to provide solutions for. This book is probably the best general and somewhat technical primer to become acquainted with serious problems we are currently facing and that we will inevitably arrive at in the future. If you are truly keen to getting involved in with the kinds of problems we will have to confront, this book is indispensable.

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Quite a thriller!

ByNineLiveson April 28, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Fascinating! No catastrophe is left out. This book covers everything from tidal waves and social collapse to the end of the solar system and universe in billions of years. But I have to warn you, the world does not feel quite so safe and cozy after reading this book. It's quite a thriller.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

but overall a good

Bydavzinc1on March 10, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

A bit long winded, but overall a good read

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Five Stars

ByCurtis Son November 12, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

excellent

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Five Stars

ByY2N1-09631on August 9, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This was a great book on an extremely important subject.

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Five Stars

ByAmazon Customeron May 2, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Good

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Excellent overview

ByJohn Harlleeon October 14, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

A really good book. It's not light reading, though. Scientific literacy is highly desirable and maybe necessary for almost all chapters. Numeracy is desirable for some chapters, but I don't recall anything beyond algebra. The chapters on "Long-term astrophysical processes" and "Evolution and the future of humanity" are not really germane to the book's theme; all the same, they are well done and fascinating. I cannot say that of "The totalitarian threat;" perhaps I was too much put off by the author's right wing perspective. The other 19 chapters are all both germane and solid. I thought the chapter on "Artificial intelligence as a positive and negative factor in global risk" was outstanding. However, I am no expert on AI, so my opinion isn't worth much.

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Kindle version is a catastrophe of it's own.

ByFidel C.on October 7, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Interesting read -- some of the papers were a bit on the silly side, but some where pretty eye-opening. The Kindle version of this is riddled with typographical errors (often several per page), presumably because they just scanned the book with OCR and didn't have anyone proof-read the results. The Kindle version should not be sold as-is, it is a disaster.