The Future of Everything: The Science of Prediction
by David Orrell
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For centuries, scientists have strived to predict the future. But to what extent have they succeeded? Can past events-Hurricane Katrina, the Internet stock bubble, the SARS outbreak-help us understand what will happen next? Will scientists ever really be able to forecast catastrophes, or will we always be at the mercy of Mother Nature, waiting for the next storm, epidemic, or economic crash to thunder through our lives? In The Future of Everything, David Orrell looks back at the history of show more forecasting, from the time of the oracle at Delphi to the rise of astrology to the advent of the TV weather report, showing us how scientists (and some charlatans) predicted the future. How can today’s scientists claim to anticipate future weather events when even thee-day forecasts prove a serious challenge? How can we predict and control epidemics? Can we accurately foresee our financial future? Or will we only find out about tomorrow when tomorrow arrives? show lessTags
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More a series of long essays than a single volume, Orrell explores several ways humanity has sought to predict the future (astronomy, economics, genetics, etc). Full of fascinating stories, Orrell is able to illustrate how prognostication has always been with us.
The book loses a star for a weak last section, finishing lamely without tying together the rest of the book.
The book loses a star for a weak last section, finishing lamely without tying together the rest of the book.
really enjoy the topic and I got some good history, but it was a lot of history. it didn't feel very pointed.
Extensively lays out the case that poor predictability in meteorology, genetic diseases, and economics is due not so much to mathematical chaos as to model error. Global climate models, he says, will never yield accurate numbers either, although he's not a climate-change denier. www.apollosarrow.ca
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19 Works 450 Members
David Orrell, acclaimed author of Economyths and Quantum Economics, explores the findings from psychology and neuroscience that are shaking up economics - and that are being exploited by policy-makers and marketers alike to shape everything from how we shop for food to how we tackle climate change or the Covid-19 pandemic. With clarity and wit, show more he-assesses the lofty claims made for this most image-conscious of disciplines, ultimately asking: is behavioural economics a scientific revolution, or just a scientific form of marketing? show less
Common Knowledge
- Canonical DDC/MDS
- 003.2
Classifications
- Genres
- Science & Nature, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, History
- DDC/MDS
- 003.2 — Computer science, information & general works Computer science, knowledge & systems Systems Forecasting and forecasts
- LCC
- CB158 .O69 — Auxiliary Sciences of History History of Civilization History of Civilization Forecasts of future progress
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 118
- Popularity
- 274,734
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.88)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 1
