A bit alarmist but maybe that is what is needed. Sir. Rees covers many of the key existantial risks with authority, he misses many others and does not convey with what reliability we should consider the ones he presents.

Definitely worth reading and taking into serious account. ( )

This was a great book on a subject near and dear to my heart. I have no direct descendants so I often concern myself with the fate of our entire species. This book is a great introduction into SOME of the EXISTENTIAL threats to our species and to the entire EARTH. The purpose is not to keep you up at night but to inform you about some things that TRUELY MATTER to our decedents on 50-100 year (2-5 generations) time scale.

It is ABSOLUTELY FALSE that there is NOTHING we can do about these matters. In small ways we can all make choices which either promote or demote the chances of our species surviving for the long run. By living CONSCIOUSLY and making WISE CHOICES we can all do our part to promote a more positive future. "Ignorance is bliss" is about as sound advice as having another drink after you are already drunk. NO good decisions are likely to result. KNOWLEDGE is POWER (The Power to do GOOD). ( )

The Astronomer Royal opines that _H sapiens_ has only a 50-50 chance of surviving the twenty hundreds. Includes yet another mention (a short chapter in fact) of the Carter/Leslie/Gott doomsday argument, which "has weathered a good deal of scrutiny" (p 135).