The Future of Us: The Science of What We'll Eat, Where We'll Live, and Who We'll Be

by Jay Ingram

A fascinating look at the cutting-edge science and technologies that are on the cusp of changing everything from where we’ll live, how we’ll look, and who we’ll be, by the popular science broadcaster and bestselling author Jay Ingram.

Where will we live? How will we get around? What will we look like? These are just some of the questions bestselling author and popular science broadcaster Jay Ingram answers in this exciting examination of the science and technologies that will affect every aspect of human life.

In these pages, Ingram explores the future of our technological civilization. He reports on cutting-edge research in organ and limb regeneration, advances in prosthetics, the merging of the human and the synthetic, and gene editing. Vertical farming and lab-grown food might help feed millions and alleviate pressure on the planet. Cities could accommodate green space and the long-awaited flying car. Finally, he speculates on the future of artificial general intelligence, even artificial superintelligence, as well as our place on Earth and in the universe.

The potential impact of these developments in science and technology will be powerful and wide-ranging, complicated by ethics and social equity. And they will inevitably revolutionize every aspect of life and even who we are. This is The Future of Us.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Canada

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 26, 2023

About the author

Jay Ingram CM (born March 20, 1945) is a Canadian author and broadcaster. He was host of the television show Daily Planet (originally titled @discovery.ca), which airs on Discovery Channel Canada, since the channel's inception in 1995. Ingram's last episode of Daily Planet aired on June 5, 2011. Ingram announced his retirement but stated he will make guest appearances on Daily Planet. He was succeeded by Dan Riskin. His book The End of Memory: A Natural History of Aging and Alzheimer’s is forthcoming from St. Martin's Press in 2015.

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book by Jay Ingram that I’ve read and it is as good as the others. Ingram has a way of writing that absorbs my complete attention. His style is simple, clear, and conversational. He avoids jargon and ably simplifies the science. And from time to time, Ingram’s sense of humor shows up to make the book even better. This book is well worth reading. Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the digital review copy.

[Sarah Butland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the only books I've struggled with giving a rating for. A wealth of science substantiated facts, I have full confidence in the truth behind the message, I just feel it needs more context. It's the perfect beginning of many ongoing debates and conversations in what is humanity, a healthy earth and where science, and the funding behind it, should be focused.

The craziness about this book is, even though it's only out in October and I have an ARC, it's already outdated when I got this, referring to what is now known as X as Twitter and the progress of ChatGPT and other advances in science. Of course, a book like this will never be current, despite it being factual.

The back and forth of ethics in "progress" had me pausing throughout to wonder about the humanity behind the technology. It had me sitting in thought pondering the direction of our future and why we're overlooking some of the brilliance of our past. For instance, Ingram talked a lot about food and ensuring there's enough on this planet to feed the masses; I felt missing from this argument is both food waste and the glutenous food consumption in instances such as hot dog eating contests and carelessness of throwing pies in our faces. Or traditions of throwing tomatoes at each other. Focusing what food resources we do have in different directions could be something that makes a bigger impact than indoor gardens.

I digress, I am not a scientist. I am certainly not as well educated as Ingram or many scientists and other intellects mentioned throughout. Which then makes me wonder if our future is much simpler than we give it credit for.

So, yes, a brilliant book that should start a very powerful conversation yet troubling in the direction many of the elite are thinking.

**This is my honest review in exchange for an ARC from Simon & Schuster Canada.

[Maggie (Magsisreadingagain) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reality of the current world has all of us questioning, on various levels, what the future holds. What will we eat? Will our DNA be changed? Will Cyborgs become a reality? Where will we live, and what will that look like? Will AI take over our lives?

Jay Ingram, well-known host of Daily Planet, has taken these questions, and examined each, looking at the current state of our world, and expanding out into the possibilities, based on science and research currently under way. He has interviewed scientists, AI developers, and tech gurus to explore what the future will look like for generations to come. And it truly provides some food for thought.

Many thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for providing me with an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review. I strongly recommend this book for those who have a genuine curiosity in the future state of our world.

[Pani Goshia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating read. Covers present day topics we all relate to and ponder upon while providing an interesting insight for our future as humans. Very well written and super absorbing. Job well done Jay Ingram!

[Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read something different and this sure was. I appreciate how approachable the writing of Ingram is for the fairly complex topics covered here. It did feel a bit disjointed to me, but maybe that is fair for a book looking into the future.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

For many years, Jay Ingram has been a familiar and reliable science reporter on radio and TV. In this book he takes a look at the current world and various projections for what our future might look like. Best of all, he gives his reasoned opinion on the feasibility of some of those projections. The book touches on a lot of topics: human health and longevity, travel (planes, trains, and self-driving automobiles), food, climate, AI. Great perspective.

[Enid Wray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating that speaks to my inner geek.

Jay Ingram - both on TV and on the page - can make really complex science digestible - indeed, interesting - for even the most science-phobic individual (which I’m not by any stretch).

Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital review copy.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Jay Ingram, on TV and radio, for many years, but I have never read a book written by him. That's my loss. Jay is a very intelligent science writer and yet very readable for non-science types of all ages. I usually trail off and gradually lose interest in non-fiction books, but not this time. I enjoyed The Future of Us from beginning to end.

[Wayne Woodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the title which grabbed my attention and stimulated my desire to read the book. However, I think using the word "Science" is a little misleading here as I think most of this is conjecture. In some cases he does make a fairly cogent argument for his theorizing but in others I find it to be merely repeating what others have written or said over time.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Jay Ingram’s other books this is a fabulous catch all. He’s got a great way of explaining concepts and ideas about current developments in tech and science that explains the topics in a cohesive and comprehensive way. I quite enjoyed this book and would recommend for anyone who wants a quick overview of where things stand as we move forward.

[Riccardo Lo Monaco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some parts good, some parts ridiculous - but it knows its own faults. It’s the nature of this topic. My biggest gripe here is how similar some parts sound to homo deus and nexus by Harari, and yet there’s no credit given to harari - no mention, nothing. Just read Harari at this point. He was first and he did it better.

[Brad Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written, interesting, definitely thought provoking.

[Jill Abramovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes you think

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jay Ingram is as entertaining and edifying as ever. I particularly enjoyed the digression about reality being a simulation and how to live under such circumstances.

[M.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are a techy, sci-fi, A.I. nerd, then this is the book for you! Ingram knows how to break down science speak so "Joe/Josephina" Public can understand.

[Brandon Hatfield · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very basic. There isn’t much “science” to this. Just a lot of possibly, maybes. I’ve read many better books on the subject

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come...

[Celeste Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consciousness, transhumanism, are we living in a simulation? That's where the future goes but the opening chapters are much more real and interesting. Cannot forget that barnyard animals take up like 60% of the animal biomass on the planet. Humans another 36% so that leaves just 4% for all wildlife. So fucked up and confirms in my opinion that we are well into the 6th extinction - or is it 7th?

[Roch . · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reading copy from Simon & Schuster Canada. A book about the scientific discoveries of today and tomorrow. The chapter on artificial intelligence is fascinating. The author also talks about the future of the food industry and cities, and how we will travel.