On the Verge

by Rebecca D. Costa

"There can be no greater advantage than certainty of the future. Not in nature. Not in business. Not in governance."

So begins Rebecca Costa's much-awaited exploration of foresight: "the crowning achievement of human ambition." According to Costa, advances in Big Data, predictive analytics, genomics, artificial intelligence, and other breakthroughs have made it possible to pinpoint future results with mind-blowing accuracy--cracking the door to what Costa calls predaptation: the ability to adapt before the fact. Never before has the information needed to avert danger, get the jump ahead of others, or prepare for the inevitable been so clearly within grasp.

Through fascinating real-life examples, Costa reveals how technology has brought nations, businesses, and individuals to the edge of clairvoyance. Yet, our ability to act on foreknowledge often falls short--causing leaders to squander the advantage of preemption. To counteract this failure, Costa illuminates 12 principles of adaptation, and predaptation, used to succeed in fast-moving environments.

In the spirit of the best in popular science, On the Verge is a landmark examination of big-picture forces affecting society today. Costa's unique sociobiological perspective, combined with her ability to blend humor, breaking science, and insightful personal stories, distinguishes her as one of the most important female thought leaders of our time.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

Published September 6, 2017

About the author

Rebecca D. Costa is an American sociobiologist and futurist. She is the preeminent global expert on the subject of “fast adaptation” and recipient of the prestigious Edward O. Wilson Biodiversity Technology Award. Her career spans four decades of working with founders, key executives and venture capitalists in Silicon Valley. Costa’s first book, The Watchman’s Rattle: A Radical New Theory of Collapse, was an international bestseller. Her follow‐on book, titled On the Verge was introduced in 2017 to critical acclaim, shooting to the top of Amazon’s #1 New Business Releases. Costa’s work has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, SF Chronicle, The Guardian, and other leading publications. For more information visit www.rebeccacosta.com

Reviews

[Mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rebecca D. Costa calls herself a futurist and so it is interesting to look at what she predicted about the future ten years ago, when the book was written. I know she isn’t not a fortune teller, but she seems to have completely missed the rise of authoritarian power in the world that changed everything. Let’s set aside the fact that AM radio is not dead and the Euro is still the currency of the European Union. The power of the European Union has been to reform the most corrupt of the member states and it has forced them to bring their economies into more regular order. But Costa seems not to have noticed that Donald Trump was a danger in his position as president of the United States. His corrupt, incompetent and chaotic first term allowed him to become a cult leader by people who didn’t understand his motives for becoming president and those who were willing to use him to aggregate tremendous power and wealth to themselves. His sons and son-in-law with their worldwide deals are only the most egregious examples. After a brief period in which the country began to recover from the Worldwide shock of a massive pandemic worsened by Trump’s failure to understand the risks of his failure to endorse preventive health measures, he is back in office.
Now, the three most powerful men in the world, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump are using their control of the massive data stores about almost every American who has a smartphone and uses the Internet. Jeff Bezos accumulated his data through control of myriad businesses. Musk was given access by Donald Trump in the first few months of the Administration. And Trump’s Supreme Court has allowed him to review all of our data from Social Security, SBA and every other federal agency that he and his DOGE bros have access to. All of these men have interlinked their power. Bezos paid $40 million for a “documentary” of Mrs. Trump. Trump turned the lawn of the White House into a Tesla dealership. Federal agencies have dismissed or dropped investigation of the business practices of Bezos and Musk. We can only watch and wonder what comes next because we do not control the future anymore than Ms. Costa can predict it.

[Alhad Barbadikar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is a socio-biologist, futurist & through this book, expounds on her research, along with practical applications of her work that she's implemented across several organizations in dealing with difficult problems.

Owing to my slight familiarity with Yuval Noah Harari's work, this book also felt a little similar: a sweeping retelling of how we cannot avoid our evolutionary adaptations, but also come to terms with a rapidly changing world by acknowledging them & to prepare ourselves for the "future" by learning from the principles of adapting in such environments which the author presents clearly.

The writing flows & I breezed through it in a short period of time. It is a good book to pick up if you were looking for a quick read & big ideas, from the perspective of a futurist.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

.This book is fantastic. It is easy to read, filled with meaningful observations that provide valuable insight as we glide into a technology fueled future. The writing style gives pertinent information in an easily understandable way and retains your interest page after page. I enjoyed it.

[LisaMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won this book was not sure if I would like it but it really gave me a different perspective on things!what a great teacher on things I know but often forget! Helpful for anxiety also! Thank you!

[Staci Suhy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free as part of a first reads promotion

[Faith 09 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really interesting and I definitely learned a lot from it.

[Doreen Ashbrook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was unable to really get into this one - sorry!

[Virgie Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Verge was a really good book. I would recommend it to my friends. Well writt,and very enjoyable.

[Heidi Brown - Floyd · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am sorry I could not Finish this book. It was just to analytical, business, ceo, kind of book. The writing is good. It is just the subject of the story plot i could not get into.

[Michelle Schulten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as her first book.

[LD · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really interesting read filled with great information and examples of sociobiology in our modern world.

[Michelle Schulten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first one better.