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I'm Working on That : A Trek From Science Fiction to Science Fact
"Beam me up, Scotty."®
During the 1960s, in an age when the height of technology was a crackly AM transistor radio, Star Trek? envisioned a time when communication devices worked without wires. "Working"
Computers of the decade took up entire climate-controlled rooms and belonged only to the government and a few very large corporations. Yet Captain Kirk had one small enough to sit on the top of his desk -- and it talked back to him. "Ahead, Warp Factor 2"
While man still hadn't walked on the moon, the crew of the Starship Enterprise ® traveled between star systems faster than the speed of light. Its crew was able to walk on other worlds. Over the past three decades, Star Trek has become a global phenomenon. Its celebration of mankind's technical achievements and positive view of the future have earned it an enduring place in the world's psyche. It has inspired countless viewers to become scientists, inventors, and astronauts. And they, in turn, have wondered if they could make even a little piece of Star Trek real in their own lifetime. As one noted scientist said when he saw a plywood, plaster and plastic set that represented the ship's warp engines, "I'm working on that." As in his missions aboard the fictional Starship Enterprise, William Shatner, the actor who is Captain James T. Kirk, and his co-author, Chip Walter, take us on an adventure to discover the people who are working on the future we will all share. From traveling through space at warp speeds to beaming across the continent, noted scientists from Caltech to MIT explore the realms of what was once considered improbable and show how it just might be possible.
During the 1960s, in an age when the height of technology was a crackly AM transistor radio, Star Trek? envisioned a time when communication devices worked without wires. "Working"
Computers of the decade took up entire climate-controlled rooms and belonged only to the government and a few very large corporations. Yet Captain Kirk had one small enough to sit on the top of his desk -- and it talked back to him. "Ahead, Warp Factor 2"
While man still hadn't walked on the moon, the crew of the Starship Enterprise ® traveled between star systems faster than the speed of light. Its crew was able to walk on other worlds. Over the past three decades, Star Trek has become a global phenomenon. Its celebration of mankind's technical achievements and positive view of the future have earned it an enduring place in the world's psyche. It has inspired countless viewers to become scientists, inventors, and astronauts. And they, in turn, have wondered if they could make even a little piece of Star Trek real in their own lifetime. As one noted scientist said when he saw a plywood, plaster and plastic set that represented the ship's warp engines, "I'm working on that." As in his missions aboard the fictional Starship Enterprise, William Shatner, the actor who is Captain James T. Kirk, and his co-author, Chip Walter, take us on an adventure to discover the people who are working on the future we will all share. From traveling through space at warp speeds to beaming across the continent, noted scientists from Caltech to MIT explore the realms of what was once considered improbable and show how it just might be possible.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1996
7 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
William Shatner
131 books802 followersWilliam Shatner is the author of nine Star Trek novels, including the New York Times bestsellers The Ashes of Eden and The Return. He is also the author of several nonfiction books, including Get a Life! and I'm Working on That. In addition to his role as Captain James T. Kirk, he stars as Denny Crane in the hit television series from David E. Kelley, Boston Legal -- a role for which he has won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 30, 2010
It was hoot traveling the country with Shatner and talking with some of the smartest people on the planet. The book is fun, but filled with a lot of fascinating science, all of it viewed through the creative technologies that Star Trek imagined from time travel to the holodeck. If you're a fan of science, or Star Trek or Bill Shatner, I think you'll like this book as much as I enjoyed writing it.
December 20, 2012
A very interesting book. The best part of the book was how a F-16 with one wing safely landed.
September 30, 2019
I went into this seriously doubting whether it had anything to offer, since very few books on modern science and technology remain relevant a whopping seventeen years after publication. Then there's the rather off-putting cover art, which reuses the same photo of Shatner looking bored that was featured on GET A LIFE! a few years earlier. One wonders just how invested Shatner was in the project if he wouldn't even sit for a new photo. That man sure does like to cut corners!
But to my great surprise, I'M WORKING ON THAT immediately grabbed my attention and kept me glued to the pages for the first few sections. I loved the idea of exploring the feasibility of various "far-out" STAR TREK technologies, and concepts such as teleporters and warp drives are so far down the line that Shatner's discussion of them in the book hardly felt dated at all. Later, the "datedness" issue does become a problem, but even then, the technologies being looked into are clever enough to maintain your interest, even when they have been rendered somewhat pointless by gadgets like smart phones and Kindle Fires. In many ways, the book offers a glimpse into an alternate future of sorts--a world we might now currently inhabit if the technology had gone in a slightly different direction. For example: a world in which ebooks are downloaded to pieces of electronic paper operated by a special wand.
Had I read this book when it first came out, I would have given it four stars easily. As a basic primer on the current state of S&T, it accomplishes what it sets out to do, and does so in entertaining fashion. I also enjoyed the overarching STAR TREK connection, though it grows weaker as the book progresses. The Leonard Nimoy jokes start to get old after a while, as does Shatner's insistence on reminding us what a technological nimrod he is. It felt as though Shatner was so unfamiliar with being humble that he overdid it by a factor of ten. In trying too hard to be relatable, he presented himself as something of a moron.
None of that is likely to impact your enjoyment of this book, however. The real issue--and the reason I downgraded my rating to three stars--is that, in the year 2019, the book has lived past its sell-by date, another victim of the ravages of time. Which isn't to say that it's worthless or that you shouldn't read it; but perhaps your money might be better spent elsewhere. I would love for Shatner to write an update/sequel to this, but considering his advanced age, it's probably not in the cards.
But to my great surprise, I'M WORKING ON THAT immediately grabbed my attention and kept me glued to the pages for the first few sections. I loved the idea of exploring the feasibility of various "far-out" STAR TREK technologies, and concepts such as teleporters and warp drives are so far down the line that Shatner's discussion of them in the book hardly felt dated at all. Later, the "datedness" issue does become a problem, but even then, the technologies being looked into are clever enough to maintain your interest, even when they have been rendered somewhat pointless by gadgets like smart phones and Kindle Fires. In many ways, the book offers a glimpse into an alternate future of sorts--a world we might now currently inhabit if the technology had gone in a slightly different direction. For example: a world in which ebooks are downloaded to pieces of electronic paper operated by a special wand.
Had I read this book when it first came out, I would have given it four stars easily. As a basic primer on the current state of S&T, it accomplishes what it sets out to do, and does so in entertaining fashion. I also enjoyed the overarching STAR TREK connection, though it grows weaker as the book progresses. The Leonard Nimoy jokes start to get old after a while, as does Shatner's insistence on reminding us what a technological nimrod he is. It felt as though Shatner was so unfamiliar with being humble that he overdid it by a factor of ten. In trying too hard to be relatable, he presented himself as something of a moron.
None of that is likely to impact your enjoyment of this book, however. The real issue--and the reason I downgraded my rating to three stars--is that, in the year 2019, the book has lived past its sell-by date, another victim of the ravages of time. Which isn't to say that it's worthless or that you shouldn't read it; but perhaps your money might be better spent elsewhere. I would love for Shatner to write an update/sequel to this, but considering his advanced age, it's probably not in the cards.
February 11, 2021
Im a trekkie from way back, but not a shatner fan til now. This book shows things that came about, or MAY come about coz of the great minds that wrote all those episodes. Shatner is nearly humble in this book, talking to budding your minds. I may read another of his....
October 9, 2021
I gave up
August 15, 2016
A light-hearted look at when (or whether) technologies first seen in Star Trek, 50 years ago, may (or may not!) ever be realized in the real world.
Published in 2002, some of the products and ideas have already come to pass -- or are, in fact, now outdated. Which sort of proves one of the points of the book -- our knowledge and technical application of that knowledge is increasing so fast that it's almost impossible to make accurate predictions. Case in point -- the authors frequently refer to their use of PDAs but totally missed the emergence of the Smart Phone, which has virtually eliminated the PDA/Blackberry type palmtop.
The book does realiably return to the touchstone of Star Trek, with lots of inside jokes and passing references. In one, Shatner predicts that early robots "aren't likely to ... achieve the charm and savoir faire of Captain Kirk. But maybe with some workthey will achieve Spock-ness."
All in all, an entertaining, if not world-shattering read.
Published in 2002, some of the products and ideas have already come to pass -- or are, in fact, now outdated. Which sort of proves one of the points of the book -- our knowledge and technical application of that knowledge is increasing so fast that it's almost impossible to make accurate predictions. Case in point -- the authors frequently refer to their use of PDAs but totally missed the emergence of the Smart Phone, which has virtually eliminated the PDA/Blackberry type palmtop.
The book does realiably return to the touchstone of Star Trek, with lots of inside jokes and passing references. In one, Shatner predicts that early robots "aren't likely to ... achieve the charm and savoir faire of Captain Kirk. But maybe with some workthey will achieve Spock-ness."
All in all, an entertaining, if not world-shattering read.
January 15, 2012
This is a good overview of a lot of things going on in science right now (ok, in 2001 or so, when this was written!). It's a little elementary for people who already have a grounding; on the other hand, it's so wide-ranging, taking in space, biochemistry, nanotech, etc., that even scientifically-minded people will probably find something they didn't already know about. I'd like to give it to my nephew Brian, who is part of the 3rd generation of Trekkers in our family, and who is interested in Trek-like activities.
August 2, 2011
Excellent, humorous, full of ideas for sci-fi writers and fans of the genre. This book may help you understand not only the actor/author but also grasp some great Star Trek (and sci-fi) concepts. Good read!
May 26, 2013
This is the book you would expect William Shatner to write. Here he is in the prime of the ascendency of the rebirth of his career, and you can tell he doesn't let it go to his head. It's chock full of self-deprecating humor that will spill over to deflate even your own blow-hardedness.
December 18, 2007
A fun, self-deprecating look at cutting-edge technology foreshadowed by Star Trek.
January 21, 2008
Brilliant! I love it. I can't put it down!
July 12, 2008
Very interesting read for any Trekkie out there :)
October 22, 2010
A bit dated now, but I still enjoy reading it.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews