Book Recommendation: The Genesis Machine by Amy Webb and Andrew Hessel
Each day I’m fascinated by a new advance in using biology as technology. What kinds of futures are being enabled by these advances—and what types of futures should we act now in order to avoid unfavorable futures?
These questions are the core of The Genesis Machine: Our Quest to Rewrite Life in the Age of Synthetic Biology. Futurist Amy Webb (founder of the Future Today Institute and author of other important books) has joined forces with synthetic biologist Andrew Hessel (founder of Humane Genomics and other organizations) to go deep into the opportunities and threats of our powerful ability to access the code of life.
💡 This clear and compelling look at how synthetic biology is poised to enable a radically different future poses critical—and incredibly difficult—questions that we need to ask now in order to lay the foundations for the best possible future(s).
If you’re not a biologist, you won’t be overwhelmed by the concise technical explanations, and you’ll be excited by the “future visioning” chapters that are eerily realistic science fiction. If you are a biologist (like me!), you’ll be satisfied with the level of detail presented and be eager to dive into the thorny issues unraveling today and in the near future.
Perhaps most importantly, the authors consistently highlight the need for an inclusive vision that spans industries, communities, and beliefs. Synthetic biology is going to be touching all of our lives. The Genesis Machine is a great place for you to begin to join the conversation.
For another great book, read my blog article on The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson.
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