I am a scientist that works on the intersection between the microbiome and behavior. The premise of this book intrigued me for its boldness. The claims that Craig makes throughout the book are definitely founded in current research, yet perhaps a bit too optimistic in their nature. While I fully support his call to action to fund more biotech research, I do think that his proposed timeline for how quickly these developments will occur should be considered with some caution. The overall book is well-written, compelling and definitely an interesting read for those that are still new to both science and finance. I appreciate the author’s attempts to calm the public and advocate for more faith in scientific institutions. However, I will caution the reader to be critical of the treatment of “diseases of modernity” as this type of terminology is a slippery slope towards eugenics. I am grateful for the author and publisher’s permission to read this early and I look forward to seeing it hit the shelves.

I will hold off from publishing the review online until the book is published in case changes are made. I am a fan of the author and read his previous work on 'owning the world'. I whole-heartedly agree with the author's biotech thesis but this felt less accessible to the average retail investor than the previous work and occasionally veered into 'guru' territory giving credence to podcasters who posit ideas but aren't peer-reviewed or go outside their professional knowledge/remit. It also did not sufficiently emphasise just how volatile the biotech sector and companies can fail in phase 2 trials for example or sudden negative publicity about side-effects even if the drug comes to market etc. Therefore, the author should have emphasised more than he did, that the capital at risk involved is perhaps greater than other sectors or where retail investors might expect a 'set it and forget it' type biotech portfolio. The history of medicine could also have been more concise but I did like the section setting out the context of the anti-biotic resistance that is a far bigger problem than most laypeople are currently aware of.

The book is excellently written and has broadened my understanding of various technologies and concepts that were previously unknown to me. As someone who enjoys reading about science and biotechnology, I found it to be very informative. I highly recommend it to anyone who shares similar interests. The book is easy to comprehend and effectively communicates complex scientific topics. I am grateful for the opportunity to access this book and extend my appreciation to Net Galley, the publisher, and the author.