The Fate of the Species

The revelatory account of the biggest threats we face as a species—and what we can do to save ourselves.

The sixth "mass extinction event" in the history of planet Earth is currently under way, with over two hundred species dying off every day. The cause of this seismic event is also the source of the single biggest threat to human life: our own inventions.

But for all our talk about sea levels and biotechnology, do we really know what our future will actually look like? Will our immune systems be attacked by so-called super bugs, always evolving, and more easily spread than ever? Will the disappearance of numerous species cripple the biosphere? And if it does, what happens then? In this provocative, gripping book, Scientific American editor Fred Guterl explores these and other looming scenarios in vivid detail-the way they might really happen-and then proffers the means to avoid them.

We find ourselves in a trap: Technology got us into this mess, and it's also the only thing that can help us survive it. Guterl's riveting book is a grand and necessary thought experiment, not merely a scary story, but a fresh perspective on the world we're remaking, and a route to safe harbor.

Fred Guterl is executive editor of Scientific American. In ten years working for Newsweek, he worked closely with Fareed Zakaria to cover the most important trends in science, technology, and international affairs. He has also appeared on CNN, Charlie Rose, the Today Show, and on other television programs to discuss popular issues in science. Guterl holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Rochester, and has taught science writing at Princeton University. He lives in Montclair, New Jersey, with his wife and two children.

Advance praise for The Fate of the Species:

“This is a beautifully written book that will make you think and worry. Fred Guterl explains everything that could go wrong in lucid prose. It is an arresting, though unnerving combination.”—Fareed Zakaria, author of The Post-American World and host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS

“An important, awe-inspiring book. This is a straight-from-the-shoulder assessment of the future of a humankind trapped by its own technological prowess. The Fate of the Species is written by a master of his craft with provocative, thoughtful elegance. Guterl combines measured optimism with scary scenarios in a telling synthesis of cutting edge science made understandable. This book should be required reading for everyone, and I mean everyone.”—Brian Fagan, archaeologist and author of Elixir and The Great Warming

“Guterl has written ‘How We Die’ for the human species. From reverse genetics that creates a deadly flu virus to climate change that kills the Asian monsoons, his scenarios are so fascinating and compelling you almost forget what’s at stake. Almost.”—Sharon Begley, former science columnist for Newsweek and The Wall St. Journal

“It feels strange to call a book about the end of humanity elegant and engaging, but so be it. Fred Guterl has researched the many, many ways in which we could bring destruction down upon our own heads, bringing them up to date with the latest research in climatology, synthetic biology, and computer science. I hope the world doesn’t crash, but if it does, I can’t say Guterl didn’t warn me.”—Carl Zimmer, author of A Planet of Viruses