An Optimist's Tour of the Future
An Optimist's Tour of the Future: One Curious Man Sets Out to Answer "What's Next?' is a 2011 non-fiction book written by London-based British author, comedian and businessman Mark Stevenson. The book was released in January of that year in the United Kingdom and in February in the United States.
Overview
According to the author, the impetus for writing this survey of cutting-edge medical, scientific, computing, robotics and environmental trends, was a sudden appreciation of his own mortality and a subsequent desire to learn more about the kind of world in which the rest of his life would be played out. The resulting 'tour of the future' unfolds in the form of a travelogue that takes the writer around the world to meet thought leaders and professionals working at what might be described as 'the scientific horizon'. Drawing on his background as a comedian, the author adopts a tone and style that are breezy and the text is dotted with one-liners and wry observations.Critical review
The book received largely positive reviews in the UK, US and Australian press, in the blogosphere and on bookseller sites. Most often praised were the book's breadth, balance, approachable style and the author's ability to take often complex scientific research and render it understandable to the non-science literate.On the negative side, some reviewers found the author's humour unsuitable and distracting. Stuart Kelly of the Scotsman took issue with what he saw as Stevenson's "inappropriate, wise-cracking levity throughout" and Marek Kohn's review in the Financial Times suggested "trivialities get in the way of the important details gathered on his tour".