The Long History of the Future - by Nicole Kobie

About the Book

Book Synopsis

We love to imagine the future. But why are groundbreaking future technologies always just around the corner, and never a reality?

For decades we've delighted in dreaming about a sci-fi utopia, from flying cars and bionic humans to hyperloops and smart cities. And why not? Building a better world - be it a free-flying commute or an automated urban lifestyle - is a worthy dream. Given the pace of technological change, nothing seems impossible anymore. But why are these innovations always out of reach?

Delving into the remarkable history of technology, The Long History of the Future introduces us to the clever scientists, genius engineers and eccentric innovators who first brought these ideas to life and have struggled to make them work since. These stories reveal a more realistic picture of how these technologies may evolve - and how we'll eventually get to use them. You may never be able to buy a fully driverless car, but automated braking and steering could slash collision rates. Smart cities won't perfect city life, but they could help empty bins on time. Hyperloops may never arrive, but superfast trains are already here.

We always believe current technology is the best it could be. By looking to the past and the future, Nicole Kobie shows how history always proves us wrong and how what lies ahead may not be what we imagine, but so much better.

Review Quotes

"Kobie does a wonderful job, weaving together a compelling history of long-awaited technologies." --New Scientist

"An enriching and largely celebratory jaunt through a century of big ideas and consequent technologies ... The book's most refreshing quality is its optimism. Unlike many technology writers of late, Kobie revels in the gusto, creativity and eccentricities of the pioneers she writes about." --Wall Street Journal

"Rich in storytelling... Kobies goes deep into the history of technology." --The Economist

"The Long History of the Future is an excellent book. Not only does it give us a fascinating, sometimes very funny, account of attempts to turn technological dreams into reality, it also introduces a welcome blast of common sense into the often fevered world of speculation about the future." --Daily Mail

"An enjoyable, interesting book ... exploring high-tech ideas that have fallen flat with expertise and humor." --Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Nicole Kobie is a technology and science journalist. A contributing and futures editor for Wired and PC Pro, her research has appeared in publications as wide ranging as Teen Vogue, New Scientist and GQ.

Nicole specialises in debunking government and startup PR around future tech. Over recent years she has reported on the limitations of flying cars and the slow research into computer-brain interfaces for Wired and the slow progress in developing self-driving cars for PC Pro/Alphr.