What's the Worst That Could Happen? - by Andrew Leigh (Hardcover)
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<p/><br></br><p><b> About the Book </b></p></br></br>"An analysis of the ways in which populist politics place our long-term well-being at risk, exploring pandemics, climate change, nuclear war and other issues"--<p/><br></br><p><b> Book Synopsis </b></p></br></br><b>Why catastrophic risks are more dangerous than you think, and how populism is making them worse.</b> <p/>Did you know that you're more likely to die from a catastrophe than in a car crash? The odds that a typical US resident will die from a catastrophic event--for example, nuclear war, bioterrorism, or out-of-control artificial intelligence--have been estimated at 1 in 6. That's fifteen times more likely than a fatal car crash and <i>thirty-one</i> times more likely than being murdered. In <i>What's the Worst That Could Happen?</i>, Andrew Leigh looks at catastrophic risks and how to mitigate them, arguing provocatively that the rise of populist politics makes catastrophe more likely. <p/>Leigh explains that pervasive short-term thinking leaves us unprepared for long-term risks. Politicians sweat the small stuff--granular policy details of legislation and regulation--but rarely devote much attention to reducing long-term risks. Populist movements thrive on short-termism because they focus on their followers' immediate grievances. Leigh argues that we should be long-termers: broaden our thinking and give big threats the attention and resources they need. <p/>Leigh outlines the biggest existential risks facing humanity and suggests remedies for them. He discusses pandemics, considering the possibility that the next virus will be more deadly than COVID-19; warns that unchecked climate change could render large swaths of the earth uninhabitable; describes the metamorphosis of the arms race from a fight into a chaotic brawl; and examines the dangers of runaway superintelligence. Moreover, Leigh points out, populism (and its crony, totalitarianism) not only exacerbates other dangers but is also a risk factor in itself, undermining the institutions of democracy as we watch.<p/><br></br><p><b> About the Author </b></p></br></br>Andrew Leigh is a Member of the Australian House of Representatives, and author of several books, including <i>Randomistas: How Radical Researchers Are Changing Our World</i> and (with Joshua Gans) <i>Innovation + Equality: How to Create a Future That Is More "Star Trek" Than "Terminator"</i> (MIT Press).
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