From the author of Are You Smart Enough to Work at Google?, a
fascinating look at how an equation that foretells the future is
transforming everything we know about life, business, and the
universe.
In the 18th century, the British minister and mathematician Thomas Bayes
devised a theorem that allowed him to assign probabilities to events
that had never happened before. It languished in obscurity for centuries
until computers came along and made it easy to crunch the numbers. Now,
as the foundation of big data, Bayes' formula has become a linchpin of
the digital economy.
But here's where things get really interesting: Bayes' theorem can also
be used to lay odds on the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence;
on whether we live in a Matrix-like counterfeit of reality; on the many
worlds interpretation of quantum theory being correct; and on the
biggest question of all: how long will humanity survive?
The Doomsday Calculation tells how Silicon Valley's profitable formula
became a controversial pivot of contemporary thought. Drawing on
interviews with thought leaders around the globe, it's the story of a
group of intellectual mavericks who are challenging what we thought we
knew about our place in the universe. The Doomsday Calculation is
compelling reading for anyone interested in our culture and its future.