The Precipice by Toby Ord Summary
Overview of The Precipice
In "The Precipice," Oxford philosopher Toby Ord delivers a sobering yet hopeful examination of humanity's existential risks. Published during COVID-19, this "startling and rigorous" work gained prominence when The New Yorker declared it "made for the present moment." What narrow margins separate us from catastrophe?
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Key takeaways
Humanity at the Edge: Our Most Dangerous Century
We stand at a pivotal moment in human history. For 200,000 years, our species has journeyed from small hunter-gatherer bands to a global civilization of unprecedented complexity. We've accomplished what no other species has: cooperation across both space and time. We pool knowledge with contemporaries and, more remarkably, across generations, allowing culture and technology to accumulate over millennia. But this extraordinary journey now faces its greatest test. With the first atomic bomb detonation in 1945, we entered an age where our technological power reached a threshold enabling self-destruction. For the first time, the threat to humanity from within exceeds threats from the natural world. What would it mean to lose everything? Not just billions of lives today, but trillions of future lives never lived, achievements never made, discoveries never revealed. Imagine nuclear war killing 99% of humanity, with survivors eventually rebuilding civilization. Now compare this with a war killing 100%. The difference between these scenarios isn't just quantitative-it's the difference between a terrible tragedy and the end of everything we could ever become. What's at stake isn't just our present, but our entire future potential.
Our Extraordinary Rise and Vast Potential
The Existential Dangers We've Created
The Intelligence Revolution: Our Greatest Challenge
Measuring the Precipice: How Great Is the Danger?
Safeguarding Humanity's Future
The Choice Before Us
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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