Soonish
ten emerging technologies that'll improve and/or ruin everything
Overview of Soonish
Dive into "Soonish," the NYT bestseller where bioscientist Kelly and cartoonist Zach Weinersmith explore technologies that could revolutionize or wreck our future. Endorsed by Reddit's co-founder and named WSJ's Best Science Book, it makes complex science hilariously accessible. Space elevators, anyone?
Key Themes in Soonish
- emerging technologies
- future of spaceflight
- asteroid mining
- technological innovation hurdles
- speculative science
Quotes from Soonish
Getting to space is absurdly expensive.
Space would finally open to adventurers and risk-takers.
Asteroids offer an alternative source of these valuable materials.
Fusion represents the ultimate clean energy solution.
Characters in Soonish
- Kelly WeinersmithAuthor and scientist exploring future tech
- Zach WeinersmithAuthor and illustrator of the book
- Dr. Karen DanielsScientist proposing plant-root asteroid mining
About the Author
About the Author of Soonish
Kelly Weinersmith and Zach Weinersmith, bestselling authors of Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything, blend scientific rigor with irreverent humor to explore cutting-edge innovations.
Kelly, a Rice University biologist and parasite ecology researcher, pairs with Zach, creator of the popular Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal webcomic, to demystify complex scientific concepts for general audiences. Their debut collaboration examines futuristic technologies like space elevators and robotic construction through interdisciplinary lenses, combining Kelly’s academic expertise with Zach’s storytelling flair.
The duo expanded their science communication work in the Royal Society Trivedi Prize-winning A City on Mars, analyzing space colonization challenges. Regularly featured in The New York Times, BBC World, and TEDx talks, they co-host the Science... sort of podcast to make research accessible.
Soonish became a Wall Street Journal "Best Science Book of the Year" and NYTimes science bestseller, establishing the Weinersmiths as essential guides to humanity’s technological future.
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FAQs About This Book
Soonish explores ten emerging technologies—like space exploration, fusion energy, programmable matter, and brain-computer interfaces—that could reshape society. Authors Kelly and Zach Weinersmith blend humor, comics, and in-depth research to explain how these innovations work, their potential benefits, and the scientific hurdles delaying their adoption.
Science enthusiasts, futurists, and casual readers curious about cutting-edge technologies will enjoy Soonish. Its accessible writing and witty illustrations make complex topics like synthetic biology and augmented reality engaging for non-experts, while still offering depth for tech-savvy audiences.
Yes—Soonish balances optimism with skepticism, offering a nuanced look at technologies like 3D-printed organs and nuclear fusion. Praised by Cory Doctorow and Science Friday, it combines rigorous research with humor, though some note rapid tech advancements may date certain sections.
The book highlights:
- Cheap space access (e.g., asteroid mining)
- Fusion energy and programmable materials
- Robotic construction and augmented reality
- Synthetic biology (e.g., eradicating malaria)
- Bioprinting organs and brain-computer interfaces
It examines dual-use risks, like synthetic biology’s potential to cure diseases or create bioweapons, and discusses the moral implications of bioprinting and AI-driven technologies. The authors emphasize balancing innovation with caution.
- “Soonish is an exceptional science book… [it] keeps the excitement intact.” – Cory Doctorow
- “Lays out… exactly what it might take to get us [to the future].” – Tasha Robinson, NPR
Unlike academic texts, Soonish uses comics and humor to demystify topics like programmable matter. It focuses on near-future tech rather than speculative sci-fi, offering a grounded yet entertaining perspective.
Some argue rapidly evolving fields like AI and synthetic biology may outpace the book’s 2017 insights. However, its exploration of foundational challenges (e.g., fusion energy bottlenecks) remains relevant.
Technologies like brain-computer interfaces and mRNA vaccines (a precision medicine subset) have advanced significantly since publication, making Soonish’s analysis of their early-stage potential particularly insightful today.
The Weinersmiths’ comics and witty analogies simplify concepts—comparing nuclear fusion to a “toaster powered by a star”—while interviews with scientists add credibility.
Yes. Its chapters on augmented reality, robotic construction, and bioengineering provide context for modern developments in AI-driven design, 3D-printed homes, and CRISPR gene editing.
Key concerns include programmable matter’s misuse, bioprinting’s societal impact, and brain-computer interfaces’ privacy risks. The book urges proactive ethical frameworks alongside innovation.
