The World, the Flesh and the Devil - Radical Thinkers by J D Bernal Paperback

About the Book

"Written by the pioneering scientist, theorist and activist J. D. Bernal, this futuristic essay explores the radical changes to human bodies and intelligence that science may bring about, and suggests the impact of these developments on society. Bernal presents a far-reaching vision of the future that encompasses space research and colonization, material sciences, genetic engineering, and the technological hive mind. In his view, it will be possible for the conditions of civilization to reach a state of materialist utopia. For all three realms - the world, the flesh, and the devil - Bernal attempted to map out the utmost limit of technoscientific progress, and found that there are almost no limits."--

Book Synopsis

Written by the pioneering scientist, theorist and activist J. D. Bernal, this futuristic essay explores the radical changes to human bodies and intelligence that science may bring about, and suggests the impact of these developments on society. Bernal presents a far-reaching vision of the future that encompasses space research and colonization, material sciences, genetic engineering, and the technological hive mind. In his view, it will be possible for the conditions of civilization to reach a state of materialist utopia. For all three realms--the world, the flesh, and the devil--Bernal attempted to map out the utmost limit of technoscientific progress, and found that there are almost no limits.

With a new introduction by McKenzie Wark.

Review Quotes

"It is perhaps the most remarkable attempt to predict the future of scientific possibility ever made, and certainly the most stimulating. On reading it again, I am astonished to see how many of my own concepts and ideas I really owe to Bernal!"
--Arthur C. Clarke

"I think this book is perhaps the best short essay about the future of science ever written. It has a gem-like quality."
--Derek J. de Solla Price

"A stellar masterpiece of cosmic speculation."
--Bruce Sterling

About the Author

John Desmond Bernal (1901-1971) was one of the United Kingdom's best-known and most controversial scientists. He published extensively on the history of science.

McKenzie Wark is the author of The Hacker Manifesto and other books and teaches at the New School in New York.