by Marc Goodman
First published 2015
Marc Goodman draws on his background in law enforcement and counterterrorism to examine how criminals, corporations, and nations weaponize new technologies against individuals and society. He demonstrates how hackers can activate baby monitors for surveillance, thieves study social media to plan break-ins, and stalkers use smartphone GPS to track victims. Goodman argues that our dependence on hackable computers creates massive vulnerabilities in power grids, air traffic systems, and financial networks. He warns that emerging technologies like the Internet of Things will connect every physical object online, creating unprecedented risks. Medical implants can be hacked to kill patients, car brakes can be disabled remotely, and 3D printers can manufacture weapons. The author explores how bad actors will exploit robotics, synthetic biology, nanotechnology, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. He contends that our technological foundation remains unstable and could collapse suddenly. Goodman provides concrete steps for individuals and society to regain control over devices and direct technology toward human benefit rather than harm.
Genres: science-fiction, crime, thriller, non-fiction, technology, 21st-century
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, technological-dystopia
Period: 21st-Century
393 pages · Hardcover · Doubleday
Content warnings: violence