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Rating: 
Summary: Today and not so much tomorrow
Review: In this little book, Asimov has collected a number of science-related articles of his that have previously appeared in various magazines. He here presents them in their original form, the way he himself intended them to be, before they were altered by editors. There are 17 articles in all, divided into four groups: In Biology (What Do You Call a Platypus?, The Rhythm of Day and Night), In Astronomy (The Sun Vanishes, The Flying Mountains, The Romance of Mars, Knowledge is Anywhere), In Chemistry (Earth, Air, Water, Fire), and In Physics (Space, Time, Mass, You Can't Even Break Even, The Secret of the Squid, How Many Inches in a Mile?, Beyond the Ultimate).
The articles are easy to read, occasionally enlightening (although at times a bit dated, of course), and sometimes quite amusing. Despite the title, there really isn't much about the future here, though. On the whole, this book makes for some lightsome reading that you can while away a couple of hours with.
Rating:
Summary: Good physics, not so good metaphysicis
Review: What is with scientists that they assume that just because they are experts in the hard sciences, they automatically qualify as experts in the social sciences? Asimov is such a candidate...a prolific - if not brilliant or interesting - writer who was also a scientist. His prose was much too dry for commerical success in any other genre, what with his limited character development and totally unemotional dialogue. His importance lies in his role as instigator in the new sci-fi industry. Asimov always sounded more the scientist than the novelist and this is not a bad thing. This collection of essays is bound to please. A host of "big" items are discussed - asteroids and near misses, time, light, atomic particles, space travel, the beginning and the end of human civilization. Along the way he waxes prophetical, issuing dire warnings and, as it turned out, dismal predictions. He seems to have envisioned something on the order of the web with its instant knowledge and vast communication elements. But he totally missed the boat with his prediction that cities would disappear, progress would proceed evenly around the globe, work would be decentralized, understanding would expand, a world government would rule. Asimov was a collectivist without apology, always hoping that mankind would discover the "truth" on their own, but always prepared to use the force of the State if the "correct" choice was not forthcoming. His many warnings on over-population seem antiquated today with the UN revising downward the future population of the planet for the 2nd time in five years. His ideas about universal education fail because they assume most people are as interested in ideas as he is. Still, he was a visionary and rationalist who started a movement that has now become mainstream.
Rating:
Summary: Good physics, not so good metaphysicis
Review: What is with scientists that they assume that just because they are experts in the hard sciences, they automatically qualify as experts in the social sciences? Asimov is such a candidate...a prolific - if not brilliant or interesting - writer who was also a scientist. His prose was much too dry for commerical success in any other genre, what with his limited character development and totally unemotional dialogue. His importance lies in his role as instigator in the new sci-fi industry. Asimov always sounded more the scientist than the novelist and this is not a bad thing. This collection of essays is bound to please. A host of "big" items are discussed - asteroids and near misses, time, light, atomic particles, space travel, the beginning and the end of human civilization. Along the way he waxes prophetical, issuing dire warnings and, as it turned out, dismal predictions. He seems to have envisioned something on the order of the web with its instant knowledge and vast communication elements. But he totally missed the boat with his prediction that cities would disappear, progress would proceed evenly around the globe, work would be decentralized, understanding would expand, a world government would rule. Asimov was a collectivist without apology, always hoping that mankind would discover the "truth" on their own, but always prepared to use the force of the State if the "correct" choice was not forthcoming. His many warnings on over-population seem antiquated today with the UN revising downward the future population of the planet for the 2nd time in five years. His ideas about universal education fail because they assume most people are as interested in ideas as he is. Still, he was a visionary and rationalist who started a movement that has now become mainstream.
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