Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
If you had a trillion dollars and a year to spend it for the good of the world and the advancement of science, what would you do? It's an unimaginably large sum, yet it's only around one per cent of world GDP, and about the valuation of Google, Microsoft or Amazon. It's a much smaller sum than the world found to bail out its banks in 2008 or deal with Covid-19.
But what could you achieve with $1 trillion?
You could solve the problem of the pandemic, for one, and eradicate malaria, and maybe cure all disease. You could end global poverty. You could settle on the moon and explore the solar system. You could build a massive particle collider to probe the nature of reality like never before. You could build quantum computers, develop artificial intelligence, or increase human lifespan. You could even create a new life form.
Or how about transitioning the world to clean energy? Or preserving the rainforests, or saving all endangered species? Maybe you could refreeze the melting Arctic, launch a new sustainable agricultural revolution, and reverse climate change?
How to Spend a Trillion Dollars is the ultimate thought experiment but it is also a call to arms: These are all things we could do, if we put our minds to it--and our money.
Synopsis
The ultimate thought experiment--what would you do with a trillion dollars?--opens our eyes to the good we can do for humanity if we spend wisely
If you had a trillion dollars and a year to spend it for the good of the world, what would you do? It's an unimaginable sum, the stuff of lighthearted hypotheticals, but author Rowan Hooper embarks on a quest to find out what would happen if we took the question extremely seriously. Speaking with experts of all kinds, he compiles a list of incredibly ambitious, world-changing ideas--ones that would secure the most profound, long-lasting benefits, from trying to end global poverty or reverse climate change to increasing human lifespans, refreezing the Arctic, saving all endangered species, and more. And then he dives into the numbers, breaking down strategies and costs to determine: How far could the money really go?
Hooper does reach a conclusion as to which project would do the most good for ourselves and our planet (you'll have to read to find out ), but his most surprising discovery is how many incredible advancements are within reach--if we could only put our minds (and our money) to them
Synopsis
What would you do with a trillion dollars? The ultimate thought experiment opens our eyes to ten world-changing ideas within our grasp If we can come up with a trillion dollars to bail out banks, imagine what else we could do. Science journalist Rowan Hooper decided to find out, speaking with experts of all kinds about ten incredibly ambitious projects that-- if realized--would secure profound, enduring benefits: trying to end global poverty, reverse climate change, extend our lifespans, refreeze the Arctic, save all endangered species, and more. Then, he dives into strategies and costs to see: How far would $1 trillion really go? You'll have to read on to learn which project he concludes would do the most good . . . but the biggest surprise is how many astonishing advances are actually within our grasp--if we dare to reach for them.
Synopsis
If we can come up with a trillion dollars to bail out banks, imagine what else we could do. Science journalist Rowan Hooper decided to find out, speaking with experts of all kinds about ten incredibly ambitious projects that-- if realized--would secure profound, enduring benefits: trying to end global poverty, reverse climate change, extend our lifespans, refreeze the Arctic, save all endangered species, and more. Then, he dives into strategies and costs to see: How far would $1 trillion really go? You'll have to read on to learn which project he concludes would do the most good . . . but the biggest surprise is how many astonishing advances are actually within our grasp--if we dare to reach for them.