What's the Worst That Could Happen? by Andrew Leigh

What's the Worst That Could Happen? by Andrew Leigh

Why catastrophic risks are more dangerous than you think, and how populism is making them worse.

Did you know that you're more likely to die from a catastrophe than in a car crash? The odds that a typical US resident will die from a catastrophic event--for example, nuclear war, bioterrorism, or out-of-control artificial intelligence--have been estimated at 1 in 6. That's fifteen times more likely than a fatal car crash and thirty-one times more likely than being murdered. In What's the Worst That Could Happen?, Andrew Leigh looks at catastrophic risks and how to mitigate them, arguing provocatively that the rise of populist politics makes catastrophe more likely.

Leigh explains that pervasive short-term thinking leaves us unprepared for long-term risks. Politicians sweat the small stuff--granular policy details of legislation and regulation--but rarely devote much attention to reducing long-term risks. Populist movements thrive on short-termism because they focus on their followers' immediate grievances. Leigh argues that we should be long-termers: broaden our thinking and give big threats the attention and resources they need.

Leigh outlines the biggest existential risks facing humanity and suggests remedies for them. He discusses pandemics, considering the possibility that the next virus will be more deadly than COVID-19; warns that unchecked climate change could render large swaths of the earth uninhabitable; describes the metamorphosis of the arms race from a fight into a chaotic brawl; and examines the dangers of runaway superintelligence. Moreover, Leigh points out, populism (and its crony, totalitarianism) not only exacerbates other dangers but is also a risk factor in itself, undermining the institutions of democracy as we watch.

Stephen Hoare is a regular contributor to The Guardian, Human Resources magazine, Talent Management Review and writes special reports on careers and MBAs for the Times. As a consultant on communication he has worked with a number of business schools including Cass, Cranfield, and RSM Erasmus University. Andrew Leigh is a former business feature writer from The Observer, Director of Maynard Leigh Associates and author of books, including, The Charisma Effect (Pearson Education 2008) and Secrets of Success in Management (Pearson Education 2008).

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780262046077
ISBN 10	0262046075
Title	What's the Worst That Could Happen?
Author	Andrew Leigh
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	MIT Press Ltd
Year published	2021-11-09
Number of pages	232
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.