A review by terrypaulpearce
Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future by Martin Ford

5.0

This is probably the most eye-opening and important book I've read in a long, long time. Really clearly, engagingly and even-handedly, using a good selection of sources, it explains exactly how current and (very) near-future advances in technology are doing incredibly scary things. In particular, Ford shows how economics and rising inequality intersect with the accelerating pace of tech to create a perfect storm where, unless we change our economic policy, we are utterly screwed. He builds a pretty unassailable case for some kind of Universal Basic Income as the only feasible way out, and has convinced me that this is probably the most important issue we're facing right now as a planet. Everyone should read this book, especially anyone with a job (even if it's the kind of job you think machines can't do), or anyone who wants a job, or wants their children to have a job, or uses money, or relies in any way on the economy. The people who need to take most notice are policymakers. I hope they do.