Dickens & Rumi

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What should we be worried about?

John Brockman · 2014

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for What should we be worried about? by John Brockman. This book is recommended for ages 15+; content notes include Death of a character, Frightening scenes, Religious themes; positive qualities include Educational value, Creativity & curiosity.

Ages 15+Source checked

Why this age? The book is intellectually dense and discusses topics such as global risks, technology, human behavior, and mortality. It is not primarily graphic or sexual, but younger readers may need help with the abstract and sometimes unsettling ideas. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age15+

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character2/5
  • Frightening scenes2/5
  • Religious themes1/5

Strongest positives

  • Educational value5/5
  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Good role models3/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character2/5
Why this rating?

Death is discussed as a risk factor in scientific or ecological contexts.

Religious themes1/5
Why this rating?

Religion is not a central theme of these essays.

Frightening scenes2/5
Why this rating?

The subject matter involves theoretical risks, which some may find unsettling.

Violence1/5
Why this rating?

Violence is discussed only in abstract or academic terms regarding risks.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience2/5
Why this rating?

It models some intellectual courage by examining unsettling possibilities and challenging assumptions, though personal bravery is not a central narrative focus.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

The essays invite imaginative forecasting, unusual questions, interdisciplinary connections, and new ways of thinking about the future.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

Represents a diverse range of academic and scientific disciplines.

Educational value5/5
Why this rating?

Highly educational, spanning science, philosophy, technology, and society.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

Its central message is to think critically about overlooked risks, uncertainty, science, and the assumptions shaping society's future.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Contributors are experts in various fields modeling intellectual inquiry.

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Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What is one new thing you learned or became curious about?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in What should we be worried about? would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in What should we be worried about?, and what caused that change?
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These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

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