The Ministry for the Future
A Novel
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The Ministry for the Future
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Written by:
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Kim Stanley Robinson
About this listen
From legendary science-fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson comes a remarkable vision of climate change over the coming decades.
The Ministry for the Future is a masterpiece of the imagination, using fictional eyewitness accounts to tell the story of how climate change will affect us all. Its setting is not a desolate, post-apocalyptic world, but a future that is almost upon us - and in which we might just overcome the extraordinary challenges we face.
It is a novel both immediate and impactful, desperate and hopeful in equal measure, and it is one of the most powerful and original books on climate change ever written.
One of Barack Obama's Favorite Books of 2020
"If I could get policymakers, and citizens, everywhere to read just one book this year, it would be Kim Stanley Robinson’s The Ministry for the Future." (Ezra Klein)
"The best science fiction-nonfiction novel I’ve ever read." (Jonathan Lethem, Vanity Fair)
"A breathtaking look at the challenges that face our planet in all their sprawling magnitude and also in their intimate, individual moments of humanity." (Booklist, starred)
Also by Kim Stanley Robinson:
- Red Moon
- New York 2140
- 2312
- Aurora
- Shaman
What the critics say
"Science-fiction visionary Kim Stanley Robinson makes the case for quantitative easing our way out of planetary doom." (Bloomberg Green)
"[A] gutsy, humane view of a near-future Earth.... Robinson masterfully integrates the practical details of environmental crises and geoengineering projects into a sweeping, optimistic portrait of humanity's ability to cooperate in the face of disaster. This heartfelt work of hard science-fiction is a must-read for anyone worried about the future of the planet." (Publishers Weekly, starred)
"A breathtaking look at the challenges that face our planet in all their sprawling magnitude and also in their intimate, individual moments of humanity." (Booklist)
Featured Article: Canadian Voice Narrators That You Need to Listen to
Discover the voices and stories of Canada with this list of Canadian narrators and authors who are bringing Canadian tales to life in these incredible audiobooks.
What listeners say about The Ministry for the Future
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2021-03-04
absolutely a must read
shows how humanity will push through the horrors of climate change for a better future
much needed mental framing for those who care deeply
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- William Barth
- 2022-08-27
way not worth the hype
This is still scifi. There must be a better book that spells out the truths of our time, in a much more concise and digestible way. This book is jumbled and long winded. The story line jumps around so much that one has to relisten multiple times or take notes while listening.
The actors leave much to be desired and some delivery warrants replaying to really understand what was said.
Global warming.
Heat wave kills.
Introduced me to wet bulb temps. never knew about them.
Oil and gas magnates.
Government corruption.
Concept of carbon coin is interesting and would love a book all about that on its own.
Same with the fesability of sail and photovelics.
something that is much more non fiction about marxism, communism, practical, and scientific.
Its a good story, sure. Maybe will be made into a movie or series even. Kind of like the expanse, i guess. but certainly not as gripping from a fiction standpoint.
paper version may be better.
i dont understand all the overwhelmingly positive reviews.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mikey inkster
- 2022-05-03
not to be used to learn proper pronunciation.
KSR doing what he does. the readers should have heard more English in preparation. for me, nothing snags the flow like trying to guess what the word was supposed to be. for a less critical ear, just fine.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mike
- 2021-03-19
must read
I think this is the most important book I've listened to. I've started thinking a lot about what I can do.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Krista Salter
- 2022-09-14
Absolutely a must read!
Interesting portrayl of how the next few decades may turn out with some optimism.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Alicia Gradson
- 2022-05-16
Performance
The majority of readings were not to my liking. As a result, some performers did detract from the story. My enjoyment was negatively effected.
The story is a reasonable extrapolation of the climatic mess we are/will experience.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Teresa Phillips
- 2025-01-21
It's science fiction after all...
Started out with a gripping chapter about a climate change induced heat wave that kills millions in India and introduces us to a compelling character. After that the story was such a mixture I wasn't sure if I was reading a textbook on economics, listening to scientists preach geo-tech fixes, watching a secretary take notes, or just waiting for the world to go round. And filler, oh so much filler. Most characters are so bland I'm not sure why they are even needed. There were so many places this story could have gone: ie, the black ops which may or may not have been operating in the background, the development of the few worthy characters, how the governments of the world did a turn-around, or a glimpse into what it was that made humans actually give a fuck.
Yes, it was just science fiction after all.
However, there were some chapters very worthy of a read, especially the ones on Economics, if only to show how crazy the system is. A few gems, maybe a laugh, or perhaps that was a snort.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 2021-02-21
A Must read
The book starts with a shocking event that leads to some limited action on climate change.
The author has done extensive research on many areas affected by the climate and sets out the currently available solutions that are available now and what is likely to happen if we fail.
He shows us a possible path to a new future
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lucy in Toronto
- 2023-09-05
Brilliant
I know of no better statement for what the future world could be, if only we have the will to truly address climate change and improve life for everyone on the planet—human and non-human.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Arthur Garrido
- 2022-07-02
Inspiring
Some really cool ideas and makes me want to make changes in my own life.
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