Stefan Klein, born in 1965, is Germany’s most successful science author and is recognised as one of Europe’s most influential science writers and journalists. After studying physics and analytical philosophy in Munich, Grenoble, and Freiburg, he turned to writing because he ‘wanted to inspire people for a reality that is more exciting than any crime thriller’. His books, which have been translated into more than 25 languages, include the #1 international bestseller The Science of Happiness, The Secret Pulse of Time, Leonardo’s Legacy, and We Are All Stardust. He lives and works as a freelance writer in Berlin.David Shaw works as a journalist for Germany’s international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, as well as translating from several languages, including German, Dutch, Russian, and French. He lives in Berlin.

‘Klein’s detailed three-part exploration of human behaviour in the face of disaster — whether it is climate change, AI or the ageing global population — pairs scientific findings and historical examples to illustrate how humankind has not always acted in its own best interests … Stefan Klein’s prose is in the tradition of the best English-language nonfiction writers, such as Malcolm Gladwell, Steven Pinker, and Michael Pollan … this accessible book sheds some light on the more confounding aspects of humanity’s behaviour.’