A superbly written work of narrative non-fiction by an exciting new talent, The Anti-Catastrophe League is a brilliant study of the people and their teams who are trying to save the world.

Our species has a unique genius for self-imperilment. The ancient dangers – asteroids, super-volcanoes and worse – still stalk us, but the most pressing time-bombs are of our own making. Our knack for self-imperilment, though, is one side of a coin: for we are also developing a knack for ambitious solutions.

The Anti-Catastrophe League, informed by the author’s experience of working in the field of what is known as existential risk, tells the story of a species that is working out how to defuse several bombs at once. From ancient risks to very modern apocalypses, the book charts the imminent dangers to the human race, and introduces listeners to the groups of scientists, eccentrics, diplomats and visionaries who are trying to prevent doom.