Soonish is most definitely not a story. It is a book of pure information. Before you turn away because you’re looking for something that actually has a plot, at least let me say this: If you have ever been interested in the technology that could possibly be coming in the future, read this book. Soonish is like one of those internet pages that's titled “Top 10 most amazing technologies coming in the future! #7 will shock you!” but instead of being completely full of speculation, Soonish is entirely based on facts. Throughout the book, Soonish covers “10 emerging technologies that’ll improve and/or ruin everything” as well as giving you direct conversations with the people behind these amazing projects.

The book gains much of its charm from the comical panels drawn by Zach, author of the popular webcomic, Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, and from the sarcastic and humorous, yet extremely informative writing of Kelly, a parasitologist and co-host of the massively popular science podcast: Science...Sort Of. Kelly and Zach go in depth with each aspect of the technology that they discuss, such as affordability, usefulness, impacts, the whole process of making the tech, and then when it will be implemented into our lives. And, if that wasn’t enough, they also go over the interviews they had with the creators of all the amazing tech. It’s always amazing when you read some information and think “Oh that’s cool. I’d like to know more about that” and then as you keep reading, the person who made the project explains the entire process and how he is probably going to be 3D printing your entire house within the next decade. At the end of the book they also introduce you to “less soonisher, or the graveyard of lost chapters” which summarizes all of the tech that they researched, but which didn’t make the cut for the final draft. It was exciting to get a little nudge in the back, saying “hey, there’s cooler stuff coming later, so don’t forget.”

I’m usually not attracted to books without a plot, but being a total geek, I had to check out Soonish. After I closed the last page of the book, I just sat on the couch processing everything I just read. The entire book was such an eye opener to our generation’s future. There is so much amazing tech that is going to become a regular part of our lives and that makes me even more excited for what will come in our own children’s generation. The entire book is also a very pleasant read. It flows like an actual novel, but instead of telling you a story, it pours gallons of information on you, and yet because of how smoothly the entire book reads, you don't miss a single drop. Soonish is a nerdy, fun and informative book that perfectly blends facts and humor, which makes it one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read.

Rating: 9.5/10

Check out Soonish at the Newport Beach Public Library.