Where's My Jetpack?

Where's My Jetpack? examines the gap between science fiction's promises and technological reality. Daniel H. Wilson investigates dozens of futuristic inventions that captured public imagination but never materialized as predicted. The book breaks down various promised technologies - from flying cars to robot servants - explaining the scientific principles behind them and why they haven't yet become reality. Wilson combines research into actual technological development with analysis of how these innovations were portrayed in popular culture and science fiction. Through a mix of science, history, and humor, the text addresses the disappointment of unmet technological expectations while exploring what these fantasies reveal about human aspirations. The work serves as both a reality check on technological progress and a celebration of human imagination.

Readers describe this book as a light, humorous examination of retro-futuristic predictions versus modern technology reality. Many found it works better as a casual coffee table book than a thorough scientific analysis. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of complex technologies - Entertaining writing style and jokes - Illustrations and visual elements - Brief, digestible chapters Common criticisms: - Surface-level treatment of topics - Dated references (published 2007) - Too much focus on why technologies don't work - Wanted more detail on current development progress Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (80+ reviews) "Fun but shallow" appears in multiple reviews. One reader noted: "Expected more engineering detail, got more comedy." Another stated: "Perfect bathroom reading - interesting facts in small doses." The consensus frames it as an entertaining pop-science book that sacrifices depth for accessibility and humor.

Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku Documents scientific advances toward seemingly impossible technologies from Star Trek and other science fiction, examining teleportation, force fields, and time travel from a theoretical physics perspective.

The Rise and Fall of the Future by Devon Powers Traces how past predictions about technological and social progress shaped cultural expectations and reveals the patterns behind forecasting successes and failures.

Future Perfect: The Case for Progress by Steven Berlin Johnson Maps the development of technologies and innovations that were predicted in the past, showing which ideas came true and which remained dreams.

What Technology Wants by Kevin Kelly Examines the evolution of technology as a system, exploring how innovations develop and why some predicted technologies emerge while others stall.

Too Far Ahead of its Time by Douglas Self Chronicles inventions and technologies that appeared before the world was ready for them, revealing the gap between technological capability and practical implementation.

• Daniel H. Wilson holds a Ph.D. in robotics from Carnegie Mellon University and has written extensively about robots and artificial intelligence in both fiction and non-fiction works. • The jetpack concept was first patented in 1919 by Russian inventor Alexander Andreev, though his design was never successfully built. • The Bell Rocket Belt, demonstrated at the 1964 World's Fair, could only fly for 21 seconds and required highly volatile hydrogen peroxide as fuel. • Many technologies discussed in the book, like video calls and voice-controlled devices, have actually become reality since its 2007 publication. • The book was partly inspired by the author's childhood disappointment that the year 2000 didn't bring the flying cars and robot butlers promised by shows like "The Jetsons."