As a combination of evolutionary biology and anthropology, this work of non-fiction offers answers to some of life’s most fascinating questions. The subheading On the Evolution and Future of the Human Animal gives a glimpse of the insightful content specifically written for younger readers. From what point on and how did humans differentiate themselves from […]

Katie loves her family, weird quirks included. However, she can’t help but feel misunderstood by her parents and longs for a fresh start at Art School in California. Her Dad insists on one last road trip to bond as a family. And so, the Mitchells embark on a trip across the country to drop Katie […]

Robots is an animated science fiction comedy about material values, consumerism, and perseverance. Young robot Rodney Copperbotton follows his dream to become an inventor and leaves his home for the big city to meet his idol Bigweld whose company hires inventors and provides robots with spare parts. Upon arriving, however, Rodney learns that Bigweld has […]

This Black Mirror episode is about (digital) memory records, privacy rights, surveillance, holding grudges, and the importance to let the past go. A world in which an implant allows people to replay their memories for themselves but also on screens for others. During the episode, Liam becomes more and more obsessed with his wife’s relationship […]

This Black Mirror episode is dealing with helicopter parents, surveillance, the issues with surveillance technology, and the importance of stressful experiences. When little Sara gets lost for a while because she was following a cat, her mother Marie takes her to get an “Arkangel”-implant letting Marie not only access Sarah’s location but also see and […]

This Black Mirror episode deals with the ethics of talent shows, consumerism, surveillance, and sensationalism.It features a system making people ride stationary bikes in order to earn “Merits”, a digital currency. Living in a room plastered with monitors they are forced to watch commercials or pay Merits if they want to skip them. When main […]

In his autobiography, Edward Snowden describes his life: his first encounters with technology and the following enthusiasm he developed for coding and the internet. He talks about his career and the process up to his groundbreaking revelations in 2013 about the spying activities and large-scale data collection, especially of the NSA. The book gives valuable […]

The Maze Runner is a science-fiction film based on the novel by the same name, the first of a trilogy. The story follows 16-year-old Thomas, who wakes up in a moving elevator with no memory of who he is. The mysterious elevator delivers him to a patch of land in the middle of a maze. […]

This film is a classic in the dystopian science fiction genre. Gattaca presents a world driven by eugenics, in which children are genetically selected and modified during pregnancy. This leads to a society full of genetic discrimination where individuals are hired or disqualified for certain jobs solely due to their genetic makeup. The main character […]

Jurassic Park is the first installment of the science-fiction franchise of the same name. On the fictional island Isla Nublar, wealthy businessman John Hammond has created a wildlife-park like none other. His team of geneticists manages to bring formerly extinct dinosaurs back to life through the help of prehistoric mosquitos and cloning. When an employee […]

This Postmodern utopian/dystopian novel is about artificial intelligence, religion, genetic engineering, and coping with death and guilt.Klara is an Artificial Friend sold to the sickly girl to help her cope with the loneliness and help with her daily challenges. Klara narrates the story and has a remarkable observational capability particularly noticing the little things. Because […]

A dystopian novel on the difference between freedom and security, surveillance, brain-altering surgery, and the power of mind and imagination. In the near future, the rust belt states are reigned by anarchy. Most people have lost their jobs and homes, the streets are not safe and there is a constant threat of being mugged, raped, […]

The cartoon “War Against Climate Change” by Chriss Riddell, published in The Guardian on December 20, 2009, critically investigates the devastating effects of climate change in the near future and the denial of responsibility by older generations. Based on the scenery, a grandfather sits in an armchair with his granddaughter on his lap and his grandson sitting […]

The cartoon “Do What I Say, Not What I Do” by Patrick Chappatte, published in The New York Times on December 8, 2005, critically investigates environmental pollution and the reluctance of industrial countries to make a change. Based on the scenery, a stout American with a drinking bottle saying “Oil” suggests to an Asian businessman that: “To […]

This Gothic short story contrasts inner and outer monstrosity, and, going along with that, also focuses on moral values and the view on what is different. The young student Giovanni moves into an apartment in Padua, with windows that are opening to a beautiful garden. Said garden seems to consist of poisonous flowers and is […]

This is a film navigating ideologies, manipulation and the big question of free will. In a world full of crime, the project PreCrime by a specialized police department in Washington DC seems to offer a convenient solution. “Criminals” are arrested and convicted before commiting the crime they are accused of, based on predictions of psychics […]

This documentary addresses a myriad of issues connected to the fishing industry. From overfishing to plastic marine debris and inhumane working conditions, the film brings to light many factors that could play a role in the destruction of the marine ecosystem. It raises questions surrounding industry practices, but also the consumer’s behavior: How important is […]

This award-winning children’s book is narrated from the perspective of a young Ojibwe girl, who speaks up to defend her people’s land from the black snake (representing oil pipelines). Threatening to pollute and destroy planet earth, the black snake must be stopped, before it eventually poisons the life-giving water. Will the voice of the young […]