This work investigates the potential for molecular manufacturing to transform human civilization by enabling the precise control of matter at the atomic scale. K. Eric Drexler, a pioneer in the field of nanotechnology, utilizes principles from physics and engineering to argue that self-replicating molecular machines are theoretically possible. He outlines the potential for these systems to construct complex products from common raw materials, effectively altering the foundations of industrial production and resource scarcity.

Experts recognize this text as the foundational document that introduced the concept of molecular nanotechnology to the general public and the scientific community. Readers frequently note the technical density of the prose, which requires a basic understanding of physics and chemistry to fully grasp the proposed mechanisms.