 Writing for the "Los Angeles Times", reviewer John Wilkes likened the future explored within "Man After Man" to the world of the film "Blade Runner" (1982) in its grim depictions of "technological progress decaying into human viciousness".Wilkes praised the introductionary chapters of the book, particularly the "easy-to-grasp and clearly illustrated" chapter on genetics.The various future human species were referred to by Wilkes as "truly wondrous" but "miserable".