The great inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil is one of the best-known and controversial advocates for the role of machines in the future of humanity. In his latest, thrilling foray into the future, he envisions an eventthe singularityin which technological change becomes so rapid and so profound that our bodies and brains will merge with our machines.
The Singularity Is Near portrays what life will be like after this eventa human-machine civilization where our experiences shift from real reality to virtual reality and where our intelligence becomes nonbiological and trillions of times more powerful than unaided human intelligence. In practical terms, this means that human aging and pollution will be reversed, world hunger will be solved, and our bodies and environment transformed by nanotechnology to overcome the limitations of biology, including death.
We will be able to create virtually any physical product just from information, resulting in radical wealth creation. In addition to outlining these fantastic changes, Kurzweil also considers their social and philosophical ramifications. With its radical but optimistic view of the course of human development, The Singularity Is Near is certain to be one of the most widely discussed and provocative books of 2005.
Customer Reviews
dry but insightful:
hard to get through some of the sections. but worth it in the end.
The Singularity Is Near:
Once you get over Ray Kurzweil’s annoying certainty about where things are heading, you’ll find a great overview of — both existing and yet to be developed — technologies that might shape our future. For an aspiring futurologist, the list of references alone is no doubt worth the price of the book.
The coup de grace and tour de force of radical transhumanism:
Without exaggeration The Singularity is Near will likely become the preeminent futurist technology book of the 21st century. Whether Kurzweil’s predictions come to pass or not, I simply cannot imagine any subsequent tome topping this one–in depth of detail, in comprehensiveness, in (trans)humanitarianism, or in elegant flow of logic. And tome it is: note I felt obligated to state in the page count that the book has 100 pages of discursive notes… followed by a 50 page index!
I expect one day, just as we talk about the Christian era in terms of BC and AD, we’ll have another basis for gauging the centuries: BK and AK. Kurzweil does a lot of heavy lifting, systematically demonstrating the realities of the new technology, even some current concerns about environment and energy. We have reason to be optimistic.
…
For my complete review of this book and for other book and movie
reviews, please visit my site […]
Brian Wright
Copyright 2007
uninteresting:
really not impressed, it’s a collection of items and examples that don’t necessarily fit together.
The style seems somehow childish…
I personally am disapointed…
Fantastic insight into a possible, plauible future of humans and the universe:
This is one the the favorite books I have ever read. It is not an easy read for a non-scientist, but absolutely rewarding. It is surprisingly accessible, despite the technical and intellectual scope. The logical and insightful nature of Kurzweil’s arguments make it a compelling and inspirational read. The book has had a huge impact on my thinking and introduced me to the whole subject of futurism. It is affecting my investment and career decisions. There were numerous mind-bending, mind-expanding moments during reading this as the gravity of the concepts sank in. Garreau’s book, Radical Evolution, is a great follow-up read, comparing and contrasting Kurzweil’s optimism with the pessimism of others. It is a joy and luxury to be exposed to the visions such “big thinkers”.
Ray Kurzweil should probably have chosen a different, more dramatic first sentence for his book. Somehow “At the age of five, I had the idea I would become an inventor” doesn’t do justice to the scope and power of his basic premise. Nor does it prepare the reader for the almost religious fervor that will permeate great lengths of his work.
Maybe something in the lines of “A spectre is haunting the world, the spectre of Artificial Intelligence” would have been more appropriate. It’s the kind of ominous drumbeat a book like The Singularity is Near, begs for. Its doubtful, however, if mr Kurzweil would be comfortable using the terms of the Communist Manifesto.
The full review on the Singularity is Near is posted here.
Ray Kurzweil should probably have chosen a different, more dramatic first sentence for his book. Somehow “At the age of five, I had the idea I would become an inventor” doesn’t do justice to the scope and power of his basic premise. Nor does it prepare the reader for the almost religious fervor that will permeate great lengths of his work.
Maybe something in the lines of “A spectre is haunting the world, the spectre of Artificial Intelligence” would have been more appropriate. It’s the kind of ominous drumbeat a book like The Singularity is Near, begs for. Its doubtful, however, if mr Kurzweil would be comfortable using the terms of the Communist Manifesto.
the full review is posted here: http://cybookreview.com/bookreview.html