The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology,   ISBN:9780143037880

Customer Rating: 

Kurzweil states: "our technology will match and then vastly
exceed the refinement and suppleness of what we regard as the best of human traits"...but what about the worst of human traits? Richard Swenson also argues that technology is going to exponentially change our world, but not just for good, but also for ill...read "Hurtling Toward Oblivion" for another perspective: [...]

Customer Rating: 

It is probably not farfetched to say that "The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology" is the Singularitarian Bible. It is the one book that anyone interested (together with everyone not interested) in the Technological Singularity must read. No subject, field or issue is too big to fit within this book's subject matter. It examines the cutting edge research in and the implications thereof physics, mathematics, chemistry, medicine, computer science, biotechnology and genetics, artificial intelligence and robotics, nanotechnology and molecular manufacturing, nuclear physics and quantum theory, evolutionary theory and sociology, astronomy and cosmology, economics, politics and philosophy.

This book is meticulously researched and contains over 100 pages of scientific notes and references. It also contains a whole chapter of criticisms which are addressed in detail by Ray Kurzweil. If it does have a weakness it has to be the fact that it is so conceptually and theoretically advanced, so breathtakingly far-sighted and so exhaustively precise in its most minute cutting-edge scientific detail that readers may find it at times hard to follow. (I know I did) At the same time the book is undoubtedly successful at communicating "the singularity is near" message to a broad non-scientific readership.

Customer Rating: 

Mr. Kurzweil has a dramatic view of the near future that makes most science fiction look timid. He takes 500 pages to carefully document how genetic, nano, and robot technologies will soon lead us to first, biological immortality, and then to the creation of a digital super-intelligence that will eventually expand throughout the visible Universe. Kurzweil builds the case that the Integration of human minds with the digital mind (The Singularity) will be possible by 2045.

At first blush, the thesis of this book appears far-fetched and the time-line absurd. Mr Kurzweil, arguably one of the greatest intellects of our time, carefully builds a complete defense of his predictions and responds to criticisms. This is required reading for anyone who wants to think seriously about the future of mankind and the planet.

Customer Rating: 

Quick service. Product packed well and arrived quickly. Would certainly buy from this seller again.

Customer Rating: 

This is a fun read. Kurzweil's enthusiasm and optimism for the future is evident in the prose. I'm not sure how grounded he is, but he seems to be making an attempt to be an informed and researched dreamer. Its fun, read it, then go to work and feed your family.