The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology
Item Description
The great inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil is one of the best-known and most controversial advocates for the role of machines in the future of humanity. In his latest book, he envisions an eventthe "singularity"in 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 event a 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. In practical terms, this means that human aging and pollution will be reversed; world hunger will be solved; our bodies and environment transformed by nanotechnology to overcome the limitations of biology, including death; and virtually any physical product can be created from information alone. The Singularity Is Near also considers the social and philosophical ramifications of these changes, and is certain to be one of the most widely discussed and provocative books of 2005.
Product Details
- Author: Ray Kurzweil
- Publication Date: 2005-09-22
- Publisher: Viking Adult
- Product Group: Book
- Manufacturer: Viking Adult
- Binding: Hardcover, 672 pages
- Package Dimensions:
- Dimensions: 930L x 650W x 220H
- Weight: 210
- List Price: $29.95
- ISBN: 0670033847
- ASIN: 0670033847
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Customer Reviews
Average Amazon User Rating:
Good book.
2010-08-07
Reviewer: RF
His first book "Age of Spiritual machines" was great. This was a great follow up."
Inspiring, but a tough read
2010-07-01
Reviewer: Christopher Kienle
I love the idea of the singularity. I think Ray Kurzweil is a god among men. His enthusiasm and passion make me want to believe. But it may take my entire life to finish reading this book. It's dense and not very beginner-friendly for those of us who want to learn more about the topic. Don't let that discourage you though. This is really powerful, interesting stuff.
Well-organized and very thought-provoking
2010-06-11
Reviewer: Indian Prairie Public Library
The Singularity is Near is a book about future technology and how it will affect mankind. The author is a well-known inventor and futurist. The "Singularity" refers to a time when artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence, like a supercomputer. Kurzweil believes that time is coming very soon. Advances in several fields -- computer technology, genetics, robotics, biomedicine and nanotechnology -- will all advance and merge to become the next evolutionary step of mankind. Kurzweil sees the elimination of all disease and pollution, and believes our lifespans will increase dramatically. He believes these advances will happen in our lifetime. His ideas are interesting and even frightening at times. The book was technical and difficult to read at times, but well-organized and very thought-provoking.
Mike Jorgensen's Review of Kurzweil's The Singularity is Near
2010-06-01
Reviewer: Arthur M. Diamond, Jr.
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2G7UYICWG61Q2 Mike Jorgensen's review was made as part of a critical review assignment for the Spring 2010 Economics of Technology seminar at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, taught by Art Diamond. (The course syllabus stated that part of the critical review assignment consisted of the making of a video recording of the review, and the posting of the review to Amazon.)
Not Quite
2010-04-27
Reviewer: master craftsman
A new hope to escape our human reality. With high tech parts we will evolve into something new and better. The author argues that the combination of computers, bioengineering, etc. will all come together to produce a super humanity. I've heard these arguments and hopes before from: Religions, political despots, and other desperate groups of people.
