jennycn__'s review
4.0
“No one, at the end of life, regrets love.”
Having read some less than enthusiastic reviews of this book on Goodreads, I was nervous about starting this book. I needn’t have been. Winterson writes with the same beautiful prose that we’ve come to expect, offering reflections on what it means to be human in the age of AI. It’s not a science book, nor does it purport to be. Like her fiction, it’s a distinctly _human_ book that weaves throughout it an interesting facts and opinions, succinctly capturing her intense curiosity about the world we find ourselves in and what might come next. Consider this book a jumping off point for deeper research and reflection, if you want to. It’s an enjoyable few hours in the company of a bright and engaging writer.
Having read some less than enthusiastic reviews of this book on Goodreads, I was nervous about starting this book. I needn’t have been. Winterson writes with the same beautiful prose that we’ve come to expect, offering reflections on what it means to be human in the age of AI. It’s not a science book, nor does it purport to be. Like her fiction, it’s a distinctly _human_ book that weaves throughout it an interesting facts and opinions, succinctly capturing her intense curiosity about the world we find ourselves in and what might come next. Consider this book a jumping off point for deeper research and reflection, if you want to. It’s an enjoyable few hours in the company of a bright and engaging writer.
sanarya's review against another edition
5.0
"Hell is a place where nothing changes"
I can't put into words how genius this woman is.
Every essay in this book is carefully thought of and put together with perfect amount of information and "empathy".
The way she variously explores everything AI can have an effect on is genius.
It's like she's holding your hand while reading the book and is constantly whispering "it's gonna be fine"
Definitely my favorite read of this year.
I can't put into words how genius this woman is.
Every essay in this book is carefully thought of and put together with perfect amount of information and "empathy".
The way she variously explores everything AI can have an effect on is genius.
It's like she's holding your hand while reading the book and is constantly whispering "it's gonna be fine"
Definitely my favorite read of this year.
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
3,5* rounded to 4
I think I could love Jeanette Winterson shopping list but I found a bit hard to keep reading this series of essay on AI and feminism.
Her style of writing is as good as always but the content is a bit disjointed and sometimes I found it confusing.
Some interesting food for thought.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I think I could love Jeanette Winterson shopping list but I found a bit hard to keep reading this series of essay on AI and feminism.
Her style of writing is as good as always but the content is a bit disjointed and sometimes I found it confusing.
Some interesting food for thought.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
norcani's review
2.0
The chapters focusing on the now are decent but anything future centric is based on the faulty premise that AGI isn't only possible, or even plausible , but inevitable. There is no real justification given for this fantasy but reiterated again and again ("I am sure that.." why?). So more than half of this is the equivalent of being based on the premise of the moon being made of cheese.
In the end a lot of the essays were a real stretch to connect to AI anyway. There also were no less than 3 essays focused on misogyny, besides the one focusing on sex bots I found them out of place.
The last thing is, at some point she calls COVID-19 nature's way of culling humans, that "perhaps should be accepted". I am taking this out of context but there is no context that will make it more acceptable to say perhaps these deaths should be accepted. What a callous thing to say especially considering how overwhelmingly it kills people in risk groups already.
In the end a lot of the essays were a real stretch to connect to AI anyway. There also were no less than 3 essays focused on misogyny, besides the one focusing on sex bots I found them out of place.
The last thing is, at some point she calls COVID-19 nature's way of culling humans, that "perhaps should be accepted". I am taking this out of context but there is no context that will make it more acceptable to say perhaps these deaths should be accepted. What a callous thing to say especially considering how overwhelmingly it kills people in risk groups already.
editrix's review against another edition
100% brilliant. This isn’t something I’d normally pick up based on subject matter (the history and future of artificial intelligence), but I’ll read anything by Jeanette Winterson because everything she does is smart and funny and provocative and boundary pushing in ways that make her texts feel like sitting in a favorite college course with a favorite professor (one who’s mastered the art of the snarky aside).
These essays are about technology, yes, but they’re even more about what it means to be human, both the good and the bad of it—love, empathy, innovation, etc., and also greed, misogyny, and ignorance, both willful and not—and everything in between. If your summer reading goals include something outside your usual fare and/or something that makes you think, I highly recommend this. And if you want to explore some of the same territory in fiction, Winterson’s “Frankissstein” (dumb title, great book) is also excellent.
These essays are about technology, yes, but they’re even more about what it means to be human, both the good and the bad of it—love, empathy, innovation, etc., and also greed, misogyny, and ignorance, both willful and not—and everything in between. If your summer reading goals include something outside your usual fare and/or something that makes you think, I highly recommend this. And if you want to explore some of the same territory in fiction, Winterson’s “Frankissstein” (dumb title, great book) is also excellent.
jselliot's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
A collection of essays on the history of technology and some future speculation, threaded with feminist concepts. I particularly liked the one that focused on sex dolls and their inherent Stepford Wives vibe, as well as how their proliferation is likely to lead to increased harm to women because the doll acts as a training tool to numb men to the idea of certain acts.
aslireekers's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0