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marleyrollins's review against another edition
3.0
This was a bit too dry and overly poetic in parts, but fascinating in others. I feel like it couldn’t decide whether it wanted to be Jon Ronson or a critical theory essay, so it walked a strange but not unappealing mix of both. This book definitely contained some of the most eccentric and odd people I’ve ever seen in a book that isn’t fiction.
signorponza's review against another edition
4.0
Il transumanesimo è "un movimento culturale che sostiene l'uso delle scoperte scientifiche e tecnologiche per aumentare le capacità fisiche e cognitive e migliorare quegli aspetti della condizione umana che sono considerati indesiderabili, come la malattia e l'invecchiamento". Questo libro è un viaggio all'interno del mondo dei transumanisti, fatto di personaggi insoliti e, per certi versi, geniali. La loro follia è grottesca ma, allo stesso tempo, in grado di instillare il dubbio che forse forse c’è il rischio che possano avere ragione su alcuni aspetti legati all'uso della tecnologia e su come questa supporterà l'evoluzione della nostra specie.
Intelligenza artificiale, robot, cyborg, biohacking, singolarità, fede, disabilità sono solo alcuni dei temi che vengono toccati da Essere una macchina. Non si tratta però di un saggio, quanto piuttosto di un racconto del viaggio che l'autore fa allo scoperta delle persone e dei luoghi che rappresentano oggi il movimento transumanista. Ci sono persone che credono ciecamente nel progresso tecnologico, uomini e donne che rimpiazzano la fede in Dio con la fede nelle innovazioni, matti persone moralmente discutibili che si fanno impiantare illegalmente nel corpo dispostivi per raccogliere dati o migliorare le proprie prestazioni fisiche, uomini che si candidano alla Presidenza degli Stati Uniti e girano il Paese per convincere i cittadini della necessità di investire nell'innovazione tecnologica.
Questa e altre recensioni nella mia newsletter mensile sui libri: https://bit.ly/ponzabook
Intelligenza artificiale, robot, cyborg, biohacking, singolarità, fede, disabilità sono solo alcuni dei temi che vengono toccati da Essere una macchina. Non si tratta però di un saggio, quanto piuttosto di un racconto del viaggio che l'autore fa allo scoperta delle persone e dei luoghi che rappresentano oggi il movimento transumanista. Ci sono persone che credono ciecamente nel progresso tecnologico, uomini e donne che rimpiazzano la fede in Dio con la fede nelle innovazioni, matti persone moralmente discutibili che si fanno impiantare illegalmente nel corpo dispostivi per raccogliere dati o migliorare le proprie prestazioni fisiche, uomini che si candidano alla Presidenza degli Stati Uniti e girano il Paese per convincere i cittadini della necessità di investire nell'innovazione tecnologica.
Questa e altre recensioni nella mia newsletter mensile sui libri: https://bit.ly/ponzabook
samarakroeger's review
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I’m kind of obsessed with Mark O’Connell. he’s quickly becoming my new favorite narrative nonfiction writer.
would love to get an update to this book — there’s a lot to say about the pandemic and the rise of AI.
would love to get an update to this book — there’s a lot to say about the pandemic and the rise of AI.
nerfnerder's review against another edition
4.0
Something about this book made me keep thinking of ‘The Dark Tower’ book series.
I think it was reading about the future of machines and cyborgs was like reading about the before time in the Dark Tower before the world moved on.
Transhumanism is something I knew nothing about before picking this book up. It is a strange and fascinating concept but one I think will ultimately fizzle out.
I think it was reading about the future of machines and cyborgs was like reading about the before time in the Dark Tower before the world moved on.
Transhumanism is something I knew nothing about before picking this book up. It is a strange and fascinating concept but one I think will ultimately fizzle out.
janinevduijn's review
1.0
Although this book has some interesting information on transhumanism, it is mostly filled with extremely lengthy descriptions on the looks of the people the author interviews (nothing is added by telling the reader that someone wears purple shorts), and his own ruminations on life. I kept on listening hoping it would get better towards the end, but it didn't.
hieronymusbotched's review against another edition
5.0
Anything that starts with a quote from White Noise has my attention. To Be a Machine didn't waste a second of it.
A compellingly casual look at the binary chimes of apocalypse and a near-farcical romp through humans at the bleeding edge.
A total knockout for me.
A compellingly casual look at the binary chimes of apocalypse and a near-farcical romp through humans at the bleeding edge.
A total knockout for me.
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Very well written and reflective, highlights the absurdity of the desire to live forever, but also how human that desire is
Also this really just screams trauma response but ok i guess focus ur life around trying to live forever cause you had a traumatic near death experience
Also this really just screams trauma response but ok i guess focus ur life around trying to live forever cause you had a traumatic near death experience
‘If a cyborg is a human body augmented and extended by technology, is this not what we basically are anyway?’
‘a young man who had largely withdrawn from the world so that he might never have to leave it.’
‘Was dying of old age not, in this sense, the ultimate First World Problem?’
‘out of one nowhere into some other.’
‘the present is strange enough to be getting along with’
‘The unknowable vastness of the human world.’
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, and Terminal illness
hanlasse's review against another edition
3.0
I REALLY wanted to love this book, and sometimes I did find myself devoured in the content, but for the most part I found it a tad boring. I think it just comes down to preference on writing style. The author is really good, just not my jam.
I liked the book most when it was clear that the author was a journalist trying to understand the transhumanist movement. Would love if it focused more on this, but again just a preference.
I liked the book most when it was clear that the author was a journalist trying to understand the transhumanist movement. Would love if it focused more on this, but again just a preference.