A review by itsthathikingreader
The Age of Spiritual Machines by Ray Kurzweil
3.0
I liked quite some parts of this book. The introduction to quantum mechanics was very welcome: now I can at least say I know ALMOST nothing instead of completely nothing about it. I also liked reading Kurzweil's visions of the future - those interest me anyway, from whatever mind they originate. His predictions for 2009 (written in 1999) were sometimes uncannily accurate, sometimes completely off. For 2019, I think he overestimated the progress of technology. I don't think we'll meet his image within a time frame of 2,5-3 years, but reading it was interesting anyway. He scored points for including subjects such as politics and arts.
Kurzweil's almost Platonian mono/dialogue with Molly proved interesting. It gave an extra dimension to the book which could've been used for extensive critical reflection. I think not all of the potential of the conversation was used, though. Too bad. Thumbs up, anyway.
... And now, something about which I could rant for a long time, but I won't:
[bitch mode on] WHAT'S UP WITH THE EPILOGUE? Aliens, really? All of a sudden, there's room for the rest of the Universe and contemplating the existence of aliens? In a book about the future of humanity and technology on Earth? Please, don't do that ever again, mr. Kurzweil. It made for a very unsatisfying ending. Just write a seperate book about it if the subject interests you, thank you. [/bitch mode off]
Kurzweil's almost Platonian mono/dialogue with Molly proved interesting. It gave an extra dimension to the book which could've been used for extensive critical reflection. I think not all of the potential of the conversation was used, though. Too bad. Thumbs up, anyway.
... And now, something about which I could rant for a long time, but I won't:
[bitch mode on] WHAT'S UP WITH THE EPILOGUE? Aliens, really? All of a sudden, there's room for the rest of the Universe and contemplating the existence of aliens? In a book about the future of humanity and technology on Earth? Please, don't do that ever again, mr. Kurzweil. It made for a very unsatisfying ending. Just write a seperate book about it if the subject interests you, thank you. [/bitch mode off]