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A review by katherinepamina
The Most Human Human: What Talking with Computers Teaches Us About What It Means to Be Alive by Brian Christian
5.0
I picked up this book expecting it to be more of an account of the author's experience as a confederate at the Loebner Prize. When I started reading and realized that it was less personal account (although there is some of that) and more research-backed musing, I was at first kind of bored by his discussion of souls and whatnot.
As I kept reading though, I was drawn in by his take on the relationship between humans and computers. He draws on disciplines spanning not just subfields of computer science, but also (and not only) linguistics, philosophy, psychology, literature, inserting cool facts, studies, and stories along the way. I read this with a notebook next to me, because about every other page there was some person, study, or idea that I wanted to follow up on.
Brian Christian's background in poetry shows in how cleverly and imaginatively he writes. I also appreciated that he clearly has a background in computer science. This depth of understanding and skill in communicating come together to make something really delightful.
As I kept reading though, I was drawn in by his take on the relationship between humans and computers. He draws on disciplines spanning not just subfields of computer science, but also (and not only) linguistics, philosophy, psychology, literature, inserting cool facts, studies, and stories along the way. I read this with a notebook next to me, because about every other page there was some person, study, or idea that I wanted to follow up on.
Brian Christian's background in poetry shows in how cleverly and imaginatively he writes. I also appreciated that he clearly has a background in computer science. This depth of understanding and skill in communicating come together to make something really delightful.