The Singularity Is Near - Ray Kurzweil

The Singularity Is Near

By Ray Kurzweil

  • Release Date: 2005-09-22
  • Genre: Social Science
Score: 4
4
From 94 Ratings

Description

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Celebrated futurist Ray Kurzweil, hailed by Bill Gates as “the best person I know at predicting the future of artificial intelligence,” presents an “elaborate, smart, and persuasive” (The Boston Globe) view of the future course of human development.

“Artfully envisions a breathtakingly better world.”—Los Angeles Times
“Startling in scope and bravado.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times
“An important book.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer

At the onset of the twenty-first century, humanity stands on the verge of the most transforming and thrilling period in its history. It will be an era in which the very nature of what it means to be human will be both enriched and challenged as our species breaks the shackles of its genetic legacy and achieves inconceivable heights of intelligence, material progress, and longevity.
 
While the social and philosophical ramifications of these changes will be profound, and the threats they pose considerable, The Singularity Is Near presents a radical and optimistic view of the coming age that is both a dramatic culmination of centuries of technological ingenuity and a genuinely inspiring vision of our ultimate destiny.

Reviews

  • Puzzled

    4
    By Dee Kay 35
    I have downloaded the sample. And like so many others I am a bit puzzled. Why for a book about the future (especially presented by a company obsessed with the future and quality) is this book so poorly presented at the price demanded. I have a high resolution screen with the most atrocious graphics. For a company that purports to love good design presenting a book by a renowned author and futurist in such a shoddy format is a puzzle.
  • No excuse for poor graphics

    3
    By Fast Eddie B.
    I downloaded the sample, and will probably buy the book in iTunes for convenience (and to save a tree). But there's no excuse for the poor quality graphics and charts. On my iPad they're fuzzy almost to the point of unreadability. Good book so far, though.
  • Lo res images

    2
    By Kalicious
    Don't know if this is just a problem with the sample version, but the diagrams are very low resolution and therefore illegible. Disappointing. Won't be purchasing for fear of missing important information due to this problem. Good book though. Well written and clear. This is really just a criticism of the publishing platform, not the actual content of the book.
  • I had to laugh

    4
    By Kmooreiii
    As I was reading the section about books in the technology section.... On my iPad.
  • $17 for Digital?

    4
    By MeMeMe2
    I already spent a chunk on the hardcopy; I shouldn't have to pay this much for an electronic copy...ridiculous. I'll pass. Maybe for the audiobook...
  • I've heard

    4
    By (☞゚∀゚)☞
    So much about this book and the sample seems like it would be an excellent read... But it's too expensive for me at the moment, I wish I could just rent it for a dollar a day!
  • Insane price.

    5
    By Pamelaz
    I remember buying the actual book a few years ago for less than $20 new. This is a fantastic read but $20 for a dated digital edition is crazy.
  • Awesome book, insane price

    5
    By Mikee179
    I read the hard cover version of this book and loved it! I thought having a digital version on my iPad would be handy, but I'm certainly not going to pay $20 for that convenience!

Comments