Like Brockman's other Edge Foundation based books, this one has lots of good, thought provoking essays. Quite a few from psychologists, I was pleased ...moreLike Brockman's other Edge Foundation based books, this one has lots of good, thought provoking essays. Quite a few from psychologists, I was pleased to discover. Naomi Eisenberger's essay on the science of rejection was very intriguing, in particular the finding that painkillers like Tylenol will also lessen the essentially physical pain of social rejection. Not every essay was as stimulating, but each author offered some insight into an interesting question.
I listened to the audiobook edition and very much enjoyed the multiple narrators for the different essays.(less)
An accessible book to introduce and help explain the exciting theory that the mind is entirely encoded in the particular architecture of your brain. T...moreAn accessible book to introduce and help explain the exciting theory that the mind is entirely encoded in the particular architecture of your brain. The central theme of "Connectome" is that such a mapping of the connections between neurons provides a far more complete picture of mental activity than other brain models. As Seung explains, mapping a brain's connectome would enable highly specific examination and treatment of a brain, going so far as to allow correlation of neuronal activity patterns with memory and conscious experience itself.
The catch is the monumental technical challenge of obtaining and handling so much data, as mapping a connectome, like mapping a DNA genome, is a computationally expensive process. In fact, mapping the connections in a human brain is many, many orders of magnitude more complex given the density of neurons and the intricacy of their connections in brain tissue. Furthermore, technology with the proper specificity to automate the delicate task is still in early stage development. Thus a corollary theme in the book relates to the pace of technological change: the field of connectomics banks on the continuation of exponential growth in computer processing speed (e.g. Moore's Law) and accompanying technologies. Assuming that technology continues to progress as it has, Seung proposes that connectomes will naturally become the substrate of which we discuss our mental selves and our conscious identity.
Other notes: The fundamental idea of the connectome is persuasive and fascinating, but perhaps because of such preexisting interests, this book was less in-depth than I was hoping for, and much of the content therein will be familiar to other fans of cognitive science or avid tech enthusiasts. Seung devotes the end of the book to the interesting future possibilities of cyber immortality, but they come with the usual speculation & caveats and don't yield much of a takeaway message. Seung's writing style is natural if not as crisp as a science journalist, just occasionally veering too folksy for the science (with a few awkwardly stilted metaphors).
Very intriguing in certain visionary aspects (network technology, e.g.), but otherwise the book suffers from an uneven plot and often flat or irritati...moreVery intriguing in certain visionary aspects (network technology, e.g.), but otherwise the book suffers from an uneven plot and often flat or irritating character interaction. The potential in the story was compelling enough to keep me reading to the end (though the beginning is slow), and it was thought-provoking sci-fi despite being inconsistent and incomplete in its conceptual technological future (replete with techno-babble). Unfortunately there are some rather grating personality patterns across the characters and most aren't easy to empathize with; didn't feel particularly attached to most of the principal actors nor their relationship struggles. The plot builds up hefty expectations that don't match their resolutions and the book concludes comparatively tepidly.
Not sure if I like the author's writing style (particularly his use of idioms) based on this book alone. Have heard that Vinge's other books are different though, so might be willing to give those a shot in the future.(less)
A different kind of time-traveling novel, on humanity and humanism. Beyond the look at the irrationality and seeming inevitability of war (especially ...moreA different kind of time-traveling novel, on humanity and humanism. Beyond the look at the irrationality and seeming inevitability of war (especially salient as I read through Steven Pinker's The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined), I was particularly engaged by the questioning of free will, the fatalistic response to war lending itself to a completely deterministic universe. (less)
Jarvis says so much of what I want to convey to people about privacy, both on the internet and as a basic concept. Thank goodness he and others like Clay Shirky...moreJarvis says so much of what I want to convey to people about privacy, both on the internet and as a basic concept. Thank goodness he and others like Clay Shirky are willing to put in the time and effort to break the issues down and make a reasoned case for publicness explicitly; this argument roils up worst-case fears and is not easily won.
Whether you're more intrigued or concerned by the rapid shifts in privacy that are accompanying the digital age, Public Parts is worth a read for supporters and skeptics alike.(less)
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