A Whole New Human: Ten Ways We Must Evolve to Survive and Thrive in the AI Age

by Derek Rydall

Derek Rydall, the “profound” (Mark Porteous, author of The Human Experience) author behind The Abundance Project, offers an empowering and actionable guide for workers, creators, leaders, and educators to unlock their full potential and not only survive but thrive in the AI era.

As AI accelerates beyond human capabilities, the real threat isn’t that machines will replace us—it’s that we will become more like them, losing the very qualities that define us. Every technological advancement, from calculators to GPS, has eroded essential human capacities, weakening our ability to think critically, create, and adapt. Now, with AI poised to surpass us in nearly every task, we face an existential How do we flourish as humans in a world where machines can outperform us?

Derek Rydall’s A Whole New Human is an essential, practical guide to navigating this global seismic shift. Blending ancient wisdom, cutting-edge science, and decades of human development research, Rydall offers a step-by-step road map for unlocking our innate potential and evolving alongside AI. Embrace the superintelligence within you!

256 pages, Hardcover

Published February 24, 2026

About the author

After a life-changing brush with death, Derek Rydall tried to become a monk, then minister, before becoming a licensed integrative therapist. Today, he is a prominent life coach and consultant for Emmy and Academy Award winners, Fortune 500 executives, and evolutionary leaders in business, spiritualisty, and the healing arts. He is an active speaker, bringing his unique brand of inspiration to tens of thousands of people around the country. He is the author of two Amazon bestselling books and writes for several publications, including Huffington Post and Spirituality & Health.

Reviews

[Sally Parente · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖 ARC Review: A Whole New Human: Ten Ways We Must Evolve to Survive in the AI Age by Derek Rydall
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (rounded from 3.75ish)

Going into this book, I didn’t know much about Derek Rydall. I quickly learned he’s a transformational teacher and life coach who focuses on helping people live with greater meaning, impact, and abundance. His perspective sets the tone and this isn’t just a technical book about AI, it’s about soul-searching in an AI world.

While the title might make you expect a straightforward “AI survival guide,” what you actually get is part self-help, part philosophy, part guide to using AI as a tool for growth. Rydall explores concepts like metacognition, self-awareness, and deep thinking, showing how tools like ChatGPT could even be used almost like a therapist to help us ask better questions about why we act and think the way we do.

A big theme is what he calls your “inner code”. I learned it is the process of understanding your true design and what makes you irreplaceable. That hit home for me because as he book states "if we don’t know ourselves, we can’t control ourselves—and if we can’t control ourselves, we can’t lead ourselves". Say what. mind blown 🤯

As someone working in IT, I already see AI everywhere (Amazon warehouses filled with robots, AI embedded in our tools) and I admit, sometimes I feel skeptical. But this book reframed some of that skepticism. Rydall emphasizes that AI doesn’t have to be an enemy. If we use it consciously, it won’t replace us!

To me, it’s not a perfect book because sometimes it felt a little repetitive or leaned more spiritual than practical but it definitely gave me a lot to reflect on. If you’re curious about how to balance technology with human values, or you want to think about AI as more than just machines and code, this is worth the read.

✨
I honestly reviewed an unedited digital ARC provided by NetGalley and Atria Books. All opinions are my own.

[Mandy Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For someone who is curious about AI and concerned about where the future is heading, this book is an excellent choice. Part primer, part theoretical, it is a good starting point for someone dipping their toes into this topic. It's well-organized, has some thought-provoking questions, and reasonable actions for people to take. That is why I'm giving it 4 stars. I believe most readers who pick this up are going to be this type of reader, and I want my review to reflect their perspectives as well.

However, for me, this book had some really good quotable lines that I'm not allowed to include yet (pre-publication), but it was pretty basic overall. I wasn't finding anything mind-blowing or especially helpful as I already have a decent familiarity with AI, its implications and iterations, etc. That leads me to believe that I'm actually not the target audience for this book. It's not a bad book; I'm just not the right reader for it.

[Lena · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book has some ideas at its core that could be interesting, but there's way too much noise surrouding it, and after reading the author's background, I suppose their proximity to Hollywood and the coaching industrial complex isn't helping: From the many supposedly inspirational examples of entrepreneurs, actors, and tv show hosts whose lives have almost nothing to do with ordinary people's life experiences now who he claims to be his audience for this, to the citation of outdated research, one-liners at the beginning of each chapter that seem to have been pulled at random from a quote generator, overly simplistic reasoning, completely uncritical AI-accelerationism, an eery lingering of grifter language woven throughout, and, maybe the most annoying part of it all, it reading as if it was written by the AI that the author so wholeheartedly embraces, it just gets lost.

[Amaya Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by Natalie, and it’s also making waves in our book club community,and I completely see why. Derek Rydall’s A Whole New Human isn’t just another take on AI; it’s a call to evolve consciously. The description alone feels like a breath of clarity in a noisy digital age. I’m eager to explore how Rydall blends science, spirituality, and human development into a practical guide for living more fully,especially at a time when our humanity matters more than ever.Can't wait for the full release.

[Tony Leighton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended to me by Natalie and now buzzing in our book club circles, A Whole New Human by Derek Rydall feels like the exact message we need for this moment. It tackles the big question of how we can remain fully human in an AI-driven world, not through fear, but through growth. I love how Derek blends timeless spiritual wisdom with modern-day insight to help us evolve with grace. I’m genuinely excited for this release, it’s already a must-read for thinkers, dreamers, and creators navigating the AI age.

[Mary Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by Natalie, and it’s also making waves in our book club community, and I completely see why. Derek Rydall’s A Whole New Human isn’t just another take on AI; it’s a call to evolve consciously. The description alone feels like a breath of clarity in a noisy digital age. I’m eager to explore how Rydall blends science, spirituality, and human development into a practical guide for living more fully, especially at a time when our humanity matters more than ever.

[Comfort Akon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timely and forward-thinking guide that reframes the AI revolution as a call for deeper human evolution rather than competition with machines. Blending practical development strategies with philosophical insight, the book challenges readers to strengthen critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence in an increasingly automated world. Both motivational and actionable, it positions human growth as the true advantage in the AI age.

[Idris · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Natalie recommended this title and it was shared in our book club community, I immediately added it to my must-read list. Derek Rydall’s upcoming A Whole New Human feels like a manifesto for the modern soul