Name the last three books you have read...

[The Dark King]

Kurzweil was a pleasant read. He treats the subject of neocortical hierarchy like its a baby teething for the first time. He follows von Neumann's early insight, that a brain and computer are exactly equivalent, only he emphasizes a computer with the "right" software. He believes having the right neocortical algorithms will enable ever more accurate simulations of human intelligence. I have to admit he makes a solid case for strong A.I. Just when you thought there was no way science would emulate the brain, down to the fine analogue functions of neural tissue, they do it with things like 'neuromorphic" chips. Exhilarating read.

I tried. Really, I did, but the writing was just too fluffy for me.

The best book I've read in a while. It really caught me up to speed with all the current debates surrounding the social sciences. I was giddy to find 'the altruists' are no longer in vogue. I made up the name, and it isn't fair, because everyone was convinced only reciprocal altruism could explain how human society hangs together. Prof. Wilson looks for the roots of hominid social structure in the eusocial world of the insects. And I think he found it.

So based on your reading of Kurzweil what are your thoughts on the future? Promising or doom?

 

[Mighty Quinn]

So based on your reading of Kurzweil what are your thoughts on the future? Promising or doom?

If you're asking do I foresee a machine takeover, the answer is I can't be confident either way. A lot of people who think they understand evolution have no idea how radically things have changed over the past 30 years. Ever since game theory and evo-devo (evolution-development) took over at the turn of the century, anthropologists now have to explain why a question like nature vs nurture is no longer relevant. Think about it, computers routinely beat us in games we designed ourselves, including Jeopardy! Kurzweil piles on, in a sense, taking the neocortex as the pattern-recognizing module that it is, and showing its possible there could be a You I and You II some time in the future.

 

[The Dark King]

If you're asking do I foresee a machine takeover, the answer is I can't be confident either way. A lot of people who think they understand evolution have no idea how radically things have changed over the past 30 years. Ever since game theory and evo-devo (evolution-development) took over at the turn of the century, anthropologists now have to explain why a question like nature vs nurture is no longer relevant. Think about it, computers routinely beat us in games we designed ourselves, including Jeopardy! Kurzweil piles on, in a sense, taking the neocortex as the pattern-recognizing module that it is, and showing its possible there could be a You I and You II some time in the future.

You gotta wonder is it really a youII since you'll continue to evolve while the machine is stuck at the you that was created at that point. Not to mention a machine can't experience pain or pleasure which is root of our definition of self.

 

[Tamstrong]

:smt023

:smt023

Book 1 of 3 of the 'In Me' series.

:smt023

Anyone into physical anthropology, genetics, evolutionary primatology, etc. and who like sci-fiesque fiction would enjoy this book IMO.

 

[Bookworm616]

:smt023

Anyone into physical anthropology, genetics, evolutionary primatology, etc. and who like sci-fiesque fiction would enjoy this book IMO.

Seeing as Anthropology is my background, I was curious. The blurb on Amazon.com makes it sound almost like Planet of the Apes. Is it like that?

 

[Tamstrong]

Seeing as Anthropology is my background, I was curious. The blurb on Amazon.com makes it sound almost like Planet of the Apes. Is it like that?

Not really. Some of the reviews I read say that it'd make a good prequel for Planet of the Apes though.

 

[CAKicker]

"The Game: Penerating The Secret Society of Pickup Artists" by Neil Strauss

"Family Power: The True Story of How The First Family of Taekwondo Made Olympic History" by Mark Lopex, Steven Lopez, Diana Lopez, & Jean Lopez


"Iceman: My Fighting Life" by Chuck Liddell

 

[Ol'Skool Classic]

A 4 out of 5 stars read.

A 5 out of 5 stars read.

A 5 out of 5 stars read.

 

[fantasyfangrl]

As my name suggests I love Fantasy books ... so the last 3 I read were all from Sherrilyn Kenyon.

 

[Tamstrong]

 

[Bug]

Had to re-read this ready for the above and it still scared me 2nd time round.

 

[Saint]

"March of Time and Skin" - Jeff Stewart

"Full Black" - Brad Thor

"On Love" - Alain De Botton

 

[interim]

1. 50 shades of grey... it was worst book i ever read....
2. stephen king - carrie .. wanted to read the book before watching movie
3. stephen king - skeleton crew

 

[Tamstrong]

 

[Thump]

 

[Bookworm616]

^^^^
I read "Prey" a few years ago. It's a great book and brings up some pretty scary concepts and situations. It really makes you think.

I've been reading Clive Cussler book after Clive Cussler book lately.

I just love his adventure stories and he always ties it into an historical event which always fascinates me.

 

[whikle]

I read Orhan Pamuk's "Museum of Innocence" recently, which I both loved and hated. Which I guess in the end means I loved it...

The fascinating thing about this book is that the author has actually built/constructed/put together a real life museum in Turkey based on the book. The book and the characters are fiction, so essentially the museum is fiction as well... It's just so fascinating - I am desperate to go!

 

[jaisee]

Haven't been reading much lately. Currently reading through "Manuscript found in Accra".

 

[Unique4ever]

Just finished reading this

The male character reminds me a little of Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory.
A very refreshing book about how love can't be planned, it finds you when and where you don't expect it.

 

[1449225]