In a world driven by ever-evolving technology and profound moral questions, it's crucial to stay informed about the latest developments that shape our future.
To help you navigate this fascinating intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and morality, we've compiled a list of the 11 great nonfiction books recommended by Eric Topol.
These books offer profound insights into AI, gene editing, data visualization, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding these groundbreaking technologies.
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“Eventually, each individual will not only own their data, but it will be secured in a personal cloud or system, with the owner granting rights for others to access. Now that’s a flip.”― Eric Topol
Walter Isaacson's "The Code Breaker" delves into the fascinating world of gene editing and CRISPR technology. Through the lens of Jennifer Doudna's groundbreaking work, the book explores the immense potential to edit the human genome and the ethical dilemmas it presents. It's a gripping account of the scientific journey that could redefine the future of humanity.
“we have entered a third and even more momentous era, a life-science revolution. Children who study digital coding will be joined by those who study genetic code.”― Walter Isaacson, The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race
Buy "The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race" by Walter Isaacson On Amazon
Janelle Shane's book offers a user-friendly introduction to artificial intelligence. It takes readers on a whimsical yet educational journey through the world of AI, unraveling complex concepts with humor and real-world examples. Shane highlights how AI is shaping our lives and the quirks that make it both fascinating and perplexing.
“Surprisingly, the AI suddenly began winning all its games. It turned out that the AI’s strategy was to place its move very, very far away, so that when its opponent’s computer tried to simulate the new, greatly expanded board, the effort would cause it to run out of memory and crash, forfeiting the game.”― Janelle Shane, You Look Like a Thing and I Love You: How Artificial Intelligence Works and Why It's Making the World a Weirder Place
In "How Charts Lie," Alberto Cairo teaches readers to become discerning consumers of data visualizations. He reveals common pitfalls and misconceptions in data representation, equipping readers with the skills to interpret charts accurately. This book is a crucial resource for anyone navigating the era of data-driven decision-making.
“The world cannot be understood without numbers. And it cannot be understood with numbers alone.”― Alberto Cairo, How Charts Lie: Getting Smarter about Visual Information
Melanie Mitchell's book provides an insightful exploration of artificial intelligence, making it accessible to a broad audience. She delves into the history and inner workings of AI, emphasizing its limitations and the challenges it faces. Readers gain a deeper understanding of the field and its potential societal impacts.
“We should be afraid. Not of intelligent machines. But of machines making decisions that they do not have the intelligence to make. I am far more afraid of machine stupidity than of machine intelligence.”― Melanie Mitchell, Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans
Stuart Russell's "Human Compatible" addresses the critical issue of ensuring that AI aligns with human values and interests. He discusses the ethical dimensions of AI development and the importance of designing systems that are safe and beneficial for humanity.
“Alas, the human race is not a single, rational entity. It is composed of nasty, envy-driven, irrational, inconsistent, unstable, computationally limited, complex, evolving, heterogeneous entities. Loads and loads of them. These issues are the staple diet—perhaps even raisons d'être—of the social sciences.”― Stuart Russell, Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control
Buy "Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control" by Stuart Russell On Amazon
Andrew McAfee's book challenges conventional wisdom about resource consumption. "More from Less" explores how technological advancements have allowed us to achieve prosperity while using fewer resources. It offers an optimistic perspective on sustainability and its implications for the future.
“As recently as the time of Christ all of us humans together probably weighed only about two-thirds as much as all the bison in North America, and less than one-eighth as much as all the elephants in Africa.”― Andrew McAfee, More from Less: The Surprising Story of How We Learned to Prosper Using Fewer Resources—and What Happens Next
Arthur Kleinman's deeply personal work, "The Soul of Care," reflects on the moral aspects of caregiving in the medical field. It intertwines his experiences as both a husband and a doctor, shedding light on the human side of healthcare and the importance of compassion in medicine.
“The most important thing offered by a caregiver is simply their complete presence”― Arthur Kleinman, The Soul of Care: The Moral Education of a Doctor
In "Rebooting AI," Gary Marcus advocates for the development of trustworthy and transparent AI systems. He addresses the challenges of bias, ethics, and explainability in AI and offers insights into building AI that aligns with human values.
“More broadly, formal logic of the sort we have been talking about does only one thing well: it allows us to take knowledge of which we are certain and apply rules that are always valid to deduce new knowledge of which we are also certain.”― Gary F. Marcus, Rebooting AI: Building Artificial Intelligence We Can Trust
Ruha Benjamin's "Race After Technology" explores the intersection of race, technology, and ethics. It critically examines how technology can either perpetuate or challenge existing racial inequalities and offers strategies for dismantling biased systems.
“Invisibility, with regard to Whiteness, offers immunity. To be unmarked by race allows you to reap the benefits but escape responsibility for your role in an unjust system.”― Ruha Benjamin, Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code
Angela Saini's thought-provoking book, "Superior," confronts the disturbing history and resurgence of race science. She meticulously examines the pseudoscience of racial superiority and its ongoing impact on society, shedding light on a troubling aspect of human history.
“Nothing is more seductive that a nice string of data, a single bell curve, or a seemingly peer-reviewed scientific study. After all, it can’t be racist if it is a “fact.”― Angela Saini, Superior: The Return of Race Science
Buy "Superior: The Return of Race Science" by Angela Saini On Amazon
Steven Strogatz's "Infinite Powers" takes a departure from technology to explore the world of mathematics. It celebrates the beauty and significance of calculus, showcasing how this field of mathematics unveils the secrets of the universe and plays a fundamental role in our understanding of the natural world.
“To grasp how different a million is from a billion, think about it like this: A million seconds is a little under two weeks; a billion seconds is about thirty-two years.”― Steven H. Strogatz, Infinite Powers: How Calculus Reveals the Secrets of the Universe
Buy "Infinite Powers: How Calculus Reveals the Secrets of the Universe" by Steven Strogatz On Amazon
If you enjoyed these book recommendations, check out more similar list on my on my blog — https://www.honbasicbooks.com/nonfiction
These 11 nonfiction books, curated by Eric Topol, offer a captivating journey through the intricate landscape of artificial intelligence, morality, and the transformative power of science and technology.
Whether you're interested in the ethical challenges of gene editing, the impact of AI on our lives, or the profound implications of data visualization, this diverse list has something to offer every curious mind.
Dive into these insightful works and embark on a journey of discovery and enlightenment in the realms of AI and morality.
11 Best Nonfiction Books Of All Time According To Eric Topol-Artificial Intelligence/Morality
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