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Audiobooks > Social Science >  Future Studies > The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology
The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology Audiobook, by Ray Kurzweil Play Audiobook Sample

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3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 (3.00) - 3,032 customer ratings
The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology Audiobook, by Ray Kurzweil Play Audiobook Sample
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Author: Ray Kurzweil Narrator: George K. Wilson, George Wilson Publisher: Penguin Audio Audio Length: Release Date: December 2019 Format: Unabridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download ISBN: 9780593163269
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Publisher Description

“Startling in scope and bravado.” —Janet Maslin, The New York Times “Artfully envisions a breathtakingly better world.” —Los Angeles Times “Elaborate, smart and persuasive.” —The Boston Globe “A pleasure to read.” —The Wall Street Journal One of CBS News’s Best Fall Books of 2005 • Among St Louis Post-Dispatch’s Best Nonfiction Books of 2005 • One of Amazon.com’s Best Science Books of 2005 A radical and optimistic view of the future course of human development from the bestselling author of How to Create a Mind and The Singularity is Nearer who Bill Gates calls “the best person I know at predicting the future of artificial intelligence” For over three decades, Ray Kurzweil has been one of the most respected and provocative advocates of the role of technology in our future. In his classic The Age of Spiritual Machines, he argued that computers would soon rival the full range of human intelligence at its best. Now he examines the next step in this inexorable evolutionary process: the union of human and machine, in which the knowledge and skills embedded in our brains will be combined with the vastly greater capacity, speed, and knowledge-sharing ability of our creations.

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Customer Reviews

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  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This is going to require a rather lengthy review. There's a lot to discuss here, as Kurzweil lays out an argument for a fundamental change in the very nature of our species. Highly recommended. "

    - Kevin, 2/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Some things seem to be to radical to consider... until Kurzweil convinces you. "

    - Costacoralito, 2/9/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This book is similar to "Physics of the Future" but a lot more optimistic. Basically he comes to the conclusion that everything with technology will take off exponentially and we'll have all sorts of crazy technologies within the next 50 years or so to the point of being able to extend our lives for ever. I liked "Physics of the Future" better because he seems more realistic and a LOT more fun to read than this one. "

    - Tony, 2/7/2014
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " Read parts for our Wednesday morning group - bad writer - redundant - needed a better editor - lots of far out notions of how science will "fix" all of our ecological, energy, etc problems. Nano technology, robots, etc Interesting discussion. "

    - Susie, 1/12/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This book left me with a small amount of optimism for the future of mankind. "

    - Jon, 12/26/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " i thing i am going like the book "

    - Malik, 12/21/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Absolutely fantastic (though somewhat overly optimistic) view of the future by Kurzweil. Just one of many interesting and informative novels by Mr. Kurzweil, and an essential one for beginning futurists. "

    - Trevor, 11/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Can't really wrap my head around a lot of the science. Something about his predictions feels wrong, but I can't articulate it. Something about humans turning into statistically more machine than man that bothers me. "

    - Vicky, 11/17/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " So far I think it's super interesting.... "

    - Megan, 10/21/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Kurzweil is pretty insane. That said, I still love his ideas. As a futurist, he is supposed to be ridiculous. That said, his arguments definitely made some conclusions that were only slightly related to the evidence he presented. That said, I can't wait for the cyborg revolution! "

    - Mary, 10/20/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A really cool book about the future of technology. While I don't agree with some of Kurzweil's assumptions it's still an innovative book with intriguing ideas. I stopped reading about halfway through, not because it was bad but because it became repetitive. "

    - Dan, 10/8/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Thought-provoking and eye-opening argument about the exponential pace of technological progress that means advances will happen faster and faster in future. "

    - Steven, 8/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Reading this book is a little like joining a cult. It'll open your eyes very wide to the possibilities of the very near future. It's very exciting. "

    - Tanya, 8/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Awesome follow up to Spiritual Machines. "

    - Vincent, 7/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A users guide for the near future: programmable logic, biology, and micro/nano robotics are becoming one. Stand by, this is about our bodies on eternity. I don't mind the idea frankly, I have a lot I want to accomplish. "

    - John, 12/30/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Fascinating insights into the accelerating technological future. Don't necessarily agree with everything, but Kurzweil is truly visionary. "

    - Dawn, 11/10/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " good god. heavier than two sacks of large potatos. give it a go if you don't mind the need for constant reference texts, or if you are a professional in a related field and are able to wade through the technical to the islands of pertinence. "

    - Travis, 5/4/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " A heavy read, hard to comprehend at times, but interesting stuff nonetheless. If Kurzweil turns out to be right about his theories, there are some crazy implications. "

    - Rob, 5/12/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Extremely insightful view into how technology will meld with biology in the 21st century. Everything is backed up with reference material. Great book! "

    - Jeff, 5/5/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I didn't read this one cover to cover--too technical for me to really appreciate--the ideas are extremely compelling. Here's hoping this guy's got it right and my robot body is just around the knee of the curve. "

    - Joel, 4/17/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A must read for any technology lover! :) "

    - Whitney, 4/13/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " "The future isn't what it used to be" Interesting, but repetitive "

    - James, 3/21/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I can't even begin to imagine what the future holds now... If Ray is right in his predictions life will be similar to living in the matrix. Integrated human/computer technology, nanobots in the bloodstream. Mind-boggling "

    - Aaron, 2/15/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I read this a while ago, but just remembered when I saw the latest cover of Time magazine. The Singularity will be awesome. Just gotta hang in there for another 25 years or so. "

    - Matt, 2/11/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Interesting read, but way too long, edited by a 7 year old on Ketamine, and most of the content looks vague. "

    - Jesus, 2/7/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A really cool book about the future of technology. While I don't agree with some of Kurzweil's assumptions it's still an innovative book with intriguing ideas. I stopped reading about halfway through, not because it was bad but because it became repetitive. "

    - Dan, 1/18/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " great book. halfway through and love the writing style. great analogies for complex predictions/concepts - makes for a very digestible book. "

    - ben, 1/13/2011

About the Author

Ray Kurzweil is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Singularity Is Near and the national bestseller The Age of Spiritual Machines, among others. One of the leading inventors of our time, Kurzweil was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2002. He is the recipient of many honors, including the National Medal of Technology, the nation’s highest honor in technology. He lives in Boston.

About the Narrators

George K. Wilson is a working actor in stage, film, television, and commercials with almost one hundred audiobook narrations to his credit. He began in broadcast journalism with American Forces Radio and Television and is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He had a lead role in the cult film classic Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and appeared on television’s One Life to Live, Ryan’s Hope, and The Doctors and has been heard on voice-overs for The Guiding Light and The Cosby Show, as well as many television and radio commercials.

John Bedford Lloyd, Earphones Award–winning narrator, is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, has appeared in many major motion pictures, including The Bourne Supremacy, Crossing Delancey, The Abyss, The Manchurian Candidate, and Philadelphia. His television credits include Suits, Pan Am, Law & Order, Spin City, and The West Wing.