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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
I was nervous at the beginning that the writing style wouldn't be for me. It initially felt like a version of Triumph of the Nerds as told by Jack Kerouac. However, as it went on, my reading mind got into the groove and I ended up loving it. It probably helps if you have time to read this in lengthy chunks sitting in a comfortable chair, rather than in short spurts on a phone app.
Think twice before reading this: If you are a tech worker recently laid off. If you are an office or remote worker who works on a computer (employed or otherwise). If you are a creative freelancer. If you have anxiety about the increasing probability of human intelligence being surpassed by artificial neural networks. If you have anxiety about the increasing probability of human creativity being surpassed by artificial neural networks. If your favorite line in Jurassic Park is when Jeff Goldblum says "People were so obsessed with finding out if they could, they never stopped to consider whether they should." If you do not look forward to welcoming our robot overlords. If you are a natural pessimist in general. If you ever want to sleep again.
If you are already a chronic insomniac, enjoy!
Think twice before reading this: If you are a tech worker recently laid off. If you are an office or remote worker who works on a computer (employed or otherwise). If you are a creative freelancer. If you have anxiety about the increasing probability of human intelligence being surpassed by artificial neural networks. If you have anxiety about the increasing probability of human creativity being surpassed by artificial neural networks. If your favorite line in Jurassic Park is when Jeff Goldblum says "People were so obsessed with finding out if they could, they never stopped to consider whether they should." If you do not look forward to welcoming our robot overlords. If you are a natural pessimist in general. If you ever want to sleep again.
If you are already a chronic insomniac, enjoy!
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The book is impressively written, with the distinct voices for each of the characters coming through. Together, the various perspectives of those around von Neumann paint a fascinating picture of a brilliant and deeply flawed man driven by ideas above all else. If I had to offer a criticism, I wished the author engaged one level deeper with those ideas during the description of von Neumann’s life. I found the descriptions too superficial, a choice that was likely intentional to keep the focus on the characters and the sense of narrative but that made me feel like there was a barrier between the way the ideas were presented and understanding how they inspired the passion that drove von Neumann's life and work. I found the description of the development of AlphaGo in the final portion of the book to strike a better balance in this regard.
I also think it is worth remarking on the author's decision to treat the subject through a fictionalized account rooted in true events and research. The novel feels as though I just read a biography, albeit one told through first hand accounts of those around the subject. At the same time, I know that this is a fictionalized account with no clear indication of where the truth ends and the author’s imagination begins. I was entertained, but the caveat sits underneath everything I learned and makes me wish I had read an actual biography of the man instead, even at the risk of being less compelling as a literary exercise.
I also think it is worth remarking on the author's decision to treat the subject through a fictionalized account rooted in true events and research. The novel feels as though I just read a biography, albeit one told through first hand accounts of those around the subject. At the same time, I know that this is a fictionalized account with no clear indication of where the truth ends and the author’s imagination begins. I was entertained, but the caveat sits underneath everything I learned and makes me wish I had read an actual biography of the man instead, even at the risk of being less compelling as a literary exercise.
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
this was really good, i liked labutat's previous book (When We Cease the Understand the World) and smidge better, but this was still really good. science is both cool and also utterly terrifying. word.
It's ironic that a book about AI should read as though it was written by AI. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as the book (at least the majority of it) is very easy to read and I zipped through it quite quickly, finding it mostly entertaining but a little dry.
The story is based on real events and people, predominantly John Von Neumann, a physicist whose work touched on various fields but especially artificial intelligence. The last part of the book then switches to the creator of an AI computer that plays GO and defeats the world's best player Lee Sedol. The theme of AI is interesting and certainly current, its tentacles reaching into everything right now, so Labatut chose a valid subject matter. But the first few chapters aside, I'm not sure I ever truly enjoyed the writing style nor the fact that it details real people in a fictionalised setting. Truth be told, it made think I might be better off simply reading a biography of Von Neumann (clearly a fascinating character). The book details his early life, his genius, his move to America and is involvement in the Manhatten Project. But you never really get a true sense of the man or his work, only a general outline which paints him (somewhat predictably) as an aloof, occasionally cranky genius (again, a biography might have been more rewarding). That being said, Labatut deserves credit for the research he must have done.
It was fun to read for a while but I began to lose interest slightly and only perked up again when it was time to move on to the story of Sedol playing against the AlphaGo AI computer. But the sudden switch to a significantly less brilliant character slowed things down too much. Plus, I've never really liked the whole concept of a fictionalised account of real people's lives, and a lot of it felt like I was reading a Wikipedia entry, albeit one which is essentially giving me the facts but in an easy to digest and mildly more animated manner. Ultimately, the whole thing felt a little dull and lifeless, lacking in any real human warmth or creative prose (hence, the book itself started to feel a little robotic). Maybe that was the point, maybe Labatut is a genius.
Overall, it was fine, readable, clear, and I mostly enjoyed it. I just never found it to be anything very beautiful, artistic or soulful. Essentially, a very fun Wikipedia entry in book form.
The story is based on real events and people, predominantly John Von Neumann, a physicist whose work touched on various fields but especially artificial intelligence. The last part of the book then switches to the creator of an AI computer that plays GO and defeats the world's best player Lee Sedol. The theme of AI is interesting and certainly current, its tentacles reaching into everything right now, so Labatut chose a valid subject matter. But the first few chapters aside, I'm not sure I ever truly enjoyed the writing style nor the fact that it details real people in a fictionalised setting. Truth be told, it made think I might be better off simply reading a biography of Von Neumann (clearly a fascinating character). The book details his early life, his genius, his move to America and is involvement in the Manhatten Project. But you never really get a true sense of the man or his work, only a general outline which paints him (somewhat predictably) as an aloof, occasionally cranky genius (again, a biography might have been more rewarding). That being said, Labatut deserves credit for the research he must have done.
It was fun to read for a while but I began to lose interest slightly and only perked up again when it was time to move on to the story of Sedol playing against the AlphaGo AI computer. But the sudden switch to a significantly less brilliant character slowed things down too much. Plus, I've never really liked the whole concept of a fictionalised account of real people's lives, and a lot of it felt like I was reading a Wikipedia entry, albeit one which is essentially giving me the facts but in an easy to digest and mildly more animated manner. Ultimately, the whole thing felt a little dull and lifeless, lacking in any real human warmth or creative prose (hence, the book itself started to feel a little robotic). Maybe that was the point, maybe Labatut is a genius.
Overall, it was fine, readable, clear, and I mostly enjoyed it. I just never found it to be anything very beautiful, artistic or soulful. Essentially, a very fun Wikipedia entry in book form.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
3.5
While not as exciting as his first book, this one treads largely the same path that I enjoyed. The difficulty this time around was that the novelty had warm off and I was fairly bored after von Niemanns tale. The first two stories are mythologized biographies, and the third a pretty realistic rendering of what actually happened with AlphaGo. I see more of a future for his writing in this latter category, which was refreshing.
While not as exciting as his first book, this one treads largely the same path that I enjoyed. The difficulty this time around was that the novelty had warm off and I was fairly bored after von Niemanns tale. The first two stories are mythologized biographies, and the third a pretty realistic rendering of what actually happened with AlphaGo. I see more of a future for his writing in this latter category, which was refreshing.
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a brilliant book. The first part, in which we get to know John von Neumann through the (fictional) voices of people near him is a novel way to write a historical biography and what makes the book worth reading. The second part, following themes of AI a bit removed from von Neumann is not as innovative or insightful but nevertheless an enjoyable read. Overall still highly recommended.