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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
An interesting book. Not so much a narrative but some visions of the future - nether one works for me but they are certainly good fodder for discussion. Read with a friend.
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
I really wanted to like this book, but I simply could not get past the first few pages, despite my full-hearted agreement with the themes and purposes of this book. I agree on the critique of society that this book tries to make, and I agree on the need for a Basic Income (though not necessarily for the same reasons or from the same economic reasoning that the author seems to use). But, I found the writing just too stilted and difficult to get past, so I was never able to suspend disbelief long enough to get into the book. Sorry.
Weird that this was written in 2003, 'cause it predicted the prospect of mass unemployment in the face of increasing automation almost perfectly.
It started out great, but then it kinda degenerated. There's no plot or character development, and rather than a single story Manna just looks like two essays (the latter of them not that good) smashed together.
fast-paced
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
medium-paced
More of a pamphlet than a short story. It started off engrossing, but ended in cheesy territory. Still, everyone should give it a read because a robot future is coming and we should probably decide now which of Mr. Brain's routes we want it to take.
Also, it's a tad disturbing that his idea of heaven is a never-ending cruise aboard a giant cruiseship. I thought of it more like the first week of college---you walk past tables with sign-up sheets for drama club, the anachronistic society, ultimate frisbee team---you decide who you will be and all these options wait for your with open arms.
Also, it's a tad disturbing that his idea of heaven is a never-ending cruise aboard a giant cruiseship. I thought of it more like the first week of college---you walk past tables with sign-up sheets for drama club, the anachronistic society, ultimate frisbee team---you decide who you will be and all these options wait for your with open arms.