A scientist and mathematician explores the mystery and complexity of human thought processes from an interdisciplinary point of view

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Bold futurist Ray Kurzweil, author of The Singularity Is Near, offers a framework for envisioning the future of machine intelligence—“a book for anyone who wonders where human technology is going next” (The New York Times Book Review). “Kurzweil offers a thought-provoking analysis of human and artificial intelligence and a unique look at a future in which the capabilities of the computer and the species that invented it grow ever closer.”—BILL GATES Imagine a world where the difference between man and machine blurs, where the line between humanity and technology fades, and where the soul and the silicon chip unite. This is not science fiction. This is the twenty-first century according to Ray Kurzweil, the “restless genius” (The Wall Street Journal), “ultimate thinking machine” (Forbes), and inventor of the most innovative and compelling technology of our era. In his inspired hands, life in the new millennium no longer seems daunting. Instead, it promises to be an

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Celebrated futurist Ray Kurzweil, hailed by Bill Gates as “the best person I know at predicting the future of artificial intelligence,” presents an “elaborate, smart, and persuasive” (The Boston Globe) view of the future course of human development. “Artfully envisions a breathtakingly better world.”—Los Angeles Times “Startling in scope and bravado.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times “An important book.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer At the onset of the twenty-first century, humanity stands on the verge of the most transforming and thrilling period in its history. It will be an era in which the very nature of what it means to be human will be both enriched and challenged as our species breaks the shackles of its genetic legacy and achieves inconceivable heights of intelligence, material progress, and longevity. While the social and philosophical ramifications of these changes will be profound, and the threats they pose considerable, The Singularity Is Near prese

Discusses the scientific potential represented by intelligent machines and their social implications.

"A member of the Sacred Heart Missionary Order, O'Murchu here offers one of the most intriguing rethinkings of Christian cosmology and theology since the death of his avowed model and inspiration, Teilhard de Chardin. For O'Murchu, Christian faith and the developments of science are not at war but working together toward a critical moment that mayi̮f we do not destroy our planetm̮ean a kind of breakthrough rather than breakdown. "Incarnational becoming," in the author's view, may help us to see beyond our own or our species' survival, to something greater." --Library Journal Reviews.

Zero to One: A Complete SummaryZero to One is a book by Peter Thiel, co-founder of Pay-Pal. It presents a collection of advice and hints for startup companies. This book, before it was even transformed into a book, was a collection of lessons and lectures. Back in 2012 Thiel decided that he could gather together all of his lessons, advice and other useful information into one book, which became Zero to One. What is it all about? Why write a book that is just a collection of advice? Peter Thiel, together with several other 'nerds,' decided to found Pay-Pal back in late nineties. As we see that today, that decision was definitely a good one. Thiel, along with his fellow co-founders, is now a multi-millionaire. With such clear evidence of his business success, Thiel decided that it would be a great idea for him to share the many things that he has learned from years of experience in running a business. The result was this book. Zero to One, in addition to being a collection of experience and advice, is also a great source of help for anyone who has recently started or wants to start their own business. Fun, educational, and information-rich, it is a book worth reading and studying.Here Is A Preview Of What You Will Get:- A summarized version of the book.- You will find the book analyzed to further strengthen your knowledge.- Fun multiple choice quizzes, along with answers to help you learn about the book.Get a copy, and learn everything about Zero to One.

<p><b>An argument that achieving millennial life spans or monumental intellects will destroy values that give meaning to human lives.</b></p> <p>Proposals to make us smarter than the greatest geniuses or to add thousands of years to our life spans seem fit only for the spam folder or trash can. And yet this is what contemporary advocates of radical enhancement offer in all seriousness. They present a variety of technologies and therapies that will expand our capacities far beyond what is currently possible for human beings. In <i>Humanity's End,</i> Nicholas Agar argues against radical enhancement, describing its destructive consequences.</p> <p>Agar examines the proposals of four prominent radical enhancers: Ray Kurzweil, who argues that technology will enable our escape from human biology; Aubrey de Grey, who calls for anti-aging therapies that will achieve "longevity escape velocity"; Nick Bostrom, who defends the morality and rationality of enhancement; and James Hughes, who envisi

This groundbreaking book argues convincingly that financial success in real estate development will increasingly require design that is smarter, greener, and more sustainable. It also provides examples of how this can be incorporated into a wide variety of real estate development projects.

This compendium is the culmination of an in-depth three year research project which considered how the European Patent Organisation (EPO) might rediscover and renew the basic principles underpinning it abd its inherent purpose. Over 100 formal interviews were conducted with leading experts, and from these the EPO dervied a set of scenarios for the possible future of patenting and intellectual property. These scenarios will be used by the EPO to address possible future challanges and opportunities.

The American West—where such landmarks as the Golden Gate Bridge rival wild landscapes in popularity and iconic significance—has been viewed as a frontier of technological innovation. <i>Where Minds and Matters Meet</i> calls attention to the convergence of Western history and the history of technology, showing that the region’s politics and culture have shaped seemingly placeless, global technological practices and institutions. Drawing on political and social history as well as art history, the book’s essays take the cultural measure of the region’s great technological milestones, including San Diego’s Panama-California Exposition, the building of the Hetch Hetchy Dam in the Sierras, and traffic planning in Los Angeles.<br> <br> <br> <br> Contributors: Amy Bix, Louise Nelson Dyble, Patrick McCray, Linda Nash, Peter Neushul, Matthew W. Roth, Bruce Sinclair, L. Chase Smith, Carlene Stephens, Aristotle Tympas, Jason Weems, Peter Westwick, Stephanie Young

Richard Zurawski is a meteorologist, documentary filmmaker, and television and radio personality who has called Halifax his home for almost two decades. He has been in the science and weather business for over 25 years. For children, he was the host, creator and producer of Wonder Why?, The Adventures of the AfterMath Crew and WiseWeatherWhys, each a syndicated 65 episode series for television. For adults, his documentaries on science and history range from technology, to the weather, to philosophy. Both his children's series and documentaries are sold and enjoyed around the world. He plies his meteorological bent and science proclivities with Rogers Radio in the<br> Maritime markets of Halifax, Moncton and Saint John, where he is broadcast daily on the Rogers all news network.

<p><b>Are You Prepared for Another Lost Decade?</b></p> <p>“[Pring] sees another ‘lost decade,’ but also ways to make it a winner.”<br> <b><i>–The New York Times</i></b></p> <p><i>Don’t let the secular bear eat you. Prepare to earn steady profits in another decade of volatile and disappointing market returns.</i></p> <p>For more than four decades, Martin Pring has been a leading innovator and practitioner of financial and business cycle analysis. In <i>Investing in the Second Lost Decade</i>, Pring—along with seasoned portfolio managers Joe Turner and Tom Kopas—offers conclusive proof that we’re only near the midway point of a continued secular cycle of flat returns and deeply cyclical economic conditions. To guide you through these uncertain times, Pring, Turner, and Kopas deliver a proven action plan for mastering the realities facing today’s investors.</p> <p>Using proprietary analysis, the authors explore the characteristics of long-term bear markets along with the looming dual thr

In recent years, variations in petroleum prices, gas supply cutoffs and concerns about climate change have combined to place energy security back on the international political agenda. The topic is relevant to transatlantic relations because the developed economies of North America and Europe are significant consumers of energy, a large portion of which comes from outside the region. How they choose to manage energy is not only a technical, but a political question. The fact that a larger percentage of energy used in this region comes from outside of it adds foreign policy complexity. This project focused on European and American energy vulnerabilities and the implications for international affairs, with a particular emphasis on the nexus between energy issues and human rights policy. This project focused on the area of human rights because of the traditional role Europe and the U.S. have played as supporters of international human rights measures. If they were less active on these iss

<p> Even geniuses change their minds sometimes. </p> <p> Edge (www.edge.org), the influential online intellectual salon, recently asked 150 high-powered thinkers to discuss their most telling missteps and reconsiderations: What have you changed your mind about? The answers were brilliant, eye-opening, fascinating, sometimes shocking, and certain to kick-start countless passionate debates. </p> <p> Read Steven Pinker on the future of human evolution • Richard Dawkins on the mysteries of courtship • Sam Harris on the indifference of Mother Nature • Nassim Nicholas Taleb on the irrelevance of probability • Chris Anderson on the reality of global warming • Alan Alda on the existence of God • Lisa Randall on the secrets of the Sun • Ray Kurzweil on the possibility of extraterrestrial life • Brian Eno on what it means to be a "revolutionary" • Helen Fisher on love, fidelity, and the viability of marriage • Irene Pepperberg on learning from parrots. . . and many others. </p>

This thought-provoking book examines the philosophical issues arising from the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica<br> television series, revealing how the ragtag fleet's outward journey to Earth is also an inward exploration for the human survivors and their Cylon pursuers.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Celebrated futurist Ray Kurzweil, hailed by Bill Gates as “the best person I know at predicting the future of artificial intelligence,” presents an “elaborate, smart, and persuasive” (The Boston Globe) view of the future course of human development. “Artfully envisions a breathtakingly better world.”—Los Angeles Times “Startling in scope and bravado.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times “An important book.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer At the onset of the twenty-first century, humanity stands on the verge of the most transforming and thrilling period in its history. It will be an era in which the very nature of what it means to be human will be both enriched and challenged as our species breaks the shackles of its genetic legacy and achieves inconceivable heights of intelligence, material progress, and longevity. While the social and philosophical ramifications of these changes will be profound, and the threats they pose considerable, The Singularity Is Near prese

The National New Media Art Award is Australia's most significant prize for new media art. It showcases the dynamic and evolving nature of new media art practice and the diversity of forms and ideas explored by Australian artists today. The 2012 Award publication features new and recent works by short-listed artists Kirsty Boyle (Qld), Karen Casey (Vic), Robin Fox (Vic), Ian Haig (Vic), Leah Heiss (Vic), George Poonkhin Khut (NSW), Ross Manning (Qld), and the collaboration of Petra Gemeinboeck and Rob Saunders (NSW). Richly illustrated, and including full artist biographies, National New Media Art Award 2012 features works ranging from motion-controlled musical instruments and adapted medical apparatus to generative technologies and robotics, as well as a light installation based on colour mixing principles, which are central to digital image reproduction and projection-based technologies.

<p>More than one hundred of the world's leading thinkers write about things they believe in, despite the absence of concrete proof</p><p>Scientific theory, more often than not, is born of bold assumption, disparate bits of unconnected evidence, and educated leaps of faith. Some of the most potent beliefs among brilliant minds are based on supposition alone -- yet that is enough to push those minds toward making the theory viable.</p><p>Eminent cultural impresario, editor, and publisher of Edge (www.edge.org), John Brockman asked a group of leading scientists and thinkers to answer the question: What do you believe to be true even though you cannot prove it? This book brings together the very best answers from the most distinguished contributors.</p><p>Thought-provoking and hugely compelling, this collection of bite-size thought-experiments is a fascinating insight into the instinctive beliefs of some of the most brilliant minds today.</p>