To Be a Machine: Adventures Among Cyborgs, Utopians, Hackers, and the Futurists Solving the Modest Problem of Death

This gonzo-journalistic exploration of the Silicon Valley techno-utopians pursuit of escaping mortality is a breezy romp full of colorful characters. New York Times Book Review Transhumanism is a movement pushing the limits of our biologyof our senses, intelligence, and lifespanswith technology. Its supporters have reached a critical mass and now include some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley and beyond, among them Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, and Ray Kurzweil. In this provocative and eye-opening account, journalist Mark OConnell explores the staggering (and terrifying) possibilities that present themselves when you think of your body as an outmoded device. He visits the worlds foremost cryonics facility to witness how some have chosen to forestall death, discovers an underground collective of biohackers boosting their senses by implanting electronics under their skin, and meets with members of a team urgently investigating how to protect mankind from rogue artificial superintelligence. In investigating what it means to be a machine, OConnell shines a light on our ancient desire to transcend the animal conditionand offers a surprising meditation on what it means to be human.