Two Points of Interest: brain

Friday, October 27, 2023

Book Review - The Battle for Your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology by Nita A. Farahany

The Battle for Your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology by Nita Farahany is a plea for countries to update their laws to protect people against the advancement of neurotechnologies. Imagine a world where someone can determine what you are thinking by your brain waves or figure out your political beliefs by analyzing your thought patterns. Or your thoughts being used as evidence for a crime you didn’t commit but thought about. In the near future, your own thoughts and feelings might be used against you.

On the flip side, a person suffering from epilepsy can receive an alert before a seizure. Students can consume drugs that can help them perform and remember better on exams. A person who is experiencing a traumatizing event can take a pill to help them navigate their circumstances better. Doctors can help people fight their addictions and live a better and fulfilling life.

Neuroscience has made a lot of these things possible already. Neurotechnology will pave the way for humans to greatly benefit from our interactions with technology. While it can be beneficial, it can also threaten our personal freedom if safeguards are not put in place.

The book is a dense and informative read. The author spends time giving a brief description of current technology and how it is being currently used. She then explains why we would need to have safeguards in place for each particular tech. I like that the author also illustrates the impact of not having any laws in place for that tech and how it could adversely impact our lives.

I found the book to be an educational read. I learned a lot about the different tech and the advancements that companies and scientists were making in the field. I thought the author brought up a lot of good points and she made a strong case on why laws protecting our brain activity/thoughts are important. I agree with the majority of her points that these technologies would help advance us but can be detrimental if there is no limit on how the information is used— especially if a person’s information is used against them.

Thursday, June 20, 2019

Book Review - Reentry by Peter Cawdron + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Astronaut Dr. Liz Anderson is returning to Earth from Mars to debrief Congress on what went wrong. Instead of being treated to a hero's welcome, she is surrounded by hostility as America is in turmoil. While fighting for her life in Mars, she knew who the enemy was. Back home, she is unsure who she can trust and how she can escape the deadly aftermath of the war. Upon her return, Liz also brings the remnants of the artificial intelligence that contains traces of her dead partner, Jianyu. Liz is torn between believing he is alive or if she is being manipulated by the AI. While Liz is still working through her grief, she is caught in the middle of a guerrilla war. While Liz is struggling to survive she has to decide can she trust the AI with her life?

When I first picked up this novel, I was aware that this was a sequel to the first novel. However, I felt while reading this novel that this book should have been included in the first novel. The first half of the novel, Liz and her fellow astronaut was dealing with the fallout of the AI takeover on Mars. I felt like the novel was dragging and not much was happening. I felt I would have enjoyed this book more if it had a bit more going on instead of Liz spending most of her time running away.

**Disclosure - I received a free unedited copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Print Length: 304 pages
Publisher: John Joseph Adams/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (June 11, 2019)
Publication Date: June 11, 2019
Sold by: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Language: English
ASIN: B07FKD6GH9

Praise for REENTRY

"It's good to consider the AI possibilities ahead. Peter Cawdron's REENTRY is a marvelous read but also an intriguing scenario for what might go on within the superintelligences." ―Vernor Vinge, Hugo Award-winning author of A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky

After almost dying on Mars, astronaut Liz Anderson returns to Earth, but not to a hero’s welcome. America is in turmoil. The war is over, but the insurgency has just begun. So while life on Mars may have been deadly, at least up there she knew who the enemy was. Along with her, Liz has brought the remnants of the artificial intelligence that waged war on two planets. Buried somewhere deep within the cold electronic circuits lies the last vestiges of her dead partner Jianyu. Liz is torn, unsure whether he’s somehow still alive in electronic form or just a ploy by an adversary that will go to any length to win. Heartbroken and treated with suspicion, she finds herself caught up in the guerrilla war being waged on Earth, wondering if the AI threat is truly gone, or if it has only just begun.

You can purchase Reentry (Mars Endeavour #2) at the following Retailers:

Photo Content from Peter Cawdron

Peter Cawdron is an Australian science fiction author, making hard scifi easy to understand.

His debut novel Anomaly has gone on to sell over 75,000 copies around the world, while his zombie story What We Left Behind was selected by Kindle Scout for publication with Kindle Press.