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Conversations with the Future: 21 Visions for the 21st Century Kindle Edition

4.7 out of 5 stars 40 ratings

In “Conversations with the Future: 21 Visions for the 21st Century,” we embark on a thought-provoking journey through the complexities and possibilities that the future holds. This collection of enlightening dialogues offers readers an in-depth look at the potential scenarios and challenges of the 21st century.

Each chapter presents a unique vision of the future, shaped by conversations with leading thinkers, innovators, and scholars. From the role of AI in shaping our lives to the impact of genetics, robotics, nanotechnology, 3D printing, and life extension, the book explores a wide range of topics that are crucial to our collective future.

“Conversations with the Future” is more than just a book; it’s an invitation to engage in the dialogue about our future and to consider how our actions today will shape the world of tomorrow. Whether you’re a futurist, a student, or simply curious about what lies ahead, this book will provide you with insights and perspectives that will provoke thought, inspire action, and ignite conversation.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01N4QF7GU
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Singularity Media, Inc.
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 20, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.0 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 504 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 40 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
40 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book readable and entertaining, with one review noting it contains 21 visions of the future of humanity. They appreciate its thought-provoking content, with one customer mentioning it discusses terms like technological singularity.

8 customers mention "Readability"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and appreciate it as an introductory text, with one customer describing it as a highly satisfying collection of work.

"Great book AND podcast. I've enjoyed the podcast for years and this book is equally entertaining. Two thumbs up. Great." Read more

"This is an excellent read, coming at the questions of the "technological singularity" from a variety of different angles...." Read more

"...Future Finding Read An entertaining and highly satisfying collection of work that no one else but ND could deliver" Read more

"...I enjoyed reading it very much, I find it very useful and I highly recommend it" Read more

5 customers mention "Provoking content"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's content thought-provoking, with one customer noting it contains 21 visions of the future of humanity, while another mentions it discusses advanced concepts like technological singularity.

"...It's a lively and engaging read, provoking thoughts that you ask yourself why you didn't think them before...." Read more

"The books contains 21 visions of the future of humanity and discusses terms like technological singularity, transhumanism, robotics, cryonics among..." Read more

"...how one thinks about the future, each of these interviews will sharpen your thinking and open new reflective and contemplative avenues for any..." Read more

"A great collection of conversations with futurists and a great resource for anyone interested in the future as a reference and as a source of things..." Read more

4 customers mention "Entertainment value"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, with one noting how it keeps the conversation lively.

"...It's a lively and engaging read, provoking thoughts that you ask yourself why you didn't think them before...." Read more

"...willingness to ask both the hard and the dummy questions keeps the conversation lively and down to Earth...." Read more

"Condensed Distilled Future Finding Read An entertaining and highly satisfying collection of work that no one else but ND could deliver" Read more

"...I've enjoyed the podcast for years and this book is equally entertaining. Two thumbs up. Great." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is an excellent read, coming at the questions of the "technological singularity" from a variety of different angles. Remarkably, the "conversations" are with some really high-level thinkers, yet are presented in a way that is readily accessible even if you've never given this stuff any serious thought before. And, rather than presenting a single, monolithic "this is what's coming" vision, these conversations offer a diversity of views, coming at the question from many different angles.

    Whether we think about it consciously or not, we all know that technology is advancing and bringing us to a place where our tools are becoming something much more than "tools" have ever been before. Our smartphones, our laptops, the internet itself -- things which did not even exist, and which most of us would not have even imagined could exist, a few decades ago -- are already indispensable to our lives. And they have changed us. As our tools become smarter and smarter, maybe smarter than us ... how will they change our lives, and, more importantly, how will they change us? This book does not answer those questions. Instead, it provokes them.

    The author presents a delightful variety of perspectives on just what that future may hold, and just what that future could mean to who and what we are. Heavy stuff, coming from heavy thinkers, but presented relatively lightly. You don't need to be any sort of expert to be able to follow the conversations. It's a lively and engaging read, provoking thoughts that you ask yourself why you didn't think them before.

    I'd recommend this book to anyone who can remember a world before Facebook and who has ever wondered how if so much has changed in the near past, how much will change in the near future. This book also be a terrific gift for anyone with the slightest interest in what the future may hold ... from the serious techie to the casual sci-fi fan. Highly recommended.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    In Conversations, Nikola brings the best of his Singularity podcast to book form. The formula is simple: round up leading tech entrepreneurs, sci-fi writers, innovators and futurists and get them to share their stories and ideas about technology and the future. Sometimes what they say is surprising, provocative or in direct contradiction to other experts. This is all part of the conversation. Although the subject matter is sometimes technical, Nikola's informal interview style and willingness to ask both the hard and the dummy questions keeps the conversation lively and down to Earth. Even when the topic veers into marginal costs and quantum decoherence, the reader never feels out of his depth. Nikola also explores the personal side of his subjects, probing at their motivations and trying to get at what makes them tick. As a result, the conversations don't feel like professorial lectures but more like meeting up at a coffee shop with new friends, who just happen to be among the most interesting and accomplished people you've ever met.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Condensed
    Distilled
    Future Finding Read
    An entertaining and highly satisfying collection of work that no one else but ND could deliver
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The books contains 21 visions of the future of humanity and discusses terms like technological singularity, transhumanism, robotics, cryonics among others. Will robots be human race last invention? "The future will always find us, but will we find the future? "I enjoyed reading it very much, I find it very useful and I highly recommend it
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I have been listening to Nikola Danaylov's (alias Socrates)'s superbly incisive and insightful interviews for a long time, and wait with excitement for the next fascinating person he interviews [see singularityweblog]. Now we have these incredible interviews compiled into Conversations with the Future, which I find so valuable in complementing the audio and video interviews. Regardless of your how one thinks about the future, each of these interviews will sharpen your thinking and open new reflective and contemplative avenues for any curious soul. I have learned a considerable amount from each individual, and my reading has broadened appreciably as a result of Nikola Danaylov's remarkable accumulation of learned people's deep thoughts and deep work. I am already looking forward to the next volume!!
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The technological singularity, by one definition, is a singular, near-future phenomena in which the exponentially increasing pace of technological advancement will not be measured in functional human terms. Conversations with the Future is the compilation of some of Danaylov's most enlightening and provocative interviews about and related to the technological singularity. Topics range from industrial automation to artificial intelligence to radical life extension and much more. In my opinion, Danaylov is the best at what he does—asking the questions so that you may ponder and perhaps formulate your own answers. Highly recommended to everyone interested in the future.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    "The 'Larry King' of the Singularity” is indeed a great way to describe Nikola Danaylov. Nikola has interviewed more than 200 experts on the Singularity and now has written an excellent book documenting what 21 of them had to say. Read it. You'll be glad you did.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A good introductory book on the concept of the Singularity edited from his interview podcast on Singularity Weblog (now Singularity FM). You can't complain about the Kindle price.

    He interviews a wide range of people from Ray Kurzweill to Marvin Minsky and more.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Kelvin
    5.0 out of 5 stars For those who have missed the online interviews or for ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 4, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    For those who have missed the online interviews or for those coming to the subject for the first time, here it is presented and collated by a young man who was not only one of the first to journey into the Singularity landscape and communicate with the 'natives' there, but does so with a healthy scepticism and above all a keenly focussed ethical lens.
  • Armando Zeferino Milioni
    4.0 out of 5 stars Frustrou um pouquinho
    Reviewed in Brazil on May 17, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    O livro é muito bom e eu o recomendo a qualquer leitor. A minha frustração decorre apenas do fato de que eu já conhecia mais de 80% do seu conteúdo, pois sou um frequentador do portal singularityfm (antigo singularity 1on1). Esse portal tem podcasts com entrevistas feitas pelo autor do livro, Nikola Danaylov, e eu já havia ouvido a grande maioria das entrevistas que são transcritas no livro. Quem não fez isso ainda, contudo, encontrará um ótimo material sobre a singularidade tecnológica que talvez nos aguarde para breve e sobre as perspectivas de evolução do H.Sapiens, no transhumanismo sobre o qual alguns tanto falam.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Prep for the singularity; make an AI your friend!
    Reviewed in Canada on February 16, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A well researched and written catalogue of what you need to know about if you plan to hang around and continue, kicking and screaming into the future. All these visions are important, if only for context to be able to make sense of the world around you now, and after the singularity. Required reading for all human beings, and especially all 'post'human survivors.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great cross-section of leading experts and their visions of the future
    Reviewed in Australia on August 23, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I have listened to all Nikolas interviews twice, but reading them takes out the emotion and let's me experience them from a different angle and gain a greater appreciation of the topic. This book would also make a great introduction for people new to the subject. I found Nikolas comments in each vision a little distracting even though it was a more honest description of the interview but would have preferred to see a bit more use of creative license to make it flow more like a story. I particularly enjoyed the last vision by nikola himself and would like to see an extrapolation of this in the form of a second book. Huge fan of Nikola and his work and would recommend anyone interested in expanding their horizons to check out this book.
  • Bernd Robker
    5.0 out of 5 stars Eine notwendige Diskussion
    Reviewed in Germany on July 20, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Als Individuen und als Zivilisation werden wir dort leben: in der Zukunft. Diese simple Erkenntnis sollte uns motivieren, uns Gedanken darum zu machen, wie die Zukunft aussehen wird und wie wir sie gestalten können.
    Ein entscheidendes Thema dabei ist die technische Singularität. Damit ist der Punkt gemeint, an dem die technische Entwicklung sich verselbständigt, weil sie nicht mehr von Menschen, sondern von Künstlicher Intelligenz vorangetrieben wird. Schon heute schlagen Computer die weltbesten menschlichen Spieler in Schach, Jeopardy und Go, das Computerprogramm Watson stellt zuverlässigere medizinische Diagnosen als Ärzteteams. Der Punkt, an dem Computer nicht nur Intelligenz, sondern ein Bewusstsein entwickeln - womit sie neben den Menschen zur zweiten intelligenten und empfindenden Spezies auf dem Planeten werden - könnte in den 2020ern erreicht werden. Wenn die Computer ihrerseits neue und bessere Computer entwickelt, wird sich diese Entwicklung auf ein Maß beschleunigen, dass jenseits des menschlichen Erfassungsvermögens liegen wird. Der simple Grund dafür liegt darin, dass sich die Rechenleistung von Computern nahezu beliebig erweitern und zusammenschalten lässt. Ist das Grund zur Optimismus oder zur Sorge?
    Es ist dem Autor Nikola Danaylov hoch anzurechnen, dass er darauf keine Antwort gibt. Stattdessen stellt er Fragen. Dieser Interviewband enthält das Best-Of aus einer Vielzahl von Interviews, die er für sein Weblog geführt hat. Darin kommen die Insider der Entwicklung zu Wort, die zur technischen Singularität hinführen könnte. Der Pionier der Spracherkennung Ray Kurzweil, der theoretische Physiker Michio Kaku, die Unternehmerin Suzanne Gildert, deren Unternehmen menschenähnliche Roboter entwickelt, Noam Chomsky, aber auch Science-Fiction-Autoren wie Vernor Vinge, Transhumanisten und viele andere. Gerade dieses weite Spektrum in den persönlichen und beruflichen Hintergründen ermöglicht die Betrachtung des Themas aus vielen verschiedenen Blickwinkeln, was dem Leser ermöglicht, seine eigenen Einschätzungen und Wertungen vorzunehmen. Dass die Interviewpartner oftmals unterschiedlicher Meinung sind, wirkt dabei belebend.
    Ein Diskussionsbeitrag im besten Sinne zu einem Thema, das jeden angeht: unsere Zukunft, die Zukunft der Menschheit.

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