World Wide Mind

Reviews / Votes

"A fascinating discussion of optogenetics research... Mr. Chorost's curiosity is contagious... Michael Chorost is not only a clear and concise science writer, but also a visionary. The coming integration of humans and machines may be a bit further off than he thinks, but he convinced me that we will get there someday." -New York Times "In World Wide Mind, he once again offers an impressively vivid story, and it is a pleasure to follow him on his envisioned future of human beings with directly connected brains... World Wide Mind is a thought-provoking story..."-New Scientist "The upshot of the research Chorost details is nothing less than a pathway to telepathy, telempathy and a linked world consciousness. The real triumph of the book derives from Chorost's storytelling ability. . . . Moreover, the book is shadowed by a personal arc in which Chorost confronts his long-time disconnect with person-to-person intimacy. The takeaway is that, if mindful of the inevitable problems that will arise in this new step of human evolution, we could become a species capable of aspiring to more than the sum of our parts." -The L Magazine "Chorost's writing is clear, visionary and romantic. . . . Chorost's book represents the new trend to see technology as more than a cold utilitarian tool, but as a harbinger of good and social harmony if used in the right ways." -The Big Think "Michael Chorost is one of the most thoughtful writers confronting a major question of the 21st century: how will the ability to engineer human minds change the way we live, communicate, and love? As a cyborg himself, Chorost has a unique perspective that enables him to foresee how mind technologies will impact everyday issues of existence. This is a remarkable book for its ability to ponder neuroengineering through the wisdom of a humanistic lens." -Ed Boyden, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, MIT Media Lab "A deeply personal exploration of individuality, connection, and the brain. Chorost does an impressive job of articulating how brain-to-brain communication could become real, and of exploring its implications for all of us. Moving, insightful, and provocative." -Ramez Naam, author of More Than Human: Embracing the Promise of Biological Enhancement "In World Wide Mind, Michael Chorost takes on a daunting challenge: seriously and factually examining what it would mean to connect human minds directly through technology. Until recently in the realm of science fiction, this task is of increasing importance as our inventions even now blur the boundary between the made and the born. Chorost's greatest achievement is in making his tale not one about transistors and neuroscience, but about the future of humanity and love." -Joel Garreau, author of Radical Evolution: The Promise and Peril of Enhancing Our Minds, Our Bodies - And What It Means to Be Human "World Wide Mind is a rare pleasure indeed: a smart book about the future of technology that is really about the complexities of the human heart and the universal yearning to be transformed by connection. By combining cutting-edge neuroscience, keen insight into the social potential of networks, and touchingly candid personal anecdotes, Chorost has written one of the most memorable and thought-provoking books of the year." -Steve Silberman, contributing editor, Wired Magazine