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Books : Enough : Staying Human in an Engineered Age

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by: Bill McKibben

 : Enough : Staying Human in an Engineered Age

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Binding: Paperback
Format: Bargain Price
Number Of Items: 10
Number Of Pages: 288
Publication Date: February 01, 2004
Sales Rank: 1160189




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Editorial Review:

Product Description:
From the bestselling author of The End of Nature comes a passionate plea to limit the technologies that could change the very definition of who we are

We are on the verge of crossing the line from born to made, from created to built. Sometime in the next few years, a scientist will reprogram a human egg or sperm cell, spawning a genetic change that could be passed down into eternity. We are sleepwalking toward the future, argues Bill McKibben, and it’s time to open our eyes.

In The End of Nature, nearly fifteen years ago, McKibben demonstrated that humanity had begun to irrevocably alter—and endanger—our environment on a global scale. Now he turns his eye to an array of technologies that could change our relationship not with the rest of nature but with ourselves. He explores the frontiers of genetic engineering, robotics, and nanotechnology—all of which we are approaching with astonishing speed—and shows that each threatens to take us past a point of no return. We now stand at a critical threshold, poised between the human past and a post-human future.

Ultimately, McKibben offers a celebration of what it means to be human, and a warning that we risk the loss of all meaning if we step across the threshold. His wise and eloquent book argues that we cannot forever grow in reach and power—that we must at last learn how to say, “Enough.”




Customer Reviews
Average Rating:  out of 5 stars

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - Interesting and provocative, but not entirely successful

In this book, McKibben argues that humanity needs to shut down large chunks of two areas of technology: stemline genetics research and nanotechnology/robotics. In each case, he works through the possible advantages for people of this research and then thinks about the implications if we go down that path.

Genetics research is much farther along, and I found McKibben's concerns in this area convincing. His discussion of nanotechnology seemed over the top to me, reminding me of ... Read More



Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Yes
One point that has not been made yet which I feel is pertinent is the question of disease. Namely, what purpose has disease served in directing the adaptation of humans? This needs to be considered by pathologists and geneticists alike. Genetically engineering resistance to known diseases will not protect future humans from all diseases. On the contrary, such a poorly thought-out removal of adaptive processes such as natural immunity is likely to make engineered humans of the future utterly helpless ... Read More



Rating: 2 out of 5 stars - The Simple Life
McKibben has turned simplicity, primitivism and that universal longing railed against almost every aspect of modern American life - television, marketing, the environment, capitalism, education and now biotechnology with its evil twins, nanotech and artificial intelligence. He continues issuing dire warnings that the race is imperiled if we continue down our current paths. I think he would prefer extinction over transformation, something he sees with every genetic advance or scientific breakthrough. ... Read More



Rating: 2 out of 5 stars - A naturist's bias on germline genetic engineering
McKibben has some valid points and questions regarding germiline genetic engineering, unfortunately his stong naturist bias diminsh his credibility. He extensibly quotes scientists and experts on the matter, at the end what they say fits his idea that genetics and technlogy will be the apocalyptic executor.

Take for example three pages from his book were he uses the research work by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi to demonstrate that genetic enhancement will not make people happier.

McKibben's ... Read More



Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - Good Overall Explanation
The Strong point about this book is that it poses thought provoking questions. The author has really thought about this subject and where the field of genetics may lead us. The book provides some good explanations of the terms and types of research currently being carried on. He shows that by the time the nation starts legislating procedures it is generally too late. The author does bring up some pretty good predictions that society may be forced to deal with. The compulsion to fix detrimental hereditary diseases ... Read More

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