Engines of creation
In this original book about the consequences of new technologies, Drexler takes the reader through exhilarating new discoveries and the promise of those around the corner. Beginning with the insight that what we can do depends on what we can build, Drexler analyzes nanotechnology, which involves the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules. He makes a plausible case for expecting technological developments in artificial intelligence and molecular engineering that will result in tiny mechanisms being controlled by microscopic powerful thinking computers. He also explains how the new alternatives could be directed toward vital human concerns -- wealth or poverty, health or sickness, peace or war. ISBN 0-385-19972-4: $17.95.
Stats for nerds
12recommend
46mentions
33people
2007–2026years
30% recommend65% neutral4% critical
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- K. Eric Drexler - Engines of Creation https://www.amazon.com/Engines-Creation-Nanotechnology-Libra...
Randomly chose this off the bookshelf at a Borders in 1990 or so...turned out to be the most exciting book I've ever read. Then Terminator 2 came out and was 10x as amazing because I saw how it COULD really happen.
- Popular treatment: Engines of Creation, Drexler 1986.
There are newer options, but this is basically the beginning of post-Feynman Nanotechnology.
Version 2.0 (2007) of the book is a free PDF: https://web.archive.org/web/20140810022659/http://www1.appst...
- I have read through "Engines of Creation" (the book where this phrase was coined) three or four times and learn something new with each reading. I've also bought three copies because I keep giving it away (last time to a friend who became CEO of a nano-tech company). I'm not necessarily scared of the scenario described as gray goo in chapter 4 but I also think it's a good warning to nano-practitioners.
- Engines of Creation might be the book for you: http://xaonon.dyndns.org/misc/engines_of_creation.pdf
- I can recommend Engines of Creation:
1.0 summary: http://web.mit.edu/cortiz/www/3.052/3.052CourseReader/3_Engi...
1.0: http://e-drexler.com/d/06/00/EOC/EOC_Table_of_Contents.html
2.0: https://web.archive.org/web/20140810022659/http://www1.appst...
- Non-fiction:
Tough to call. I got a lot out of Deep Work by Cal Newport, The Obstacle Is The Way by Ryan Holiday, How To Win At The Sport Of Business by Mark Cuban, Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, and The Engines of Creation by Eric Drexler, as well as the three Grant Cardone books I read: The 10x Rule, Sell or Be Sold and Be Obsessed or Be Average.
Fiction:
I'll go with The Whispering Room by Dean Koontz. A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami was also pretty good.
You can see the entire list of what I've read lately (and further back) on my Goodreads profile:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/33942804-phillip-rhodes
or, if this link is visible publicly, on this "2017 in books" page:
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