At Momenta we're privileged to have access to some of the greatest thinkers, innovators and practitioners in Connected Industry.
During our Insight Vectors or Podcast interviews, we always ask for books recommendations. We've seen these recommendations falling into three broad themes: Futurism, Psychology of Self (and Humanity) and Tools for Digital Transformation. To highlight these, we're releasing a series of three posts detailing notable recommendations.
This is a three part series (PART 2, PART 3).
Our first installment: Futurism. We know that technologists are irresistibly drawn towards predicting the future and how technology will shape not only our lives, but those of generations to come. What guides their thinking, what inspires them to create and what serves as cautionary tales to give their creative impulses a second thought? These books are some of our favorites:
The Singularity Is Near
by Ray Kurzweil
Inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil examines the next step in the evolutionary process of the union of human and machine. He foresees the dawning of a new civilization where we will be able to transcend our biological skills with the vastly greater capacity, speed and knowledge-sharing abilities of our creations. In practical terms, human aging and illness will be reversed; pollution will be stopped, and world hunger and poverty will be solved. There will be no clear distinction between human and machine, real reality and virtual reality. The Singularity is Near offers a view of the coming age that is both a dramatic culmination of centuries of technological ingenuity and a genuinely inspiring vision of our ultimate destiny.
Recommended by Ralf Schultz, IoT and Industry 4.0 Expert
Technology vs. Humanity: The Coming Clash Between Man and Machine
Futurist Gerd Leonhard breaks new ground again by bringing together mankind’s urge to upgrade and automate everything—down to human biology itself—with our timeless quest for freedom and happiness. Before it’s too late, we must stop and ask the big questions: How do we embrace technology without becoming it? When it happens—gradually, then suddenly—the machine era will create the greatest watershed in human life on Earth. Technology vs. Humanity is one of the last moral maps we’ll get as humanity enters the Jurassic Park of Big Tech. Artificial intelligence, cognitive computing, the singularity, digital obesity, printed food, the Internet of Things and the death of privacy. The end of work-as-we-know-it, and radical longevity: The imminent clash between technology and humanity is already rushing towards us.
What moral values are you prepared to stand up for—before being human alters its meaning forever?
Recommended by Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn, CISCO Systems VP/GM, Cisco Systems. Chairman and President of the IoT Talent Consortium
Homo Deus – A Brief History of Tomorrow
by Yuval Noah Hariri
Homo Deus explores the projects, dreams and nightmares that will shape the twenty-first century – from overcoming death to creating artificial life. It asks the fundamental questions: Where do we go from here? And how will we protect this fragile world from our own destructive powers? This is the next stage of evolution. This is Homo Deus:
War is obsolete:You are more likely to commit suicide than be killed in conflict
Famine is disappearing:
You are at more risk of obesity than starvation
Death is just a technical problem:
Equality is out – but immortality is in
Want to recommend a book to the Momenta community or talk to others about your literary impressions? Connect with us and our community on facebook or linkedin.
Momenta Partners encompasses leading Strategic Advisory, Executive Search, and Investment practices. We’re the guiding hand behind leading industrials’ IoT strategies, over 100 IoT leadership placements, and 17+ young IoT disruptors. Schedule a free consultation to learn more about our Connected Industry practice.
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