In her debut book, journalist and essayist Meghan O’Gieblyn takes a penetrating look at the ways in which technology mediates our experience of the world. Drawing on a range of sources–from philosophy to science fiction, from evolutionary biology to cognitive psychology–O’Gieblyn offers insights into topics as diverse as why we use metaphors to describe our understanding of machines, what it means when humans start reproducing with animals, and how online communities can offer new forms of belonging. Blending intellectual provocation with memoiristic honesty, God, Human, Animal, Machine marks an ambitious first steps towards answering some big questions about where humanity is headed.
For who is this book for ?
This book is for anyone curious about the impact of technology on our lives. O’Gieblyn provides a wide-ranging exploration of how digital devices and online communities are changing the way we think, feel, and interact. If you’re interested in where humanity might be headed, this book is definitely worth reading.
Pros :
- The book is well-researched, drawing on a range of sources from philosophy to science fiction
- O’Gieblyn offers insightful perspectives into topics such as why we use metaphors to describe our understanding of machines, what it means when humans start reproducing with animals, and how online communities can offer new forms of belonging
- The writing is intelligent and thought-provoking
Cons :
- The author’s arguments are not always clear
- The book is dense and may be difficult to read for some people
- O’Gieblyn does not provide definitive answers to the questions she poses
Learn more about the author
Meghan O’Gieblyn is a journalist and essayist. She has written for The Atlantic, Harper’s Magazine, the New York Times Book Review, n+1, and other publications.
Reader Reviews
“O’Gieblyn’s wide-ranging, erudite and elegiac debut tackles the big questions about technology and its impact on our lives. . .”
“O’Gieblyn offers readers a new way of thinking about the impact of technology on our lives. She weaves together philosophical and scientific thought with her own personal observations in an elegant and compelling way.”
“An incisive, searching exploration of the ways in which technology mediates our experience of the world.”
“O’Gieblyn is a powerful new voice in American letters, interrogating the ways we live now and casting a keen eye towards the future. With this book she establishes herself as an essential thinker and writer for our time.”