Book Review: Technology vs. Humanity: The coming clash between man and machine (FutureScapes) by Gerd Leonhard

In his latest book Technology vs. Humanity, futurist Gerd Leonhard asks, “How can society stay in control as machines enter deeper into our lives, our bodies, and eventually our brains?”

Technology vs. Humanity:
The coming clash between man and machine
(FutureScapes)
by Gerd Leonhard

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. 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?

Gerd Leonhard is a new kind of futurist schooled in the humanities as much as in technology. In his most provocative book to date, he explores the exponential changes swamping our societies, providing rich insights and deep wisdom for business leaders, professionals and anyone with decisions to make in this new era.

If you take being human for granted, press Reset now with this passionately argued call to create a genuinely braver new world.

About the Author

As humanity rushes headlong into a world first served and soon dominated by technology, futurism has become a burning issue for everyone, not just visionaries and geeks. Gerd Leonhard blends humanism wth futurism to create manifestos and creative non-fiction that dramatically widens the franchise and audience for near-future exploration. His upcoming new book – Technology vs Humanity – is a breakthrough work of provocation that alerts the world to the imminent ethical and moral choices we will all have to confront much sooner than expected. A musician and creative by background, Leonhard has spent fifteen years living in the future, applying his insights and practical wisdoms to present-day dilemmas from the erosion of work life to the epidemic of digtal obesity that threatens to destroy a generation. Founder of The Futures Agency, Gerd Leonhard travels the world delivering customized advice to enterprise and public organizations of all kinds – helping them to both understand their future choices and discover their ‘true future’. Gerd’s books and essays are supported by an increasing array of multi-media features, including films and webisodes from his own boutique film studios. Together with the Futures Agency advisory and speaking tours, these media properties constitute a unique quarry of groundbreaking insights for individuals and organizations in transformation. Gerd’s other books include The Future of Content, Friction is Fiction and the bestselling The Future of Music. He also contributes a key chapter to The Future of Busines, edited by Rohit Talwar. A member of the Royal Society for the Arts (London) as well as the World Future Society, his client list includes Consumers International, YouTube, Nokia, The Guardian, Google, Sony-BMG, Telkom Indonesia, Siemens, RTL, ITV, the BBC, France Telecom, Orange, Deutsche Telekom, MTN, The Financial Times, DDB / TribalDDB, Ogilvy, Omnicom, the European Commission along with many other notable organizations.

Amazon Customer Review

Essential perspectives on how humanity, ethics, values and people can remain centre stage in a future of technology dominance  reviewed by Jens U. Hansen

Gerd Leonhard is very successfully bringing humanity into the centre of the exponential technology development that we are right in the middle of. He brilliantly discuss some of the polarities and dilemmas that are right in front of us as citizens, politicians, entrepreneurs, business leaders, parents. Everyone that is concerned with how we bring humanity forward in the age of robotics, automation, internet of things, big data, etc. can benefit from the deep insights that Gerd Leonhard so richly is sharing in his 2016 book Technology vs. Humanity. Closely connected to the sound development and transformation of global business leadership myself I give Technology vs. Humanity my warmest recommendations.

Book Review: Simple Awakening: The Power of Inner Silence

Awakening The Power Of Inner Silence Can Transform A Life In Many Extraordinary Ways

An awakening was not scheduled in Michael Linenberger’s calendar, but it happened anyway. Fortunately for us, he was paying attention, and the result is Simple Awakening: The Power of Inner Silence (New Academy Publishers).

Michael Linenberger is a successful businessman, a former VP in a large management consulting firm with several best-selling books on workday management to his credit. Starting in late 2012, Michael experienced an extraordinary, positive change happening spontaneously in his life. A profound inner silence began developing, one that grew stronger and stronger each day. From that silence, a fundamental set of life transformations emerged:

~  Work became easy, life became easy, and all striving ceased.
~  All fears and doubts disappeared.
~  Unconditional happiness—bliss—moved in.

Perhaps most important, a profound and accurate intuition began guiding his life to greater and greater achievements, both in his business and personal life. All these changes occurred through something Michael calls simple awakening—which he feels nearly everyone has the potential to achieve.

In an extraordinarily practical way, Michael tells the story of this amazing transformation unfolding over three years in Simple Awakening: The Power of Inner Silence. Most important, he explains what awakening can mean to you: what it looks like, how you might cultivate it, and the many ways it could revolutionize your entire life.

Michael Linenberger has held major roles in the field of information technology and business management for over twenty years. A former vice president at a large, international management consulting firm, he also worked as head of technology at U.S. Peace Corps. An expert on managing work tasks and communication, Michael has written seven books on workday productivity, among them several best sellers.

Michael holds a B.S. and M.S. from The University of Massachusetts. He started his career in 1976 as a scientist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In the 1980s, he worked as a civil engineer designing foundations for some of the largest buildings in San Diego, California. For more than forty years, Michael has also been interested in the development of consciousness. He is a popular speaker with insightful talks and seminars on how to improve one’s business and personal life.

For more information, please visit www.simpleawakening.com.

Simple Awakening: The Power of Inner Silence 
By Michael Linenberger
New Academy Publishers
Available online and at fine bookstores everywhere
March 2016
ISBN 13: 978-0983364740
ISBN 10: 0983364745
###

REVIEWS

Marci Shimoff, #1 New York Times best-selling author, Happy for No Reason: “Michael’s story of awakening is so heartfelt. This book will keep you turning the pages as you realize that the blissful core of who you are is available to you, just below the surface, in simple silence.”

Jennifer Read Hawthorne, coauthor, #1 New York Times bestseller Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul and author, The Soul of Success: “This book has taken me by surprise! Michael is a beautiful writer and, he’s written something so important, of great value. I love this book!”

Susan Marcinelli, PhD, former Senior VP, Innovation & Leadership, Best Buy:
“Michael demystifies the process of ‘awakening’ as he explains his experiences and their meaning. Michael has masterfully conveyed the real-life impact and potential of awakening—and how simple it is!”

Nancy Romero, former CEO, Accelerated Family Counseling: “Michael’s book is so needed! It’s very inspirational because it shows that awakening is achievable. It gives people hope that they can actually get to that place of expanded consciousness.”

Buy Links

Amazon 
Barnes & Noble 
eCAMPUS.com 
Wordery