"Immune" by Philipp Dettmer is a tour de force that makes the complex universe of immunology understandable. At first glance, seemingly absurd analogi"Immune" by Philipp Dettmer is a tour de force that makes the complex universe of immunology understandable. At first glance, seemingly absurd analogies and exaggerated descriptive terms appear tacky. Yet, this very approach transforms a subject as intricate and ostensibly inscrutable as the immune system into a riveting and comprehensible narrative. One almost walks away with the feeling that there is perhaps no other easier way to get some handle on this second most important part of our body system after the neural system.
One of the best uses of its vivid anthropomorphism is elucidating the two overarching branches of the immune system's defense strategy. The first-line innate immune response is a force of generic defenders like macrophages, neutrophils, and natural killer cells that quickly swarm and attack any perceived threat. If the enemy breaches this initial barrier, the adaptive immune response is mobilized as the elite, specialized strike team. This secondary counterattack is led by B cells creating bespoke antibody weapons tailored to the invader's molecular signatures and cytotoxic T cells that directly identify and eliminate infected host cells. It's a brilliant two-phase strategy - a broad initial assault followed by an evolving, meticulously targeted offensive guided by the immune system's powerful "memory" of prior foes.
In all this, phagocytes are not merely cells but voracious macrophages, akin to ravenous knights on a quest to devour bacterial and viral pathogens. Neutrophils are self-sacrificing kamikaze warriors. And, B and T cells assume the roles of strategists and assassins, orchestrating a meticulously planned defense against the unwelcome, stubborn invaders. This narrative style captures the imagination and significantly enhances understanding of the subject matter.
The complexity rises as one begins to learn about B and T cells. The author's analogies turn less powerful, but that has less to do with the effort and more with the subject matter. Readers are introduced to naive B cells perched in lymph nodes, reminiscent of scouts in watchtowers, and T cells honed in the thymus' military academy,' all working in a complex but fascinating system of defense and attack
Perhaps the most memorable descriptions for this reviewer were in the immune system's educational process - how T cells attend the "Thymus Academy" to learn to distinguish friend from foe. Immature T cells are exposed to many of the body's proteins and cells. Any pupils that react strongly to these "self" molecules are swiftly disciplined and eliminated. Only those recruits displaying restraint and the ability to recognize self can graduate and join the discriminating cytotoxic T cell assassins or helper T cell commanders. It's an incredible quality control mechanism, ensuring the adaptive immune system can marshal overwhelming lethal force against outside invaders while sparing the body's own tissues from collateral damage.
Worms also get a good treatment: the parasites are seen as having evolved to subvert and hijack the immune system for their own survival. For the author, these insidious freeloaders secrete molecules to impersonate the body's own cells, inducing localized suppression of immune responses by driving the expansion of regulatory T cells - the peacemakers trying to de-escalate the war. In addition to the battles against viruses, bacteria, and cancer, the book covers several key learnings that broaden our understanding of human biology. "Immune" provides an insightful overview of how vaccines mimic the presence of pathogens, training the immune system without exposing the body to the full brunt of the disease. It also delves into the complex relationship between the immune system and the gut microbiome, illustrating how this vast community of microorganisms influences and is influenced by our immune defenses. This segment highlights the critical balance between recognizing beneficial bacteria and defending against pathogens.
It is a continuous and evolutionary arms race between our pathogens and antigens. This perspective helps readers appreciate the adaptive nature of the immune system and the pressures that shape both its defenses and vulnerabilities. This is most useful in confronting cancer - the malignant traitors that arise from our own mutated cells. It is an eternal struggle where our immune system relentlessly patrols for these rogue impostors. There are those heroic efforts of natural killer cells, the front-line sentries always on the lookout for the molecular signatures of malignancy to swiftly neutralize threats before they spread. Dettmer also spotlights the critical role of cancer immunotherapy treatments like checkpoint inhibitors that revitalize exhausted T cells, "the guardian of the genome."
There is a lot, lot more. Immune is not just an important read, but almost a compulsive one....more
'Volcker' arranges the events of the undeniably historic figure’s life neatly but stops short of probing the depths. The book reads like a chronicle o'Volcker' arranges the events of the undeniably historic figure’s life neatly but stops short of probing the depths. The book reads like a chronicle of his actions without delving sufficiently into the motives and ideologies that shaped or propelled him, portraying him less as a person of conviction and more as a historical bystander. Furthermore, the book's reluctance to explore the counterfactuals or the aftermath of Volcker's decisions leaves a gap in understanding his true impact. Effectively, one gets the timeline of events but without a discourse on the essence of Volcker's legacy.
What Volcker did was unprecedented, and would not be attempted by any of his followers even if they had faced a similar problem. There was something about him that was not just a historic accident. While he benefitted both from Carter’s fading months that allowed him to carry out actions that could have been stifled by a stronger administration or from Reagan’s fiscal policies that helped kill inflation comprehensively for decades cementing Volcker’s reputation, it still required a different level of courage of conviction to do what he did.
The book could have discussed the money supply experiments in so many ways, including where they could have proved disastrous. The author could have explored the pieces of training of the man that led to such unorthodox actions. There is some discussion on all these topics, including the real-time views of others in the heydays of his actions, but little that would stand out as new or insightful.
The same is true about the oft-discussed long-term effects of his policies. They are universally praised, and the author could have easily included them without efforts for completion, but there too the book appears rushed. The only thing the author appears comfortable with is when he is discussing the events as they happened, and that’s what makes the book inadequate.
"Dream Town" continues in the vein that the author has mastered, focusing singularly on one crime without diverging into side stories. This approach p"Dream Town" continues in the vein that the author has mastered, focusing singularly on one crime without diverging into side stories. This approach provides a straightforward and engaging narrative. The book features the author's hallmark of decent twists and likeable investigators, who are also portrayed as underdogs, adding a layer of relatability and depth to their characters. Interestingly, compared to previous works, "Dream Town" offers a tad more complexity, which enriches the reading experience. This makes it a usual, yet satisfying read for long-time fans....more
In the landscape of literature exploring the evolution of intelligence, "A Brief History of Intelligence" stands out as an essential read for anyone vIn the landscape of literature exploring the evolution of intelligence, "A Brief History of Intelligence" stands out as an essential read for anyone vested in the fields of evolution, artificial intelligence, philosophy, or spirituality. The author masterfully interweaves modern AI terminology to demystify the complexities of our brain's evolution. This novel approach sets the book apart from traditional evolutionary texts, presenting a fresh and engaging perspective.
The book's core thesis lies in their five-stage classification of how the brain evolved. This framework, viewed through the lens of modern AI creation and popular terms used by its community, invites a refreshing understanding of evolutionary principles. While purists may find room for debate, its contextual relevance to today's AI advancements is undeniable. This book opens doors to profound learning experiences, challenging and expanding the reader's understanding.
While not covered in the book, its arguments have profound implications for long-standing philosophical concepts of the mind and soul. With a deep dive into the mechanics of neural development, age-old arguments about duality or free will may come to seem as outdated as ancient theories of elemental composition. Of course, philosophical works retain value for a plethora of reasons, but engaging in such debates without the insights presented within A Brief History of Intelligence might be considered akin to philosophizing over what the world is made of without knowing anything about chemistry.
Another striking point emerges from the book (once again not sufficiently discussed in the book): the pace of technological advancement in machine intelligence. Artificial intelligence has surged through developmental stages in mere decades that took nature billions of years to traverse. It's easy to draw parallels between early transistors and primordial neurons, or between ChatGPT and the rise of human cognition – yet predicting what lies ahead with such exponential progress poses near-insurmountable challenges.
The following are this reviewer’s notes or takeaways for future reference in his language:
1. Uniformity of Neurons: A groundbreaking revelation is that all neurons, across various animal species, are fundamentally the same.
2. Distinct Evolutionary Paths: The book highlights the simultaneous evolution of neurons, gastrointestinal systems, and muscles in animals, contrasting this with non-neuronal organisms like fungi. Neurons played a fundamental role in animal evolution, driving them apart from fungi and other non-sentient life forms.
3. Valence and Early Brain Development: The exploration of early multicellular life forms and their preferences steered by electrochemical processes sheds light on the genesis of early brain structures.
4. Neuromodulators: The roles of serotonin and dopamine in emotional response and arousal are intricately detailed. The book also delves into the stress-induced release of adrenaline and the calming effect of opioids after prolonged stress.
5. Associative Learning: The neural underpinnings of Pavlovian learning and synaptic connections formed through repetitive reinforcement.
6. Vertebrate Brains: The common six-part brain structure dating back to the Cambrian era.
7. Learning and Neural Connections: Discussing the credit assignment problem in machine learning and associative learning, the book underscores the fundamental neural mechanisms of learning. The adage "neurons that fire together wire together" is emblematic of this concept.
8. Temporal Credit Assignment and Reinforcement Learning: The challenges of linking actions to delayed rewards and the evolution of reinforcement learning strategies, including TD learning, are thoroughly examined.
9. Basal Ganglia: The inhibitory mechanisms gating actions based on fluctuating dopamine levels.
10. Continuous Learning vs. AI Development: A critical distinction is made between the continuous learning abilities of human brains and the static nature of AI, where learning ceases once the system is deployed.
11. Solving Invariance Problems: The book explores how brains have evolved to solve pattern recognition and reinforcement learning challenges, leading to the development of complex sensory abilities in higher animals.
12. Exploration and Exploitation in Brain Evolution: The evolution of curiosity and risk-taking behaviors in advanced vertebrates is linked to the development of spatial mapping and vestibular mechanisms.
13. The Neural Dark Age and Neocortical Development: A significant period of stagnation in brain evolution is followed by the emergence of the neocortex, now a major component of the brain, highlighting its adaptability and repurposing abilities. After a nearly 500 million years gap, the brain sizes exploded to nearly 1000 times in a short period.
14. Cortical Repurposing: The adaptability of neocortical columns based on sensory inputs.
15. Model-Based vs. Model-Free Learning: The transition from basic reactive learning to advanced predictive and causal learning, embodying counterfactual thinking and planning, is a pivotal development in brain evolution.
16. Social Hierarchies and Politics in Brain Evolution: The development of hierarchical social structures, driven by alliance formation rather than sheer strength, marks a significant evolutionary step, particularly in primates.
17. Theory of Mind and Knowledge Transmission: The ability to infer others' intentions and emotions (theory of mind) and its role in social learning and teaching underscores a crucial advancement in cognitive evolution.
18. The Enigma of Language Evolution: Tracing the evolution of language remains a challenge, with significant gaps in understanding the transition from our closest Homo genus ancestors to modern humans.
There is a lot more in the book. With the advent of GenAI, there have been some amazing, great books, and this book will likely find a space on the top shelf, almost irrespective of what comes later. This reviewer read the book twice and feels that it is not enough....more
"Unmissing" employs a shifting first-person narrative technique, and that is partly its undoing. The expectation in such narratives is for the readers"Unmissing" employs a shifting first-person narrative technique, and that is partly its undoing. The expectation in such narratives is for the readers to learn and investigate with the narrators, who guide readers’ instincts and thoughts based on what they learn and suspect. The readers evolve through the book as the narrator's progresses. This is not the case in this book.
The two narrators in Kent's novel possess significantly more knowledge than is shared with the readers. This approach, intended to build suspense, ironically leads to a stagnant plot for a substantial portion of the book. With a limited cast and a singular storyline lacking substantial subplots or diversions, the story's pace suffers noticeably. The narrators, constrained by the author's choice to withhold crucial information, tiptoe around the truth; they feel stifled. This narrative choice not only hinders the natural progression of the plot but also diminishes the impact of the twists when they are eventually revealed.
Interestingly, the twists, while not entirely predictable, lack the punch one might expect. As they don't emerge from clever detective work or significant plot developments but seem to be disclosed more as a narrative convenience, the reveal and the unraveling appear hollow. Once the secrets are out, the story struggles to develop further, culminating in a conclusion that aligns with expectations but lacks the thrill of unpredictability.
The last addition to the Kingsbridge series lacks the freshness and impact of the predecessors.
In the realm of historical fiction, there exists a deliThe last addition to the Kingsbridge series lacks the freshness and impact of the predecessors.
In the realm of historical fiction, there exists a delicate balance between narrating events and crafting a narrative that resonates through time. Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace" is a prime example, seamlessly intertwining historical events with philosophical, moral, ethical, political, economic, and societal stress points, thus creating a timeless impact. Ken Follett's earlier works in the Kingsbridge series had worked for different reasons. These books walked the readers through the streets and everyday lives of lesser-known eras and events. The author could surprise and entertain by exposing extraordinary normal life de rigors of the times that most readers would find novel. His usage in crafting a story was not always perfect, but that mattered far less because of the uniqueness of the backdrop.
"The Armour of Light" deviates from this impactful path because of the relatively modern and literarily well-traversed era the series has now reached. It delves into events covered by literary giants some in real-time, others through notable fiction. This re-treading leaves the book wanting in terms of offering fresh, impactful historical context. While Follett does present the Battle of Waterloo and its surrounding events, especially those focusing on the Duke, with commendable detail, these highlights do not fully compensate for the book's other flaws.
Most tales of oppression, bad marriages, affairs, and other familial matters could take the form of regular short stories based in any period or place. The author's forte is not weaving something beautiful out of them; they lack the emotional quotient, event arcs, or character development to move readers. The mileage the author tries to derive from the on-the-ground impact of events like the French Revolution, the early nineteenth-century stages of the Industrial Revolution, the Luddite rebellion, and the Napoleonic wars are mundane. ...more
In the crowded field of popular science, particularly in areas like cosmology and particle physics, "This Way to the Universe" faces the formidable chIn the crowded field of popular science, particularly in areas like cosmology and particle physics, "This Way to the Universe" faces the formidable challenge of standing out. And unfortunately, it fails.
The genre - rich with discussions on topics ranging from the issues with the interpretation of quantum observations, its conflicts with relativity, the contributions of celebrity physicists like Feynman, Bell, Hawking, and many others, string/superstring theories’ evolution - has seen great books in the recent years. Some of these are from the experts in the field as accomplished as the author here. Consequently, for a new entrant to make a significant impact, it must either introduce novel information or reinterpret existing knowledge in a compelling way.
However, the book appears to tread familiar ground, retracing the vast arc from pre-Einstein theories through the quantum and relativity revolutions to modern concepts like the electromagnetic wave (EMW), the particle zoo, and string theories with familiar explanations and descriptions. The issue here is lack of anything that stands out.
The latter parts of the book do attempt to introduce some new points, but these come too late and are too sparse to significantly elevate the overall narrative. In this context, "This Way to the Universe" may work for those who are relatively new to popular science books, but is unlikely to add value to those who have read a few already. ...more
"The Deceiving Look" has Methos’ usual smooth narrative flow, and that’s about it. The series’ generally likable characters barely have any role in a r"The Deceiving Look" has Methos’ usual smooth narrative flow, and that’s about it. The series’ generally likable characters barely have any role in a rather straightforward story. The language and writing style simply cannot make up for the lackluster story. The lack of side stories throws a further spotlight on the lack of complexity in the narrative.
A particularly disappointing aspect is the handling of a major story arc that runs through the series. The author's decision to conclude this arc in a tepid and almost peripheral manner leaves much to be desired.
"God, Human, Animal, Machine" navigates the complex intersection of artificial intelligence, consciousness, and philosophy with a clarity and engageme"God, Human, Animal, Machine" navigates the complex intersection of artificial intelligence, consciousness, and philosophy with a clarity and engagement that makes it a compelling read. The book, grounded in the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and observing from achievements and attainments in the field, boldly challenges traditional concepts from religious texts, arguing that phenomena like consciousness and free will are emergent rather than inherent or created. This approach is no longer that original in philosophical discourses in recent decades, but the author's ability to discuss its limitations as well as personal history save the book from being pedantic, theoretical, or too self-absorbed.
The book's central thesis is that our perception of reality, including notions of self and the world, is fundamentally an emergent property of the material we are composed of. This perspective is not just a philosophical stance but is also backed by recent developments in AI and neuroscience. The author masterfully uses these advancements to support her argument, making a contemporary and updated case for a materialistic view of existence. The author's views should find even stronger pieces of evidence through the remarkable progress in generative AI and transformer models since the publication of the book.
One of the most striking aspects of the book is its appeal to rationalists who strive to mold their worldview based on scientific knowledge. The author's rigorous approach is a breath of fresh air in a field often mired in rhetoric and unverified claims. She argues convincingly that any philosophy which neglects the latest scientific insights is likely to be more a product of conviction rather than an accurate reflection of reality. This stance, however, is not without its critiques.
The author acknowledges the limitations of rationality itself; after all, we have something rather than nothing, which is rationally impossible to justify based on the knowledge we have. While the book recognises the limitations of completely reason- and observation-based arguments, it still fails to fully appreciate the reason why the alternate, orthodox belief systems not only survive but also thrive irrespective of the weight of evidence in scientific fields. Beliefs, such as in free will or a higher power, have failed scientific scrutiny for centuries by now, but their proponents have been able to cling to them through revisions to their backstories and exploiting the inherent weaknesses of completely reason-based arguments.
Most importantly, from mind to consciousness, religious beliefs to creation myths, and scores of other unscientific concepts serve essential functions in human life. These narratives are not just psychological and motivational crutches against life’s vicissitudes but also help provide the base for legal, moral, and ethical rules and norms without which human societies will turn into lawless jungles.
This is the reason why myths of all types refuse to disappear in theological realms, but philosophical fields are also unable to clear notions that should have been comprehensively erased. Take duality, for instance. Concepts like consciousness or mind are almost impossible to reconcile with the agreed scientific concepts in evolution.
The author briefly touches upon the role of linguistic history in the existential queries we pose to ourselves. This reviewer has provided examples of the concept in earlier reviews: to see what terms like soul and consciousness have done to Western Philosophy, one only needs to look at Indian language terms like 'Atma' and 'Nirvana' (whose equivalents do not exist in English) and their impact on Eastern religions and philosophies.
"God-Human-Animal-Machine" will likely be picked by people with similar philosophical and technological slant as the author. Within the known echo chamber, such readers will benefit from some good new points despite the absence of any original conclusion.
Broadway Butterfly is a fictionalized take on a real unsolved crime long ago. With dozens of characters and intricate internal thought processes, the Broadway Butterfly is a fictionalized take on a real unsolved crime long ago. With dozens of characters and intricate internal thought processes, the book reads more like a narrative-rich story than a factual retelling. Its plot is as intriguing as a magician's hat – full of surprises but lacking the final rabbit pull. The unsatisfactory ending, where nothing truly gets resolved, was given from the outset, but it is unsatisfactory primarily because, except for the crime and unfinished resolution, most of what is in between is clearly made up in detail.
The author's attempt to pin blame becomes evident early on. One would expect some twists or further damning evidence later, but there is little besides stretched-out character interactions. A typical character connected to the victim makes mysterious remarks hinting at undisclosed knowledge before disappearing periodically, sometimes forever.
In some ways, the author may have been better served by giving Broadway Butterfly a historical fiction premise - explosively solving the crime in a fictionalized setting and summarizing the unsolved case in a postscript. As is, we tread through a sea of fabrications woven around the actual crime, culminating in a resolution as satisfying as a canceled TV show finale....more
The book sets out to weave a romantic tale against the backdrop of Afghanistan, promising an intriguing blend of conflict and romance. However, the naThe book sets out to weave a romantic tale against the backdrop of Afghanistan, promising an intriguing blend of conflict and romance. However, the narrative abjectly falls short. Predictability is just one issue. The plot leans heavily on clichés. The worst is not that it fails to use the promising backdrop but its characters' complete disregard for the humanitarian tragedy around.
A lot else does not sit well. The female protagonist, instead of being a strong, independent figure, is portrayed as a damsel in distress, smitten by a person she barely met and spending her lifetime chasing him or waiting for him. Their dynamic feels from the Jane Austin era with the 'macho hero,' failing on the most basic communication tenets for any relationship to survive. In the times of instant communication, the story is all about how people cannot find time to explain what could be said in minutes or a few lines of text and stay estranged for years.
There have been many books on bubbles and busts and long market histories, but few have managed to capture the essence and evolution of Wall Street asThere have been many books on bubbles and busts and long market histories, but few have managed to capture the essence and evolution of Wall Street as effectively as "More Money than God." The book's intent is different, but what it chronicles is a vibrant narrative that reveals the evolution of intricate financial market mechanics in their defining decades starting from the mid-1960s.
The central theme of the book is clearly around the emergence of absolute return funds and big personalities that built the most successful of them. One can read the book for these stories of enormous wealth, which are more than interesting, but the book is also about the market practices that underwent seismic shifts to emerge what they are today.
As a result, the book is also about the first movers in various financial strategies, from systematic shorting, as exemplified by A.W. Jones (who started in early 1950s), to the trailblazers in block trading, commodities, and risk management. The detailed examination of these pioneers – the benefactors of early entry into emerging market bonds or those who mastered the art of exploiting market anomalies - is also the examination of the opportunities that were present in markets because of the fast-evolving economic, political, and financial systems as well as technological and procedural/regulatory landscapes. These stories are not just historical accounts; they are a guidebook to understand why we have the practices we have today. The book showcases how these early adopters reaped the rewards of their foresight and audacity and how their activities and aftermaths led to processes and rules that define today's world.
The book is not merely a glorification of success. The other side of the coin is all the risks that nobody thought of and the lessons learned. The author skillfully illustrates the perils of illiquidity, the dangers of leverage, the foolhardiness in assuming certain distribution in risk models, and the often-overlooked cross-correlations in investment strategies - things that pioneers paid dearly for and have become the bread-and-butter of risk management of today's participants.
The book's factual tone is another of its strengths. While it leans positively towards the alpha-generating industry, it never loses its objective stance. The author's ability to distill complex financial concepts and market dynamics into accessible prose is commendable.
The focus on the subtler aspects of market dynamics and interactions, trading cultures, organizational behaviors, etc, make it a timeless read despite the book capturing only a specific era in financial history. This is what makes it a must-read for anyone with a keen interest in financial markets. One hopes the author or somebody else to write books on non-US markets on similar personalities and evolution and on global markets for post-2010....more
Same Bed Different Dreams is an intricate epic that demands guided, studious attention and patient decoding rather than a casual read.
Park seamlesslySame Bed Different Dreams is an intricate epic that demands guided, studious attention and patient decoding rather than a casual read.
Park seamlessly threads centuries and continents, bending historical figures like McKinley and Reagan to illuminate a captivating Korea-centric saga linked to the fictionalized history of the Korean Provisional Government. From assassinations to Cold War chess games, familiar events twist into fresh narratives, challenging accepted truths with audacious what-ifs.
If the fictional imagination is awe-inspiring, the three-pronged, completely non-linear narrative arks are even more breathtaking to provide incessant twists to events spanning decades. Historical accuracy isn't the primary aim; the audacious reimaginings are not just intellectually stimulating but also forceful enough to confront and question accepted narratives.
For those unfamiliar with the tumultuous history of Korea in the twentieth century, the book's discussions from post-Meiji Japan's occupation to the accidental division of the Koreas and then to the Korean War alone are enough to learn a lot. The book looks at these events through the eyes of people on the ground and can humanize the developments and their consequences the way no history book can.
These creative reinventions make the book intriguing but overwhelming without a guide to disentangle truth from imagination and without discussions on the actual consequences of events or personalities that perfunctorily appear trivial in real time. Take, for instance, the recurring motif of nine fingers, a seemingly innocuous detail that unlocks a hidden network of characters and conspiracies whose actual consequences are never fully understandable by simply reading the book.
The complexity magnifies as the book weaves Korean history with all sorts of events in the United States. The book repeatedly deploys the backdrop of significant political events in the US with the tales of pre- and post-War Korean migrants to present a panoply that evokes more questions on every tiny thing touched simply because of the way it is interconnected. These layers warrant decoding, discussions, and debate - perfect fodder for a detailed university course.
Casual readers, like this reviewer, will finish with constant regret and suspicion of missed intricacies, clever allusions dancing just beyond grasp. And, they won't just be because of events and actions described in the book; there are clever word-plays, dark humor linked to various Asian cultural practices, and other literary tricks whose meanings will not be obvious to most without training. Without supplemental materials to illuminate all of these and more, one risks glossing over the most masterful elements.
In conclusion, this isn't a novel to casually devour. It's a meticulously crafted puzzle box overflowing with interweaving narratives, reimagined history, and intricate thematic threads. Approaching it like a typical read risks skimming past its dazzling depths, mistaking brilliance for bewilderment. There is enough to learn and enjoy otherwise, but the feeling of what one is missing will nag. It might be better to read a few years after the publication....more
Of course, we have a Dickensian epic here. Hence, the plights and tribulations of the young and the impoverished are painted with a brush dipped in thOf course, we have a Dickensian epic here. Hence, the plights and tribulations of the young and the impoverished are painted with a brush dipped in the very essence of humanity. The author's Demon is imminently lovable with his penchant for wit and reconciliation with fate despite all the tragedy around him. It's a tale wound tightly around the spindle of child poverty, a theme as timeless as it is heart-wrenching.
The author's imaginative feats impress mightily at the outset, where Demon is a beacon of light in a dark world. His humor, a glint of gold in the murky waters of adversity, provides a necessary respite from the grim realities of the author's world. The lighter parts are so endearing and natural that they fill the readers with great expectations of an underdog story of the modern age Pip. The story's heart lies in these early chapters, exploring themes that resonate on a deeply human level.
Yet, as we venture deeper into the narrative, into the belly of the beast that is addiction, the narrative grows muted and monochromatic. Even the author seems to struggle against the tide. The latter parts of the book are a tempest of despair, where the addiction's wreckage leaves little room for lightness or lyricism. While both the creator and her creation cling tenaciously to hope, steering the story toward a climax that dares to be optimistic amidst the ruins, the reader is offered little other than a relentless immersion of the hell the people with an opioid addiction endure. In many ways, the climax feels like an interregnum hastily appended, offering the fear of a slide back soon after the-author-concocted end than a true deliverance.
To those fortunate enough to be distant from the societal scourges of widespread addiction, the nuances of the latter half are likely to be lost, with the broad story arc appearing familiar and predictable as scenes plucked from television dramas on the same topic. For such readers like this reviewer, the novel beyond the first section will prove a long, maudlin journey that is uniformly arduous with occasional moments of beauty and insight. The book loses momentum, most particularly in the middle section, where it tries to find the right transition to the main theme.
"Demon Copperhead" will likely strike a far more profound chord for those who have felt the cold hand of the opioid crisis touching their lives.
As one of AI's pioneering founding mothers, Dr. Fei-Fei Li is destined for the history books. While shaping the AI's true history-defining years of thAs one of AI's pioneering founding mothers, Dr. Fei-Fei Li is destined for the history books. While shaping the AI's true history-defining years of the first quarter of the twenty-first century, she had a unique vantage point to narrate the evolution that has now turned into a revolution. The chronicle of the neural network renaissance sketched in the book should prove a trove for future scholars tracing AI's origins. Alas, this book's desultory storytelling does not do justice to the topic. It will go down as not only incomplete but also inadequate in the goodness of time.
The book is best when it captures the emergence of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and then Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) awakened from the field's winter slumber, breaking past roadblocks in ImageNet and WordNet. The author superbly shows the critical role played by her teams and their heroic labors in generating vast human-curated datasets. For some reason, the author shies away from more detailed technical and technological factors, which would have made the book a far greater source of historical importance.
The author's weaving of this with her personal narrative does not work. The book overreaches in painting personal setbacks as the stuff of Greek tragedy. As much as the author tries, her story is not of an extreme underdog. This person is blessed with great intellect and has always been a part of the world's best institutions. She was rarely hindered because of her gender or ethnicity. Yes, she has her own occasional setbacks and personal tragedies, but not of the kind that make compelling narratives. Like her Congress appearance, the endeavor to make everything a rough climb has almost anecdote ending with a damp squib. They serve occasional purposes in providing a base for some of the author's ethical AI pursuits, but once again, not of a kind that will set either the goals or the work apart from those of many others.
The biggest weakness is where the book stops - just at the time of the arrival of the LLMs, which, as we know it today, dwarfs all that came before. The book is akin to an early 20th-century treatise on electromagnetism that stops at 1905 and Einstein's emergence in physics. The book excels in showcasing neural networks' sporadic successes and pitfalls before taking absolute center stage, but it still appears like the tales of early Korolev rockets before Apollo's glories.
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