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To Be a Machine by Mark O’Connell review – solving the problem of death

One for the reading list. Mark O’Connell explores transhumanism by interviewing people about their quests to incorporate technologies into our bodies.

Max More runs Alcor, an American company which, in exchange for $200,000, will store your corpse in liquid nitrogen until the science exists to revive you. Tim Cannon is a computer programmer who implanted a device the size of a pack of cards into his arm, without the aid of anaesthetics.

from Pocket https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/mar/23/to-be-a-machine-by-mark-oconnell-review
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No death and an enhanced life: Is the future transhuman?

‘Ultimately, by merging man and machine, science will produce humans who have vastly increased intelligence, strength, and lifespans; a near embodiment of gods.’ How desirable is this and what would the real implications for humans be?

The aims of the transhumanist movement are summed up by Mark O’Connell in his book To Be a Machine, which last week won the Wellcome Book prize.

from Pocket https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/may/06/no-death-and-an-enhanced-life-is-the-future-transhuman
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