Robots and the People Who Love Them: Holding on to Our Humanity in an Age of Social Robots
by Eve Herold
Robots and the People Who Love Them book cover
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the
opportunity to read this intriguing book prior to its publication. I was
immediately intrigued by the book’s title since I not only love robots, but
also wonder about how much of our individuality and humanity we’ve given over
to technology for the sake of convenience or ease. It’s an important question
that we sometimes forget to ask, and Herold does a laudable job exploring the
nuances and complexities of how we invite and accept technology in our lives.
Building off of the work of researchers like Sherry Turkle, who examine how
technology affects our social lives, relationships, and interactions with
others, Herold works to expand Turkle’s focus beyond interpersonal connections
and relationships and consider other aspects of technology and robots. Her book
is comprehensive and explores various ways we have developed and incorporated
robots in our lives—including for relationships and loneliness, potential child
rearing and companionship, as well as in warfare. Within each of these
sections, Herold explores the history and recent developments of these
technologies as well as exploring the benefits and potential drawbacks and
issues with robots in these fields. Many readers may have already formed opinions,
and Herold doesn’t do much arguing for either side, but presents the facts and
considerations in a more or less balanced manner. If anything, I think that
this is one of the drawbacks of an otherwise strong book about technology. Her
presentation of both sides kind of limits any potential dangers or drawbacks to
consider. Nevertheless, I think that her book explores an important topic and
asks some really intriguing questions, ultimately leaving it up to the reader
to form their own opinions about the issues related to technology in our lives.
This is a really important and worthwhile read that goes beyond the work of
other researchers and does so with an interesting historical context that
examines past attempts to incorporate robots in our lives while also examining
the current state of technology and considering the future implications of
robotics in our lives.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the
opportunity to read this intriguing book prior to its publication. I was
immediately intrigued by the book’s title since I not only love robots, but
also wonder about how much of our individuality and humanity we’ve given over
to technology for the sake of convenience or ease. It’s an important question
that we sometimes forget to ask, and Herold does a laudable job exploring the
nuances and complexities of how we invite and accept technology in our lives.
Building off of the work of researchers like Sherry Turkle, who examine how
technology affects our social lives, relationships, and interactions with
others, Herold works to expand Turkle’s focus beyond interpersonal connections
and relationships and consider other aspects of technology and robots. Her book
is comprehensive and explores various ways we have developed and incorporated
robots in our lives—including for relationships and loneliness, potential child
rearing and companionship, as well as in warfare. Within each of these
sections, Herold explores the history and recent developments of these
technologies as well as exploring the benefits and potential drawbacks and
issues with robots in these fields. Many readers may have already formed opinions,
and Herold doesn’t do much arguing for either side, but presents the facts and
considerations in a more or less balanced manner. If anything, I think that
this is one of the drawbacks of an otherwise strong book about technology. Her
presentation of both sides kind of limits any potential dangers or drawbacks to
consider. Nevertheless, I think that her book explores an important topic and
asks some really intriguing questions, ultimately leaving it up to the reader
to form their own opinions about the issues related to technology in our lives.
This is a really important and worthwhile read that goes beyond the work of
other researchers and does so with an interesting historical context that
examines past attempts to incorporate robots in our lives while also examining
the current state of technology and considering the future implications of
robotics in our lives.
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