This book vibrates my neurones like no other!

As with all David Wood’s books, the language is succinct and written in a way that makes chewy concepts become completely accessible. There’s nothing in The Singularity Principles that is intellectually ungraspable. Sure, there may be the odd big word or taken-for-granted science or geopolitical phrase, but the big words are minimal. Any big words that do appear, merely enrich, expand, and excite, or simply rearrange and join the dots you’ve always carried around in your head.

The Singularity Principles invites the reader/listener to consider many practicable strategies for dealing with the current cluster of emergencies; pandemics, war, economic uncertainty etc, as well as preparing us for any number emergent technologies that may reward, enhance, enslave, or destroy us.

What lies beyond the so-called Singularity is an undiscovered country of our own making but not necessarily one in which we still have a place or a role. It could be a marvellous miraculous machine-driven Eden for us all as intellectually and compassionately expanded beings, or it could be desolation. It might only be just a levelling up – another industrial revolution, or any number of wondrous or horrific scenarios. It may arrive seamlessly or with a bang. In his book, “The Singularity Principles,” David Wood does a good job of explaining the principles of the Singularity, challenging some of the myths and assumptions as well as taking back some of the hijacked language.

This Book examines governments, religions, subcultures, mafias, politics, commerce, science,technology, the arts, and crime in a way that is not sanctimonious moral posturing, but is more from the viewpoint of an alien anthropologist working with what IS, and what with a bit of tweaking, would work better. It is not lofty. It is informed, quiet and considered, intricate, creative and inspired. It is also open to discussion and input from the rest of Humanity.

Everyone else and You and I are in this book - the politics are that inclusive! This is not a handbook for some elitist breakaway civilisation comprised of just boojies, boffins and TED talkers, it’s for everyone including boojies, boffins and TED talkers - probably even dogs and dolphins too! David Wood makes it quite clear that we are ALL relevant in the future. This book is replete with logic and love based on sound science and a pragmatic feel for philosophy, history, and the Human Condition. The logic navigates the rapidly evolving technologies and the many social responses to them, and the love is the absolute inclusion of us all as part of these sets of initiatives.

Like his other books, The Singularity Principles is bigger on the inside than on the outside. There are actionable strategies to pursue, communities to join and tons of material to engage in - who or whatever you are.

The Singularity Principles does not paint a pretty picture. It is not deluded or fanciful. Instead, it is somewhat agnostic as to the outcome and consequences of the Singularity, but it invites us to be as deterministic and as effective as we can in perhaps shaping, or maybe just surfing the future as it comes at us. However, this book does suggest possible wondrous futures in which we can all live in mutual and beautiful ways, imagined or unimagined.

I love that this book possesses in-built and necessary optimism, suggesting how each one of us can just begin where we are and get involved with the communities and strategies listed in the book as well as creating our own. It is not top-down authority. More, it is a sharp reveal of the phenomena that comprise the Singularity, acquainting the reader/listener with a better understanding of this buzzy and often misunderstood and misused term.

This book not only acquainted me with a better understanding of the science, but I started to understand, just through listening, where my own critical thinking deficits were. I could feel the holes in my understanding and the shortfalls in my skillsets. The Singularity Principles, therefore, has left me with an excited hunger for more knowledge, skills, a realistic yet optimistic view of what could be and how I can be part of it, and it has restored my faith in humans.

For me, it is a book that I will enjoy revisiting, next time as a less provincial luddite. I loved this book!

If you buy it, you’ll probably love it act upon it.

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