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Here Be Monsters: Is Technology Reducing Our Humanity?
Technology is developing fast – so fast that it threatens to overwhelm the very species whose genius lies in its technological us. From the metaverse to genetic engineering and mood-altering pharmaceuticals, to cybersex and cyberwar and the widespread automation of work, new technologies are rewriting the terms of our existence, not in a neutral spirit of ‘ progress' but in line with the priorities of power and profit, and in ways that often work against the grain of our fundamental being.In this timely, provocative book, Richard King argues that we need to evolve a more critical attitude to new technologies if we are to avoid a world in which humans are no different in kind from algorithmic machines. The stakes could not be higher. As science, technology and capitalism fuse into a single system, and activists and entrepreneurs talk of a ‘ post-human' future in which individuals will transform themselves using powerful computers and biotechnologies, we are entering unchartered territory – a territory marked with the mapmaker' s warning, Here Be Dragons ... Here Be Monsters.
- GenresNonfiction
251 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 12, 2023
Here be Monsters by Richard King
Facebook is smart enough sometimes to know what I might like, despite my best efforts to keep it baffled. Monash University Press reached me with an advertisement for a newly published book: Here be Monsters: Is Technology Reducing Our Humanity? by Richard King. I decided to order it, and in two days it showed up at my door. It was so interesting that I decided it was worth rebooting my old review blog in order to share my thoughts about it and recommend it to my non-existent readers.
I really enjoyed the book for a number of reasons. First of all, it's quite current (being published basically right now) and very relevant to the average citizen of a developed country like myself. Secondly, the book keeps it's language and prose on a level that any level or reader from high school upwards can follow along with for the most part. Furthermore, the book balances it's judgements quite well and doesn't tell the reader exactly what it should or shouldn't be doing in response to the issues presented. My issues with this book numbered quite few.
So being published in 2023 and addressing issues like ChatGPT, CRISPR and other 'bio-hacking' trends made this book a very engaging read as I could directly connect it to the news stories we are seeing week over week about these newly emerging technologies. These technologies are beginning to affect all of us in one way or another at an alarmingly increasing rate. So much like a lot of books I have read recently, it's better read sooner rather than later. But thankfully, the book only uses contemporary issues as a platform to discuss ethics that I think will transcend our current era of development and remain relevant far into the future. Who knows, maybe this book's time exists well beyond what I can imagine.
All the better then that the book uses language and prose that doesn't threaten to exclude readers who may be new to topics of Science or Philosophy. I am not new to these topics so I might be a bit biased in thinking that the book is easy to grasp but it certainly feels like it's designed to be easy to follow. Not just paragraph to paragraph, but the structure of the chapters and parts seems pretty well put together logically as well. Non-fiction books are famous for not being page-turners, but I breezed through this book pretty easily.
What I think will contribute best to this books enduring relevance is that it is not a manifesto or magic book of answers to all of our problems. It's a philosophical treatise and acts like one. It takes great rigors to analyze and pull apart the problems on our road ahead and presents each element as an opportunity to apply and consider. Even once you end the book, you are probably left with a lot more questions than you came in with, and even less answers. Reading these kind of works is an exercise in civic duty whether you agree with the points presented or not. One could read this work and tear apart every point, and they'd still be a more valuable actor to political discussion than people who bury their head in the sand and choose not to grapple with the impending issues facing us.
I had very few issues. I'd think relevant to mention are I believe Richard King held back possibly intentionally when the topic of self identity and it's collision with pharmaceutical drugs came up, as this is tied to some of the most hotly contested and controversial public debates currently unfolding in public policy circles and social media alike, especially in the USA. I don't blame him for this apparent delicacy in handling the manner, but it was apparently when reading that he understood what kind of controversies digging deeper into the topic might produce. Nonetheless, he somewhat made the argument anyway... simply without pointing out more coherently why it's currently so relevant. I won't go deeper on that point but anyone else who reads the book will understand. It just took me out of the book. The only other thing I didn't like is the over-use of references to works of modern pop culture that are given more credence than they deserve in my opinion. Neither of these points should dissuade you from reading the book though.
So my rating for this book is 9/10, a worthwhile read for everyone. I highly recommend you pick up this book not just for it's content, but to also support our native Academia here in Australia.
Facebook is smart enough sometimes to know what I might like, despite my best efforts to keep it baffled. Monash University Press reached me with an advertisement for a newly published book: Here be Monsters: Is Technology Reducing Our Humanity? by Richard King. I decided to order it, and in two days it showed up at my door. It was so interesting that I decided it was worth rebooting my old review blog in order to share my thoughts about it and recommend it to my non-existent readers.
I really enjoyed the book for a number of reasons. First of all, it's quite current (being published basically right now) and very relevant to the average citizen of a developed country like myself. Secondly, the book keeps it's language and prose on a level that any level or reader from high school upwards can follow along with for the most part. Furthermore, the book balances it's judgements quite well and doesn't tell the reader exactly what it should or shouldn't be doing in response to the issues presented. My issues with this book numbered quite few.
So being published in 2023 and addressing issues like ChatGPT, CRISPR and other 'bio-hacking' trends made this book a very engaging read as I could directly connect it to the news stories we are seeing week over week about these newly emerging technologies. These technologies are beginning to affect all of us in one way or another at an alarmingly increasing rate. So much like a lot of books I have read recently, it's better read sooner rather than later. But thankfully, the book only uses contemporary issues as a platform to discuss ethics that I think will transcend our current era of development and remain relevant far into the future. Who knows, maybe this book's time exists well beyond what I can imagine.
All the better then that the book uses language and prose that doesn't threaten to exclude readers who may be new to topics of Science or Philosophy. I am not new to these topics so I might be a bit biased in thinking that the book is easy to grasp but it certainly feels like it's designed to be easy to follow. Not just paragraph to paragraph, but the structure of the chapters and parts seems pretty well put together logically as well. Non-fiction books are famous for not being page-turners, but I breezed through this book pretty easily.
What I think will contribute best to this books enduring relevance is that it is not a manifesto or magic book of answers to all of our problems. It's a philosophical treatise and acts like one. It takes great rigors to analyze and pull apart the problems on our road ahead and presents each element as an opportunity to apply and consider. Even once you end the book, you are probably left with a lot more questions than you came in with, and even less answers. Reading these kind of works is an exercise in civic duty whether you agree with the points presented or not. One could read this work and tear apart every point, and they'd still be a more valuable actor to political discussion than people who bury their head in the sand and choose not to grapple with the impending issues facing us.
I had very few issues. I'd think relevant to mention are I believe Richard King held back possibly intentionally when the topic of self identity and it's collision with pharmaceutical drugs came up, as this is tied to some of the most hotly contested and controversial public debates currently unfolding in public policy circles and social media alike, especially in the USA. I don't blame him for this apparent delicacy in handling the manner, but it was apparently when reading that he understood what kind of controversies digging deeper into the topic might produce. Nonetheless, he somewhat made the argument anyway... simply without pointing out more coherently why it's currently so relevant. I won't go deeper on that point but anyone else who reads the book will understand. It just took me out of the book. The only other thing I didn't like is the over-use of references to works of modern pop culture that are given more credence than they deserve in my opinion. Neither of these points should dissuade you from reading the book though.
So my rating for this book is 9/10, a worthwhile read for everyone. I highly recommend you pick up this book not just for it's content, but to also support our native Academia here in Australia.
October 19, 2025
This is a review of Richard King's latest book "Brave New Wild" which isn't on the Goodreads database (as yet), so I'm recording that I've read it under his earlier book.
While the book had good intentions, it didn't teach me much. The information on the technologies discussed is readily known to anyone who reads in this space regularly. The proposed solution felt idealistic and not detailed enough for me. I would have preferred more of the book to be on the proposed solution and steps to implement.
While the book had good intentions, it didn't teach me much. The information on the technologies discussed is readily known to anyone who reads in this space regularly. The proposed solution felt idealistic and not detailed enough for me. I would have preferred more of the book to be on the proposed solution and steps to implement.
July 15, 2023
Important to read. Important to think about. Important to sit around a circular table and chat it through. The best kind of Chat: people to people, heart to heart…
August 26, 2023
Wide-ranging and insightful look at our problematic reliance on technology.
August 28, 2023
An incredibly enjoyable and humanist read that asks some urgent questions. Anyone enamoured by the shiny promises of AI should read it.
February 3, 2024
Review to come - but WOW.
May 18, 2024
Engaging and compelling. I can't recall reading a book that so thoroughly challenged my thinking about what it is to be human and how I live my life.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews