My Techno-Optimism

by Vitalik Buterin

A response to modernity’s most rancorous cynics and its most reckless techno-fetishists. To navigate humanity’s pivotal century, Buterin proposes d/acc. A nuanced approach to technological acceleration that prioritizes human agency, democratic innovations, and decentralization.

212 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[Darryl Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but not all that insightful. It reads as though Buterin is just abstractly dumping his thoughts on paper about possibilities for the future. He avoids taking too many hard opinions, instead opting for "nuance" which is certainly diplomatic, but has the side effect of making the book rather dry and toothless. I'd rather disagree or agree with his ideas than simply float motionless in the center of them.

[Alex Meves · Rating 2 out of 5]

All of the good ideas in his essays are not Buterin's own, just look at the bibliography and read those instead.

[ambs! · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just disagree but I guess that's not a review

[Rusty · Rating 3 out of 5]

As other reviewers have noted, many of the arguments put forward are not Buterin's own but simply reference other articles. Still, I found it to be a decent primer for anyone wishing to dip their toes into the broader discourse around blockchains, cybersecurity, AI advancement, etc. as well as its potential risks and possible solutions. The bibliography is substantial and the d/acc directory found at the end provides many avenues for further reading.

[Anima · Rating 1 out of 5]

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