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Emergence: A Memoir of Boyhood, Computation, and the Mysteries of Mind
Not yet published
Expected 17 Mar 26David Sussillo has made a career at the cutting edge of neuroscience and technology—yet his path there was anything but a straight line. Born to drug-addicted parents in New Mexico, he navigated a childhood marked by violence and neglect. But a seed was planted at the unlikeliest of places—the local arcade.
What follows is a remarkable journey of resilience and transformation, from the chaotic corridors of group homes to the halls of Columbia and Stanford. Along the way, Sussillo takes readers on an illuminating tour of the century-long dance between neuroscience, physics, and computation that has laid the groundwork for neural networks—the technology that drives modern artificial intelligence. As he advances in the field, working to demystify these networks, he also begins to pursue an answer to a more personal why, and how, did he succeed against all odds?
Emergence radiates heartbreak, humor, and scientific wonder, inviting readers on an unforgettable journey that bridges the personal and the profound, revealing how intricate complexities arise from simple beginnings.
What follows is a remarkable journey of resilience and transformation, from the chaotic corridors of group homes to the halls of Columbia and Stanford. Along the way, Sussillo takes readers on an illuminating tour of the century-long dance between neuroscience, physics, and computation that has laid the groundwork for neural networks—the technology that drives modern artificial intelligence. As he advances in the field, working to demystify these networks, he also begins to pursue an answer to a more personal why, and how, did he succeed against all odds?
Emergence radiates heartbreak, humor, and scientific wonder, inviting readers on an unforgettable journey that bridges the personal and the profound, revealing how intricate complexities arise from simple beginnings.
Audible Audio
Expected publication March 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 30, 2025
From the Prologue until the last page I was utterly blown away. This memoir is unlike anything I have ever read and told in such a genuine, clear and courageous voice. I felt as if I were experiencing many of the heartaches and successes myself as I journeyed along with the author on his incredible and seemingly impossible path. I would have to put the book down at times simply because it was such a heartwrenching story, but then I had to quickly pick it up again because I had to know what happened next and how the author got through to the other side.
The author managed to connect his brilliant scientific mind with the emotional spirit using analogies and connections that tied together in a way even a non-scientist (like me) could comprehend.
When I finished the book I went right back to the Prologue and wanted to read the book all over again. This is a work that doesn't leave you once you close the book. This took me to places that I had never even glimpsed.
Reading this book is a powerful favor to yourself.
The author managed to connect his brilliant scientific mind with the emotional spirit using analogies and connections that tied together in a way even a non-scientist (like me) could comprehend.
When I finished the book I went right back to the Prologue and wanted to read the book all over again. This is a work that doesn't leave you once you close the book. This took me to places that I had never even glimpsed.
Reading this book is a powerful favor to yourself.
Displaying 1 of 1 review