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Re-Engineering Humanity
Every day, new warnings emerge about artificial intelligence rebelling against us. All the while, a more immediate dilemma flies under the radar. Have forces been unleashed that are thrusting humanity down an ill-advised path, one that's increasingly making us behave like simple machines? In this wide-reaching, interdisciplinary book, Brett Frischmann and Evan Selinger examine what's happening to our lives as society embraces big data, predictive analytics, and smart environments. They explain how the goal of designing programmable worlds goes hand in hand with engineering predictable and programmable people. Detailing new frameworks, provocative case studies, and mind-blowing thought experiments, Frischmann and Selinger reveal hidden connections between fitness trackers, electronic contracts, social media platforms, robotic companions, fake news, autonomous cars, and more. This powerful analysis should be read by anyone interested in understanding exactly how technology threatens the future of our society, and what we can do now to build something better.
Advanced Reviews
'Frischmann and Selinger provide a thoroughgoing and balanced examination of the tradeoffs inherent in offloading tasks and decisions to computers. By illuminating these often intricate and hidden tradeoffs, and providing a practical framework for assessing and negotiating them, the authors give us the power to make wiser choices.' Nicolas Carr, author of The Glass Cage: How Our Computers Are Changing Us, from the Foreword
'Re-Engineering Humanity brings a pragmatic if somewhat dystopic perspective to the technological phenomena of our age. Humans are learning machines and we learn from our experiences. This book made me ask myself whether the experiences we are providing to our societies are in fact beneficial in the long run.' Vint Cerf, Co-Inventor of the Internet
'Frischmann and Selinger deftly and convincingly show why we should be less scared of robots than of becoming more robotic, ourselves. This book will convince you why it's so important we embed technologies with human values before they embed us with their own.' Douglas Rushkoff, author of Present Shock, Program or Be Programmed, and Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus
'Brett Frischmann and Evan Selinger cogently argue that our Fitbit, Echo, Android, and game console, our Facebook pages, Google searches, Amazon and Netflix profiles, give far less than they take. With tiny, almost imperceptible steps, we have entered into a bargain with socio-technical engineers of the digital age that literally drains our humanity and is imperiling freedom, autonomy, and other precious values fundamental to meaningful human existence. Beyond admittedly important questions demanding balanced policy answers, this disquieting book is about the big picture. All of us should read it and decide, deliberately, if this is a future we want for ourselves and our children.' Helen Nissenbaum, Cornell Tech, and author of Privacy in Context: Technology, Policy, and the Integrity of Social Life
'Everybody is suddenly worried about technology. Will social media be the end of democracy? Is automation going to eliminate jobs? Will artificial intelligence make people obsolete? Brett Frischmann and Evan Selinger boldly propose that the problem isn't the rise of 'smart' machines but the dumbing down of humanity. This refreshingly philosophical book asks what's lost when we outsource our decision-making to algorithmic systems we don't own and barely understand. Better yet, it proposes conceptual and practical ways to reclaim our autonomy and dignity in the face of new forms of computational control.' Astra Taylor, author of The People's Platform: Taking Back Power and Control in the Digital Age
'A magnificent achievement. Writing in the tradition of Neil Postman, Jacque Ellul and Marshall McLuhan, this book is the decade's deepest and most powerful portrayal of the challenges to freedom created by our full embrace of comprehensive techno-social engineering. A rewarding and stimulating book that merits repeated readings and may also cause you to reconsider how you live life.' Tim Wu, Isidor and Seville Sulzbacher Professor of Law, Columbia Law School, and author of The Attention Merchants
Advanced Reviews
'Frischmann and Selinger provide a thoroughgoing and balanced examination of the tradeoffs inherent in offloading tasks and decisions to computers. By illuminating these often intricate and hidden tradeoffs, and providing a practical framework for assessing and negotiating them, the authors give us the power to make wiser choices.' Nicolas Carr, author of The Glass Cage: How Our Computers Are Changing Us, from the Foreword
'Re-Engineering Humanity brings a pragmatic if somewhat dystopic perspective to the technological phenomena of our age. Humans are learning machines and we learn from our experiences. This book made me ask myself whether the experiences we are providing to our societies are in fact beneficial in the long run.' Vint Cerf, Co-Inventor of the Internet
'Frischmann and Selinger deftly and convincingly show why we should be less scared of robots than of becoming more robotic, ourselves. This book will convince you why it's so important we embed technologies with human values before they embed us with their own.' Douglas Rushkoff, author of Present Shock, Program or Be Programmed, and Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus
'Brett Frischmann and Evan Selinger cogently argue that our Fitbit, Echo, Android, and game console, our Facebook pages, Google searches, Amazon and Netflix profiles, give far less than they take. With tiny, almost imperceptible steps, we have entered into a bargain with socio-technical engineers of the digital age that literally drains our humanity and is imperiling freedom, autonomy, and other precious values fundamental to meaningful human existence. Beyond admittedly important questions demanding balanced policy answers, this disquieting book is about the big picture. All of us should read it and decide, deliberately, if this is a future we want for ourselves and our children.' Helen Nissenbaum, Cornell Tech, and author of Privacy in Context: Technology, Policy, and the Integrity of Social Life
'Everybody is suddenly worried about technology. Will social media be the end of democracy? Is automation going to eliminate jobs? Will artificial intelligence make people obsolete? Brett Frischmann and Evan Selinger boldly propose that the problem isn't the rise of 'smart' machines but the dumbing down of humanity. This refreshingly philosophical book asks what's lost when we outsource our decision-making to algorithmic systems we don't own and barely understand. Better yet, it proposes conceptual and practical ways to reclaim our autonomy and dignity in the face of new forms of computational control.' Astra Taylor, author of The People's Platform: Taking Back Power and Control in the Digital Age
'A magnificent achievement. Writing in the tradition of Neil Postman, Jacque Ellul and Marshall McLuhan, this book is the decade's deepest and most powerful portrayal of the challenges to freedom created by our full embrace of comprehensive techno-social engineering. A rewarding and stimulating book that merits repeated readings and may also cause you to reconsider how you live life.' Tim Wu, Isidor and Seville Sulzbacher Professor of Law, Columbia Law School, and author of The Attention Merchants
410 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2018
50 people are currently reading
666 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 9, 2018
Makes some valid points about humanity today and "technological engineering" including the perils of such automation with some recommendations of how to stop going down the slippery slope of cheap bliss and high automation. Has some good thought experiments too, I especially enjoyed the one on automated traffic and the moral questions that would arise of prioritized traffic.
Most of the points made are about things that we all notice (one click contracts, all the social media and internet reliability we are all interwoven into in the modern age...) but never really give it that much thought or consideration that this might not be good for us as indeed everything is becoming more optimized / cheap / easy.
I appreciate that it's not scaremongering as some text tend to be these days, it more questions our ability to think critically, or even want to think critically about our own fate and where this is all leading to which I find valid. The recommendations are good. I think trust and transparency is always key in this, that it is clear what is happening and why, for who's benefit. Some people don't want to think this much and are happy to take the cheap bliss that this new world offers us.
That said we do always have to consider the alternatives...in this world, would maintaining our "free will" and choice to opt out of all this actually be good for us? If we have the choice to opt out and do all of this offline, source and do everything ourselves, think ourselves, who would that actually be beneficial for? Interesting topic...I think in this world even if we do maintain this illusion of choice to opt out many would not chose it because it would be too time consuming / exhausting / inefficient.
On a critical note I found this book very wordy with frequent overly long sentences. I believe it could have been shorter and more concise.
Overall an interesting read, good brain workout and lots of philosophical questions. Especially the ones about what it means to be human, which is something to think about. And whether being human, with all the suffering and roller coaster of emotions is indeed better than becoming more and more robotic, optimized, happy...I guess that's for everyone to decide themselves, and perhaps the key takeaway of this book about free will and your ability to chose. Or chose the illusion of it anyway...Personally I think maintaining the illusion of free will and choice to opt out of everything would add on to our happiness and "sense of security" but not actually change anything in term of people going back to the basics and getting offline.
I think the key thing to worry about is not full automation amidst cheap bliss at the cost of critical thinking and making our own choices, moreso what happens when cheap bliss and happiness stops being the primary goal, or a goal at all, in a future when we are all conditioned to do no thinking and expect automated happiness. By then we might not even feel happiness anymore with no juxtaposition of all the downs and suffering and it might not matter! Feelings may go out of evolutionary fashion like the monkey's tail. Optimized and happy, or void of feeling we may be fully compliant to do whatever it is the next step of evolution (AI maybe) has set out as a goal for us. Perhaps that is when opting out of human feelings may be something we all are forced to do. Either through death or lifeless compliance. Death may no longer be an option...
Most of the points made are about things that we all notice (one click contracts, all the social media and internet reliability we are all interwoven into in the modern age...) but never really give it that much thought or consideration that this might not be good for us as indeed everything is becoming more optimized / cheap / easy.
I appreciate that it's not scaremongering as some text tend to be these days, it more questions our ability to think critically, or even want to think critically about our own fate and where this is all leading to which I find valid. The recommendations are good. I think trust and transparency is always key in this, that it is clear what is happening and why, for who's benefit. Some people don't want to think this much and are happy to take the cheap bliss that this new world offers us.
That said we do always have to consider the alternatives...in this world, would maintaining our "free will" and choice to opt out of all this actually be good for us? If we have the choice to opt out and do all of this offline, source and do everything ourselves, think ourselves, who would that actually be beneficial for? Interesting topic...I think in this world even if we do maintain this illusion of choice to opt out many would not chose it because it would be too time consuming / exhausting / inefficient.
On a critical note I found this book very wordy with frequent overly long sentences. I believe it could have been shorter and more concise.
Overall an interesting read, good brain workout and lots of philosophical questions. Especially the ones about what it means to be human, which is something to think about. And whether being human, with all the suffering and roller coaster of emotions is indeed better than becoming more and more robotic, optimized, happy...I guess that's for everyone to decide themselves, and perhaps the key takeaway of this book about free will and your ability to chose. Or chose the illusion of it anyway...Personally I think maintaining the illusion of free will and choice to opt out of everything would add on to our happiness and "sense of security" but not actually change anything in term of people going back to the basics and getting offline.
I think the key thing to worry about is not full automation amidst cheap bliss at the cost of critical thinking and making our own choices, moreso what happens when cheap bliss and happiness stops being the primary goal, or a goal at all, in a future when we are all conditioned to do no thinking and expect automated happiness. By then we might not even feel happiness anymore with no juxtaposition of all the downs and suffering and it might not matter! Feelings may go out of evolutionary fashion like the monkey's tail. Optimized and happy, or void of feeling we may be fully compliant to do whatever it is the next step of evolution (AI maybe) has set out as a goal for us. Perhaps that is when opting out of human feelings may be something we all are forced to do. Either through death or lifeless compliance. Death may no longer be an option...
May 6, 2018
The book looks generally good. I got access to excerpt of this book. I wished to have access to the full book to provide a more deep review.
August 21, 2019
There are credible questions asked about how technologies, in particular digital systems, shape human being - culturally and psychologically. Frischmann and Selinger choose a number of interesting case studies and make some insightful observations. In particular about the importance of indoctrination into modes of accepting technologies through early adoption in education settings (e.g. wristband monitors given to children). However, this reads as an incredibly pessimistic account of our being in hyperhistory, the technological situation of our world. It relies too heavily on a slippery slope mode of argument and is unconvincing in providing arguments towards establishing its assumption that today's digital technologies are particularly insidious. It reacts against the techno-utoponianism found in Silicon Valley but outside of that particular context, in settings where digital technologies are adopted more sceptically and with greater caution, the authors appear to be engaged in a polemic that smells like moral panic. Some of their more speculative and worrisome arguments rest on sketchy ground (e.g. on extended minds). The tone can become a bit wearing for lack of balance. Overall, an interesting contribution to the debate.
February 4, 2019
This book is fundamental for understanding how the digital revolution shapes our society and even impacts our nature of human beings. The focus on the conception of humanity (before all other - still relevant- aspects of our democratic societies and our lives, both increasingly “binarified”) is a key element of novelty.
The book opens a new perspective in the current context of passive acceptance of technology in our life : in particular, I have found the two freedoms (freedom to be off, and freedom from technological determinism) a powerful concept for further works. In addition, I found extremely original the proposal of engineering or manually injecting transaction costs and inefficiencies when using digital technologie, in order to foster active exercise of human capabilities.
The book opens a new perspective in the current context of passive acceptance of technology in our life : in particular, I have found the two freedoms (freedom to be off, and freedom from technological determinism) a powerful concept for further works. In addition, I found extremely original the proposal of engineering or manually injecting transaction costs and inefficiencies when using digital technologie, in order to foster active exercise of human capabilities.
August 25, 2018
The advent of the industrial revolution and current technological pervasive Internet (at least) in the highly connected parts of the world is experiencing a grand new insidious creep fashioned by social media, apps, attention draining platforms engineered for minimization of costs and permissions which they say distracts from consuming and focusing on the things that excite and matters to us all. What if these well intentioned architectures so cemented in the ideals of our current habits are leaving us too distanced, too myopic to the dangers of humanity as simplistic? Leaving our well worned connections of community and its collective wisdom as slowly eroding.
Its an immense honor to read this terrifyingly prescience of how we are engaging more but not truly engaging well sustainably.
Its an immense honor to read this terrifyingly prescience of how we are engaging more but not truly engaging well sustainably.
August 16, 2020
This was quite a theoretical read as the authors provides alot of philosophical concepts and arguments on the phenomenons of technologies. While their ideas were fascinating to think about and reflect on, there are passages I have to read a few times to understand the concepts and theories they are getting at.
The most intriguing argument in the book is the Reverse Turing test, where they discuss if humans can be engineered to be more machine-like. The original Turing test is when machines are determined to be human-like when they pass a certain test in tricking the observer that they are interacting with a human. This idea is quite fascinating as it is asking if our technologies our getting smarter how will this affect our humanity.
The most intriguing argument in the book is the Reverse Turing test, where they discuss if humans can be engineered to be more machine-like. The original Turing test is when machines are determined to be human-like when they pass a certain test in tricking the observer that they are interacting with a human. This idea is quite fascinating as it is asking if our technologies our getting smarter how will this affect our humanity.
July 5, 2023
One of the book's notable strengths is its comprehensive analysis of the various ways in which technology has infiltrated and transformed different aspects of our lives. From surveillance capitalism and data privacy concerns to the manipulation of our attention and the erosion of meaningful human connection, Frischmann and Selinger shine a light on the potential pitfalls of our increasingly technocentric world.
Furthermore, "Re-Engineering Humanity" invites readers to reflect on the ethical implications of our technological choices. The authors delve into the power dynamics between technology designers and users, emphasizing the need for ethical design principles that prioritize human well-being and autonomy. Their examination of the "attention economy" and the manipulation of our behavior raises important concerns about the erosion of personal agency and the commodification of our attention.
However, at times, the book's tone can be alarmist, and it occasionally falls into generalizations about the negative impact of technology. While it is crucial to critically analyze the potential risks, a more balanced perspective that also acknowledges the positive aspects of technological advancements could enhance the overall argument
.
hile the book's tone can lean toward alarmism, it successfully stimulates important conversations about the need to prioritize human values, autonomy, and well-being in our relationship with technology. It is a must-read for anyone concerned about the future of our digital society and the potential consequences of our technological choices.
Furthermore, "Re-Engineering Humanity" invites readers to reflect on the ethical implications of our technological choices. The authors delve into the power dynamics between technology designers and users, emphasizing the need for ethical design principles that prioritize human well-being and autonomy. Their examination of the "attention economy" and the manipulation of our behavior raises important concerns about the erosion of personal agency and the commodification of our attention.
However, at times, the book's tone can be alarmist, and it occasionally falls into generalizations about the negative impact of technology. While it is crucial to critically analyze the potential risks, a more balanced perspective that also acknowledges the positive aspects of technological advancements could enhance the overall argument
.
hile the book's tone can lean toward alarmism, it successfully stimulates important conversations about the need to prioritize human values, autonomy, and well-being in our relationship with technology. It is a must-read for anyone concerned about the future of our digital society and the potential consequences of our technological choices.
May 15, 2019
Hard to read. Some argument lines are extremely convoluted and hard to follow. The book complains about technology creep while at the same time it represents an ideology creep - examples are almost exclusively in the she/her form for all 'persons' or 'users' not mentioning ideological debate about why men using menstruation tracker apps are sexists and chauvinists. Seriously?!
Authors try to hide behind science for some of their arguments but put their ideological input wherever they can. They are quite clear what in their opinion is good and what is not. I have the impression that mostly negatives are mentioned and positives are often ridiculed. The message is clear. Technology is bad and man are bad....
Also another issue are numerous notes at the end of the book which explain some parts of the text. Quite often argument line can only be followed when reading all of them and having to jump several times between the page and end of the book in one paragraph. This is just tiresome and those notes should just be included in the text directly.
Not to be totally negative in the book there are some interesting arguments and insights. Pity that the form (style) and ideological bias are making this book unreadable (for me).
Authors try to hide behind science for some of their arguments but put their ideological input wherever they can. They are quite clear what in their opinion is good and what is not. I have the impression that mostly negatives are mentioned and positives are often ridiculed. The message is clear. Technology is bad and man are bad....
Also another issue are numerous notes at the end of the book which explain some parts of the text. Quite often argument line can only be followed when reading all of them and having to jump several times between the page and end of the book in one paragraph. This is just tiresome and those notes should just be included in the text directly.
Not to be totally negative in the book there are some interesting arguments and insights. Pity that the form (style) and ideological bias are making this book unreadable (for me).
December 2, 2019
Are all of our “smart” devices training us to be “dumb” humans, too-often indistinguishable from mere machines? As click-through contracts and “like” buttons increasingly channel our social and personal relationships into algorithm-guided paths, are we losing something crucial about ourselves and our relationships? Is our very humanity at stake? In their new book, Re-Engineering Humanity, law scholar Brett Frischmann and philosopher Evan Selinger sound the alarm. I share their concern, so I am glad to see them taking on the problem in a rigorous and thoughtful way.
Full disclosure: Brett and I are friends, and we have discussed these ideas periodically since he first started research for the book. Brett knows that he can count on me to give him a hard time from a feminist perspective, for the good of the work. So here goes…
Read the rest at Nursing Clio: https://nursingclio.org/2018/08/23/ar...
Full disclosure: Brett and I are friends, and we have discussed these ideas periodically since he first started research for the book. Brett knows that he can count on me to give him a hard time from a feminist perspective, for the good of the work. So here goes…
Read the rest at Nursing Clio: https://nursingclio.org/2018/08/23/ar...
January 30, 2021
Hmmm
Long winded, wordy, jargon drenched, overly pedantic and academic. Lots of discussion about the scope and parameters of the discussion. Etc. you get the point. However if you can put up with all of this it’s worth a read for the important issues raised and many fine points made and examples given. Are we being systematically manipulated and dumb downed to fit in with and best serve the vast politico-techno leviathan.? You can bet ___ you are. Probably always have been. But is it worse now than ever for all the convenient fictions of mass ‘freedom’.? Probably. What do you think?
Long winded, wordy, jargon drenched, overly pedantic and academic. Lots of discussion about the scope and parameters of the discussion. Etc. you get the point. However if you can put up with all of this it’s worth a read for the important issues raised and many fine points made and examples given. Are we being systematically manipulated and dumb downed to fit in with and best serve the vast politico-techno leviathan.? You can bet ___ you are. Probably always have been. But is it worse now than ever for all the convenient fictions of mass ‘freedom’.? Probably. What do you think?
April 21, 2021
Has some good points, but far too long and waffly. It isn't a tech book, it's a philosophy book that talks about tech, and uses it as a reason to start talking about what makes us human. I wanted a book about the tech and how its affecting us, and there is some of that, tho with fewer examples than thought experiments, so I think it was just not the book I expected or wanted. Ended up skimming and skipping large chunks which I almost never do. Should have been one article rather than a whole book
July 12, 2018
The authors make an important point about how technology can threaten our autonomy as well as our privacy. Brett is a friend of mine and I have great respect for his ideas, but my recommendation of this book comes with some reservations. I found the writing labored at times (especially in the discussion of free will) and I thought that the book ultimately promised more than it delivered.
Spoiler Alert: In the future we are all robots!
Spoiler Alert: In the future we are all robots!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2020
A tough book to read but well worth the effort.
Brett Frischmann and Evan Selinger have done a remarkable job of helping me to properly understand the general concerns that have been raised regarding the influence and prevalence of convenient technology.
Should we allow it in, keep it out, or maybe something In between?
Brett Frischmann and Evan Selinger have done a remarkable job of helping me to properly understand the general concerns that have been raised regarding the influence and prevalence of convenient technology.
Should we allow it in, keep it out, or maybe something In between?
November 28, 2025
Asks the central questions of our time: Who decides? Why should we want to be constantly surveilled? What are the impacts on interpersonal relationships?
Keep the two demands in mind:
1) the freedom to be off
2) the freedom to be autonomous and have practical agency
Are we even free to be off anymore, in the age of predictive AI anywhere?
Must-read for anyone living in current society!
Keep the two demands in mind:
1) the freedom to be off
2) the freedom to be autonomous and have practical agency
Are we even free to be off anymore, in the age of predictive AI anywhere?
Must-read for anyone living in current society!
November 24, 2019
Insightful analysis of how technology is reducing human agency via nudging, defaults, lack of choice, contract fatigue. A handy companion to Zuboff. However, its odd structure (maybe a function of having two authors) and phrasing make it harder to follow than necessary.
December 19, 2018
In this fantastic book The authors critically reflect current developments in technology and their relationship to our living and interacting with each other.
October 28, 2022
Although I disagree with many of its assumptions and conclusions, it is perhaps one of the best tech critiques I’ve read. It is well cited and researched, helping me realize I have a lot to learn.
May 23, 2025
This was a difficult read, though much of the book was compelling enough to continue.
However, it took a lot of attention to stay with the premise of the book.
However, it took a lot of attention to stay with the premise of the book.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews