How to Survive a Robot Uprising: Tips on Defending Yourself Against the Coming Rebellion

by Daniel H. Wilson

How do you spot a robot mimicking a human? How do you recognize and then deactivate a rebel servant robot? How do you escape a murderous "smart" house, or evade a swarm of marauding robotic flies? In this dryly hilarious survival guide, roboticist Daniel H. Wilson teaches worried humans the keys to quashing a robot mutiny. From treating laser wounds to fooling face and speech recognition, besting robot logic to engaging in hand-to-pincer combat, How to Survive a Robot Uprising covers every possible doomsday scenario facing the newest endangered humans. And with its thorough overview of current robot prototypes-including giant walkers, insect, gecko, and snake robots-How to Survive a Robot Uprising is also a witty yet legitimate introduction to contemporary robotics. Full of charming illustrations, and referencing some of the most famous robots in pop-culture, How to Survive a Robot Uprising is a one-of-a-kind book that is sure to be a hit with all ages. How to Survive a Robot Uprising was named as an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers. Daniel H. Wilson is a Ph.D. candidate at the Robotics Institute of Carnegie Mellon University, where he has received master's degrees in Robotics and Data Mining. He has worked in top research laboratories, including Microsoft Research, the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), and Intel Research Seattle. Daniel currently lives with several unsuspecting roommates in a fully wired smart house in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This is his first book. Two-color illustrations throughout. Click here to listen to an audio sample and to purchase the audiobook version of the title.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Robots, Audiobook, Science, Technology, Comedy

180 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 3, 2005

About the author

A Cherokee citizen, Daniel H. Wilson grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He earned a Ph.D. in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok so let’s be totally cereal here (South Park reference!)…it’s only a matter of time before robots get sick of us humans and wage war. And we have to be totally prepared for it! Ok, let’s come back down to earth…this is a must for any science fiction fan. It’s definitely got a good deal of humor, but also is a supremely detailed guide on a robot rebellion. Everything from fighting back and surviving, to understanding different types of robots and attack patterns, is all divulged here. My favorite illustration here is on pages 114-115, with the silhouettes of man evolving and then being zapped by a killer robot. Lots of fun! Go read now and get ready, soldiers!!

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

so initially i thought great this narrator speaks in a monotone, robotic voice its going to put me to sleep. but actually the reader/narrator is perfect for this novel, the funny lines and there is at least one or two a chapter are even funnier with his delivery. in fact i would recommend the audiobook version is the way to go with this novel.

[Gavin · Rating 2 out of 5]

PRO: It is pocket-sized for ease of portability, when all you have is what you can fit on your back, and of course an EMP detonator and a copy of C++ for dummies.

CON: Skynet already probably has a copy and a software patch to deal with the obvious advantage of this book.

[D.G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this, I realized that if the robots rebel, I'm screwed.

How to Survive a Robot Uprising is a very amusing compendium of different types of robots and how you can fight them when the need arises. Among other things, tips include how to escape from smart houses and fight snake robots (for real.) Sadly though, fighting the robots will too hard for me - basically, you'll have to live in caves - so I guess I'll have to betray the human race and join our robot foe (I like my comforts too much to give them up.)

The narration by Stefan Rudnicki was just hysterical. He was just perfect, definitely tongue in cheek. When he said 'how could Hollywood be so wrong' in that tone of voice which implied we were crazy for doubting the movies, I almost burst a lung laughing.

The book includes information on real robots which sometimes got a bit technical so it may not be the cup of tea of somebody not into the topic. But hey, I laughed and I learned so at the end, I couldn't have asked for more.

Review of audiobook edition, narrated by Stefan Rudnicki.

[bsc · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is not obvious, but the rebellion has already begun. I am ready for it now. None of my GR friends have read this, and I fear for them. While everyone seems ready for the zombies, they are ignoring the real threat. It is likely already too late.

[Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

I was expecting something slightly more funny and less serious, but How to Survive a Robot Uprising tackles the upcoming robot-apocalypse describing different types of robots that will bring our demise. It is easily portable and fits in a pocket, gives tips about escaping a smart house and if anything, made me aware of all the possible thing that can kill me.

Quick read, not as funny as I expected it to be though, and I'm afraid that in the event of a robot-apocalypse most of the information might be out-dated.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This should be under "science fiction sort-of". While the library treats this (and shelves it) under humor the book is actually taking itself quite seriously.

There is speculation about how a robot rebellion may happen and what to do to survive it (or overcome it).

I think the book should have chosen one direction or the other. In sort of staring out or presenting itself as humor with a serious side it winds up up being neither a proverbial fish or proverbial fowl.

It's neither really funny of very informative. I lost interest pretty fast. it might be worthy of a slightly better rating but when i lay a book aside without finishing it, it gets 1 star.

Of course who knows I may regret not having finished this when the 'bots rise up.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

Not for me; I was hoping it would prioritize the science of robotics over the humorous fictional scenario outlined in the novel's title, but this wasn't the case. I listened to this via audiobook because I needed something less than 4 hours, but even that length became tedious towards the very end due to the repitition of the text.

That being said, I think that there is an audience for this. If you have young teens or even tweens, this might hit for them and inspire an early interest in robotics. Likewise, I actually think writers who are looking for ideas for dytopian or science fiction works might find a few interesting things in here.

[M.E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the book itself says, when the robot uprising starts, it will be too late to memorize the advice and tips it contains. The time to read this book is now, people. The robots know that this book exists (since it cataloged in many computer databases, including this one) and so, it will be one of the first targets that they seek out and destroy when they start their rebellion. In fact, thanks to Goodreads.com, they will probably know who has read the book, too, and will seek out and ...uh, oh.
This is a very fun read. It's short, brief, and playful. Remarkably, it also contains a lot of fascinating information on cutting edge robotics. There are a lot of great pictures of destroyer robots and great references to another source of robot information: Hollywood movies. In fact, my favorite quote from the book is the following: "As we all know, movies area n excellent source of practical advice for real-world situations."

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

As most other reviews note, despite being listed and shelved as "humor," this book really isn't. Instead, it provides some solid SOTA updates on developments in such various field as nanotech, biomimicry, UTS (Ubiquitous Technical Surveillance - and I'm looking at you, China), smart homes, AI, and of course, humanoid (and other) robots. More importantly, it actually provides some surprisingly useful information on how to respond to attacks by various artificial opponents - bipedal robots, swarm robots, robot vehicles, etc. - in the (also surprisingly possible) event of, y'know, a robot uprising.

Learning to "live off the grid" and the whole survivalism thing in general do sound like useful skills to develop; and I should really probably keep a motorcycle in the garage, as that increasingly appears to be the vehicle of choice to avoid wildfires, floods, zombies, and other such traffic-jamming apocalypses. But such thinking quickly leads to assault rifle ownership,* hoarding, and other possibly practical but certainly depressing "steps to take." Maybe I'll just go camping a coupla times instead…
__________________________________

* My favorite current argument against gun ownership comes from comic Marc Maron, who keeps a baseball bat in his bedroom for protection. Basically, he understands that the bat offers little real protection in the event of a home invasion, but as a depressed Jewish comedian, he also knows he'll never reach that "dark night of the soul" point where he looks at his bat and decides "yeah, I think I'll kill myself” - because, in his words, suicide by baseball bat "would take some time and a level of commitment that I don't think I have."

[Tracy Smyth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read. I have come to the conclusion that I am not going to survive any uprising by robots

[Sebastian Gebski · Rating 3 out of 5]

They are COMING! I know they are observing me, learning my habits, planning the attack.
It's just a matter of time, when they will attack. All of them: Roomba, Alexa, Playstation, even the fridge!
It's already covered in good documentaries, like: Terminator, Matrix, or Futurama. Don't ignore it!
This book will prepare you for the inevitable conflict ... Get familiar with it before having the red, robotic eyes chasing you mercilessly in the dark, to the accompaniment of the sound of servomotors moving robotic limbs.

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On a more serious note: the book obviously is NOT serious :) It may pretend to be, but this feeling won't last for long ;) It's written for kicks'n'giggles, bu TBH it's not that hilarious - a piece of good, casual listening while you're running or having a long walk.

Definitely, not a life-changer, won't inspire you or remain in your memory for long. 2.5-3 stars

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, let me be blunt here. I picked this book on a lark based mostly on the title...that and it was listed in the humor genre. On a more careful reading I saw it it also considered non-fiction and science & technology. Having read many science fiction works over my many decades including those about robots taking control as well as Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics, I am aware of the theoretical possibilities. While the author does resort to a certain amount of humor, there is also a lot of serious science included as well such as the best ways to disable a malfunctioning robot. He describes the various technology features that allow robots to see, sense our presence, and learn our daily habits (here's your coffee, miss, one cream and two sugars, just how you like it) in order to serve us. This also makes it possible to know our preferences and habits that could be used against us some day. The latest technology also includes robots that you would have to take a closer look to realize they are not human. The author discusses today's world with our smart homes controlled with our smart phones and run by various types of robots for our leisurely lifestyles. Think about all the automated phone systems that you can talk to and that mostly understand you and guide you through mountains of automated menu systems; the only words they seem to have trouble with are representative and agent. He also gathers information from robotics experts on how to deal with and deceive various types of robots. You might find humor within these pages, but soon you will realize that what the author is telling you may be useful someday and may even save your life. Unfortunately, I think today's generation, raised on the supposed friendly nature of robots (think C3PO and R2D2) will likely be too busy staring at their smartphone screens to notice any takeover attempts...unless grandma or grandpa sends them a text!

[chucklesthescot · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was expecting a lot more humour in this book but it was sadly lacking in that area except for the odd chuckle here and there. There was a lot of technical jargon in it and overall it wasn't particularly interesting. I only finished the book to claim points for a reading challenge.

[Cbringhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny! It is always good to be prepared, cause you never know...

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is interesting how aspects which likely begged credulity when the book was published (13 years ago), are now so common that the explanations appear almost condescending.

[Lina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audiobook Only: This book was funny and clever, but with the beginning of the book alluding to real stuff I guess I expected more scientific research. Perhaps if I had read the actual book there might be more annotations. There was a lot of interesting and good advice but also I don’t think it’s really realistic for us to expect to survive a robot uprising... or if I really expected it to happen, I’m going to need a LOT more information than this. Just give in and accept your new overlords, humankind.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it and found some life saving advice! As each year concludes, we find our homes, our cars, our phones, our lives becoming more mechanized. From Alexa to gps to “smart” anythings - take a look around. This was a fun read! Not laugh out loud funny but absurdly humorous (I hope). Every time spell check corrected my typing, I felt a little invaded.

[Andrej Novák · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stalo sa Vám, že ste niekedy nemohli v noci zaspať kvôli myšlienke na blížiace sa povstanie robotov? Pletie sa Vám robotický vysávač pod nohy náhodne, alebo ide o vypočítavý pokus ako Vás zabiť? Práve pre Vás je táto kniha, ktorá rozoberá rôzne možnosti robotickej senzoriky, ale taktiež to, ako sa proti nim bezpečne ubrániť.

[Tony Laplume · Rating 4 out of 5]

The good news is that there is no proof that robots actively sabotaged Daniel H. Wilson’s later activities, such as making his comic books unpopular or endlessly delaying the movie adaptation of his novel Robopocalypse. But you never know…

[Wenzel Roessler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever but the joke runs thin after a while. I did like the actual science parts of the book.

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit hesitant after jumping into the audiobook. Especially when it came to the robotic voice for the narrator, but then it started to make sense and I got used to it. I was pleasently surprised by how funny things could get thorughout this book. Do I think I'm prepared for a robot uprising? Not one bit. Do I care? Honestly, no. Take me to your leader robots.

[Jurgen_i · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not 5 points, since this is not a complete robot uprising survival handbook. It’s a collection of tips on surviving during such an event. It earns 4.5 points.

I was partly ironic partly serious when I started this book. Although I don’t believe that in the foreseeable future we will face the robot uprising, it’s very important to be aware of such a possibility. In such a way we can prevent a robot uprising. Alas, the mood of the book completely corresponded with mine! The best description of the tone of this book is that Mr. Wilson jokes seriously. I liked indeed his appeals to humanity to fight against our mechanical foe, his jokes about interactions between robots and humans or about evil roboticists.

In this book you’ll find the probable scenarios of the robot uprising (actually, it’s only ONE global scenario drawn by the author and this is the second reason for not giving 5 points) and you’ll get to know how to act and counteract in different situations during this scenario. Also you will get acquainted with robotics: both with its fundamentals (how robots perceive world, “think”, make “decisions” and act) and with the latest practical achievements.

CONCLUSION:
Well written interesting book with much information and practical advices. And after this book you should definitely read Robopocalypse which is a practical-fictional implementation of How To Survive A Robot Uprising
Prepare to defend yourself and humanity during the coming robot uprising!

[Eliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

In half sarcasm author shares insights about AI/Robotic tech. Entertaining.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all know that robots are just making their plans to take over the world... which means that its not too late for you to make your plans to escape. Filled with practical advice about surviving, like keeping an ax to go through walls when your robot house revolts, and to double check the child seat before you toss it out the window to confuse the robot car chasing you, or asking your Ewok friends for advice on stopping a "walker robot," this book may save your life.

Why I started it: It was mentioned in Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century and was on my list of teen books to read.

Why I finished it: The audio was short, engaging and hilarious! I can't wait to recommend this book to the kids of my Summer Reading program.

Favorite line: "You have discovered that your extremely submissive, lovable, and expensive servant robot has turned 'rebel.' This can feel like losing a member of the family. However, if the situation is not dealt with properly, it may feel more like losing every member of the family, plus a few neighborhood kids."

[Berenice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daniel H Wilson is a genius! Not like, PhD in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon genius, but... oh no wait, that's EXACTLY the kind of genius he is! Also the funny as hell kind. Did I mention he's funny as hell? He tells it like it is (in the development of robotic tech) by telling us how it isn't-but-will-be. (Well, as of 2005 when this was published. While we're on the subject of time travel, see page 147 for what must certainly have been the inspiration for a truly superb robot movie from 2015.) So having clearly read book this before you (or else why are you be reading reviews? Do you really have that much spare time? Come on, you have a machine uprising to prepare for!) I'd say your only option now is to arm your Radio Frequency Pulse Gun and keep this pocketbook-sized manual on your person to prepare yourself for the forthcoming robot uprising, PLUS any moments of boredom until then, AND ALSO against not having something flammable when you're on the run from a swarm of robot flies and trying to make a campfire. Oh and good luck choosing which page goes first. Come to think of it, it might be of greater service to the last remaining stragglers of humanity to just leave intact and freeze.

[Hollowspine · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

How to Survive a Robot Uprising was a bit too long to be truly enjoyable for me. After getting to the half-way point I think I'd had enough of the roomba jokes and references to Terminator and the Matrix. Not that all of that wasn't funny, I just had had my laugh and had gotten a bit bored.

For those who are big fans of Mystery Science Theater this would probably not be the case. I also found the narrator's voice to be very similar to that of Cecil from Night Vale, so those who like Welcome to Night Vale might enjoy this book in audio format as well. All Hail the Glow Cloud.

Anyway, I do feel more prepared now to take out my robot enemies. Actually, the whole time I was thinking about the robots in Fallout 3. More than anything the book made me want to go shoot robots in Fallout 3.

For fans of Sci-fi in pop culture, those who like Ernest Cline's books Ready Player One and Armada may enjoy this, if they also enjoy John Hodgman. That said...it's not as good as either of those examples...

[Jane Fenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

If 'faction' denotes the type of books that mix fact and fiction then this must be 'Science Faction'. The author is clearly well-informed on current 'robotic' trends, but interjects some very dry but witty homour. Like an updated version of 'to avoid a Dalek attack, just use the stairs', but now, 'how to spot a humanoid android', 'how to escape from a killer smart house' and 'using sensor vulnerabilities to escape unmanned ground vehicles' amongst many, many more. You even get advice on escaping the robot uprising and starting a new human civilisation........ My favourite piece of advice was that, when attacked in the face by a gecko robot, remember to peel, not pull! And I will never look at my iRobot vacuum cleaner the same way again....Particularly fabulous as an audio book as the narrator has the perfect, sinister vocal style....

[Rusty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wilson continues to follow in Max Brooks' footsteps. Robopocalypsebore up well in comparison to World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War. But this robot version of The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead falls flat. There was some interesting information presented, but the attempts at humor seemed like an (half-formed) afterthought. And thus, it was pretty off-putting.

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

While shelving books at work, I happened to come across Daniel H. Wilson’s “How to Survive a Robot Uprising.” The title made me chuckle, so I thought I’d give it a read.

Written by a robotics researcher, the premise of the book is a humorous look at how robots work and how to thwart their sensors to survive the robot apocalypse.

The good, the bad, & the ugly: The illustrations in this book were awesome, and very much the best part. The premise is good, and at first I found the book entertaining. However, the writing very quickly became tedious and formulaic. Also, pretty sure that amok is spelled “amok” and not “amuck.” Spell check agrees.

Verdict: Good for a quick laugh or as a coffee table book, but I’d advise against reading cover-to-cover in one sitting.