Rating: 
Summary: Huh?
Review: This book has a goal: to scare you. That, in itself, doesn't make the book bad. While I am pro-biotech, I appreciate the fact that people are allowed to read and explore a myriad of positioins before they make up their mind. What bothers me, then, is that McKibben is so intent on scaring us into submission that he is either a.) puposely exaggerating and misunderstanding his information and doesn't care, or b.)literally doesn't know 'enough' about what he's writing so as not to notice his caricatures. For instance - amd most troubleing -, well over 2/3rds of his citations are gotten from newspapers, trade magazines, and (a little better but not by a lot) popular science articles. So we get treated to all the exaggerated stories about the nutty little cult-like submovements that treat biotech as an unmitigated utopia while under the impression that this is the mainstream view. Well, the New York TImes is in the business of selling newspapers and reporting stories that can help them do it. If we haven't noticed, they are much less concerned with accuracy. But McKibben's index is not only littered with these types of exaggerated stories, but virtually all are gotten from the newspapers and trade rags. Not very professional. Second (and partly due to the above) Mckibben is wont to grossly overexaggerate fears of genetic determinism. IF we can select genes for success, he says, then children will be comodities!!! But in saying this, he doesn't realisze - or doesn't let on - that a.) there is no gene combo for 'success' (such a blanket phrase), b.) success involeves quite a bit of 'luck' and evironment in addition to genetic factors; c.) a genetic tweek is by no means a gaurentee of superiority in a particular area. McKibben, though, doesn't know this; my guess becasue he is quoting from trade magazines that like to write article on the "gene for x" in order to give us a shocking and juicy cover story. "Beanbag genetics" is dead an someone forgot to tell McKibbon that he is more of a gentic determinist than even most genetic determinist are. Third he writes aobut his fears that biotech will 'dehumanize' us. We get this alot and McKibben swears he is not a luddite. But the argument fits the bill perfectly: Limitations are what makes us human; the better humans are made to perform, the less human they'll be. McKibben says that we should just be happy with the progress we've made so far (after all, eradication of limitions in the past was a good thing; it is only the future doings that are problematic) and cash in our chips content only with the results gotten so far. But how would getting people to live longer, be less prone to obesity, have smarter brains, have better eye-sight, and have various other talnents be immoral? The problem is that McKibben doesn't really ARUGE a point here; he just repeats his emotional appeal about the joys of human limitaitons as they are (you too can die at 70! Woohoo!) like it doesn't require any further argument. But in light of all of the things we COULD be better at with biotech's help, we really deserve an explanation of why it is moral to know that you can improve humans and NOT do it. Long and short: following McKibben's title, reading this book make me say: "Enough!"
Rating: 
Summary: Are we about to make ourselves obsolete? Read the book!
Review: This is one of the most thoughtful, and sobering, books I've ever read. McKibben takes a deep, serious and well-researched look at the implications of genetic engineering, nanotechnology, robotics and artificial intelligence, and the view is chilling. Whether you are a technophile or a technophobe, read this book. Some version of the post-human future McKibben envisions is racing toward us. Robert Adler, author of _Medical Firsts: From Hippocrates to the Human Genome_ and _Science Firsts: From the Creation of Science to the Science of Creation_.
Rating:
Summary: He's right!!!!! .....ENOUGH
Review: Very readable. A minor knowledge of genetics and cursory knowledge of robotics will get you through this book without confusion. Nanotechnology is so new that few of us have even a fundamental knowledge of its workings. Fortunately, Mr. McKibben recognizes this and spares us baffling jargon on most all issues. Recommended reading for any parent having more than half a child, or considering having a child. Perhaps I was fortunate to have read Francis Fukuyama's "Our Posthuman Future" and Greg Stock's "Redesigning Humans" just prior to reading Mr. McKibben's book. As Mr. McKibben says in his book, Fukuyama used an [unremarkable] style to get the message across that something must be done now to begin to internationally regulate the ethical boundaries of, and path forward for, genetics. Mr. McKibben is clearly well read on a number of subjects and takes a pragmatic yet fatalistic view of the future considering the current trend of science. He talks of the perils and pitfalls that could accompany the genetic revolution, while giving a fair and balanced view of the merits of the field in disease prevention. What he does extremely well in this book, "Enough", is to draw attention to the paralleling emerging technologies of genetics, nanotechnology and robotics (GNR as he has labeled it), and the confluence of these three fast-paced advancing technologies.
Although an interesting and well written book, I cannot refrain from commenting (as Mr. McKibben politely did) on the conclusions drawn in Gregory Stock's book. Mr. Stock takes the view that the momentum is too great now and is unstoppable (heaven forbid that he is correct). Mr. McKibben is thorough and visionary in helping us understand the burning issue at hand in the bioethical decisions we must make in thwarting this burgeoning push towards germinal technology. The burning issue.... the future of our children (or wandering humans without meaning...whatever...) in that they will inevitably bear the consequences of inaction within the coming ten, twenty or fifty years from now if this current generation of commercial decision makers is left to their own devices. The exact timing is debatable. The outcome, if unchecked, is only a question of severity of the consequences, not when. Mr. McKibben's forward thinking scenarios of what the human may evolve to if some or all of this modification occurs paints a stark... no dark, picture of the "human" of the future. Wandering aimlessly without family ties and wondering if the enhancements bequeathed upon them by their ancestors predisposed them to their calling in life, or if their physical and intellectual successes were of their own ability, or the results of their modifications. He closes with several brief conclusions shared by other academics in that it is a "freight train" (my words) that could only be stopped by a police state. The choice...Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World", a return to a caste system liking that of India in past years, or George Orwell's "1984". Take your pick. I admit to be one to worry about what the future holds for my children in any event. That's my job. However, this book helped me to finally draw a clear conclusion that a sad destiny is upon us if something is not done. As Mr. McKibben points out, we are a species that has, in the past, said "Enough" when the consequences were unmistakably too grave. It can be done again. I am of the mind that we should do it again. That we just say enough, and begin to regulate it in the face of the commercial proponents. I was truly taken aback by Mr. McKibben's simple comment that we may be the last generation to be able to make this choice. The Mother of all choices as it may turn out. For the immediate, the best thing we could do would be to see a few more books realizing the need for a fast track plan to educate our children about the oncoming freight train. This would allow them to at least begin to understand and be aware of the potential danger of the outcome, and hopefully, to choose to oppose it in the coming years. Well done Bill. One of the best books on bioethics I have read to date. It should be mandatory for all parents. Five Stars in my book. By Stephan Agnitsch, an American in Malaysia
sagnitsch@pc.jaring.my
Rating: 
Summary: not Enough analysis
Review: Well, Bill McKibben is probably not going to join the Ayn Rand workgroup. In this little-noticed but important book, McKibben discusses the potential dark side of advanced technologies such as genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, robotics and nanotechnology. As opposed to some critics, he concentrates not on the physical danger (e.g. robots becoming smarter than us and taking over), but the threat to our humanness and freedom. For example, in the coming years parents may be able to increase the intelligence of their children through germline enhancements. This choice, McKibben asserts, actually reduces choice because all parents will be forced to make these enhancements or have less intelligent children. This illustrates the faulty logic that permeates his thinking. Parents will make this choice - assuming the germline engineering is safe - because it results in a benefit for their child. Isn't that what parents are supposed to do? If McKibben had his way, the government would eliminate this choice. Following his convoluted logic, the elimination of choice actually enhances choice. Although McKibben confuses his passion with logic, he does raise important issues. These technologies have significant risks and benefits; it's critical to have a thorough debate now, because they are emerging so rapidly. Properly managed, we can utilize them safely, even if we bumble from time to time. I recommend this book, even if you are on the other side of this issue. McKibben provides a good overview of the technologies and then explains his concerns. You may disagree, but his ideas get the juices going and make you think.
Rating:
Summary: not Enough analysis
Review: Well, Bill McKibben is probably not going to join the Ayn Rand workgroup. In this little-noticed but important book, McKibben discusses the potential dark side of advanced technologies such as genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, robotics and nanotechnology. As opposed to some critics, he concentrates not on the physical danger (e.g. robots becoming smarter than us and taking over), but the threat to our humanness and freedom. For example, in the coming years parents may be able to increase the intelligence of their children through germline enhancements. This choice, McKibben asserts, actually reduces choice because all parents will be forced to make these enhancements or have less intelligent children. This illustrates the faulty logic that permeates his thinking. Parents will make this choice - assuming the germline engineering is safe - because it results in a benefit for their child. Isn't that what parents are supposed to do? If McKibben had his way, the government would eliminate this choice. Following his convoluted logic, the elimination of choice actually enhances choice. Although McKibben confuses his passion with logic, he does raise important issues. These technologies have significant risks and benefits; it's critical to have a thorough debate now, because they are emerging so rapidly. Properly managed, we can utilize them safely, even if we bumble from time to time. I recommend this book, even if you are on the other side of this issue. McKibben provides a good overview of the technologies and then explains his concerns. You may disagree, but his ideas get the juices going and make you think.
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