Truth Machine

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Summary: You gotta read this book!
Review: Just finished The Truth Machine last night. I am....well....rocked! This is a great story and better yet a blueprint of things to come. I have often fantasized about writing my own story of the future. I really enjoyed the style and form of The Truth Machine. I have to say that I have thought about a story like this but never completed the outline in my head. This story has given me much to think about. I hope that is what Mr. Halperin hoped to achieve. I look forward to The First Immortal! Mike Kirke

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Summary: Stimulating, believable and credible.
Review: The Truth Machine offers brilliant insight, both politically and scientifically, into one possible future. I read it in six hours. Publish more, Mr. Halperin.

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Summary: Completely believable, very stimulating.
Review: It applied real life characters to common future problems. Likable people, pertinent solutions.

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Summary: Over hyped and boring
Review: I found this book to be very boring and the characters to be cardboard cutouts. The book doesn't deal with the implications of what might really happen with a truth machine. Instead the author glosses over a lot of repercussions and justs pushes the "god of science". This is lame pop-fiction.

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Summary: The Best, except...
Review: There are some flaws in the book. However, I think the point was to present the ideas in the clearest possible manner. Allowing some of the characters to be a bit superficial and making a too easy transition to world government made it easier to present Halperin's ideas in the most concise way possible. He tried to design an idealistic model of salvation for humanity. Obviously he wasn't trying to create beautiful characterizations. I think he was also trying to portray his ideas as incredibly successful. Having Pete 'fry' at the end would have given it an ominous aspect. Halperin could maybe have had some corporation develop the machine for profit and we all know that's what corporations care about. There would be problems with that too though. I think Halperin created a very unlikely situation. Such a truth machine is a long way off. In order for the amount of money to be invested in it, as was shown in the story, and then immediately after a World Government formed there would have to be some amazing events. But I think questionable characterization is a small price to pay for the concise and clear outline of Halperin's ideas. After all, he warned at the beginning with his reference to Faulkner that you couldn't expect impressive character development. It's certainly the best science fiction novel I've read (not counting Heinlein, of course). I've already recommended it to several of my teachers including one very accomplished writer and they loved it for its ideas without getting sidetracked by its comparatively unimportant flaws.

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Summary: The Truth Machine was definitely a top five in my library.
Review: An engrossing drama, simply impossible to put down! Pete, David and Diana are admirable bearers of America's torch to the future. My only concern about TTM's revelations is the elimination of newspapers and paperback novels. Although I haven't attempted reading more than 10 pages consecutively online, I can't imagine it's more comfortable than lying with a blanket in my recliner. As a Statistics graduate and amateur programmer, I am curious what algorithms are currently being written and are missing for such a machine, and whether our "Lie Detector Test" will someday soon be replaced.

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Summary: One of the most enjoyable and fascinating books I have read
Review: I just finished reading The Truth Machine only about an hour ago and thought that it was great. From what scientific knowledge my strange short term memory can recall, all of the predictions in the book are perfectly feasible, and I personally found them quite fascinating. The characters were very well developed, especially Pete, and his strange intelligence and selfless demeanor. This book wasn't 1984 (which I would recommend to any who enjoyed the Truth Machine). But it was very well written, and brought across the plot simply but with a sophisticated aura.

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Summary: It makes you think.
Review: I really liked it because I love thinking about the future. Overall, I thought it was a very optimistic book - except for Swift & Sure. The book kind of assumes that crime worsens in the next few years, worsens enough for people to panic and enact Swift & Sure. I hope that doesn't happen. I like most of the other speculations though. I'm not sure how I myself feel about a truth machine. It would be hard for those of us raised without it. Might be hard to reprogram ourselves. I can't argue with the (speculative) results though. Anyway, I did really like the book. I'll be recommending it to my friends.

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Summary: Really good.
Review: It gave an interesting insight toward the future of humanity. It also had social importance.

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Summary: Lying is a born human right, no matter poor or rich
Review: This author has some interesting concepts that need America to follow suit and adopted right away. The Truth Machine might not be the ultimate solution to all the social problems, but the idea of a FAST EXECUTION to the bad guys who once proven guilty is what I like most. I don't believe in American Justice System anymore since OJ Simpson walked away. Because the courtroom justice has long being transformed into some kind show business,and as long as you got the dough, truth could always be twisted by your lawyers. When I saw Halprin grinned ear to ear in front the CNN's camera and overwhelmed by his first book being purchased for 0.5 million dollars for movie right, his TRUTH MACHINE indeed, is still, well, a $$$ MACHINE.