Rating: 
Summary: Exceptional and insperational vision of the future.
Review: Halperin's book is of a Utopian vision of the future. A vision created by the advent of certain key technological advancements, the most important of which is the truth machine itself. It is true that we live in a continually destablizing world, and it is good to see that some people have hope for the future. Too many people lack vision, especially the vision of the worlds future. Halperin gives us that positive vision, and reminds us not to lose hope
Rating:
Summary: Best book I've read in a long time
Review: Thought provoking--interesting prognosis for future based on current trends. Should be
read and discussed by policy planners. Breathlessly waiting for next book!
Rating:
Summary: Read this book!
Review: James Halperin has combined a visionary analysis of the future of
brain imaging technologies with a compelling and deeply human
story. This novel imagines a future in which a brain scanning device
can distinguish perfectly between truth and falsehood. Although a
mind boggling prospect, it's one I've been asked about repeatedly
during recent months in response to a brain scanning study
published by my colleagues and I that shows differences in brain
activity during true and false recognition. Readers might find it
fascinating to compare the current state of scientific research on
brain scanning (summarized in Searching for Memory) with
Halperin's evocative fictional depiction of the future possibilities.
The Truth Machine is simultaneously fascinating, moving, and
chilling. Anyone interested in where society is heading should read
this book. --Professor Daniel L. Schacter, Chairman, Department of
Psychology, Harvard University
Rating:
Summary: This novel will absolutely NOT bore you!
Review: Each chapter of this book begins with a series of
"news clips" - some from the actual past, some from the potential
future. The book is worth reading for those alone; they range from
horrifying to hilarious. No doubt a good many of them spring from
the author's research into futuristic studies. Like the novel's
computer narrator, they weave a broadcloth background against
which the events of the plot flicker like images on a movie screen.
Randall Petersen Armstrong starts out as a genius without a cause.
Now, the world tends to be cruel to smart people, so before long
Randall racks up an awful lot of miserable memories, despite the
best efforts of his loving parents. At twelve, he enters Harvard.
There a professor invites him to attend "Theology as Social
Science," a class renowned for its brilliant discussions. During the
course, Randall decides to invent a Truth Machine (foolproof
lie-detector). Devoting his entire life to the pursuit of Truth through
the medium of technology, Randall largely ignores his social life,
which consequently does not develop very well. As a side-effect of
his search, he also invents a number of good and worthy programs
and gadgets which improve the quality of life for many people.
While this does wonders for his bank account and reputation, it
doesn't do much to make him a more balanced person. Like many
geniuses, Randall never learns how to judge people, and in the end
this proves his downfall. Society never fails to exact a brutal penalty
for the mortal sin of Not Fitting In. Randall's lack of judgment leads
him from one disaster to another, each compounding the previous
ones and setting the stage for the next. Through all this he manages
to carry on a parody of a happy life. He also manages to save the
world, probably several times over but at least once for certain, not
quite by accident. This does not quite save him. The Truth Machine
preserves the human race, but in the process it totally destroys its
creator - like many of the best inventions. Even so, you need to
read this book. It is brilliant and gripping fiction; you may disagree
violently with some of the ideas presented, you may want to scream
and throw it across the room, but you will not be able to ignore it.
This book will shoot your suspension of disbelief in the foot, causing
it to yelp and suspend itself in midair, where it will remain long after
you have put the book down. You see, behind the fiction lies a
disturbing amount of science: some people are actually working to
invent a real live perfect Truth Machine in our world. So read this
book, consider what happens to Randall Petersen Armstrong, and
decide whether or not you agree with the author's premises. For my
part, the conclusion of The Truth Machine made my skin crawl right
under the bed. This is one gadget that I devoutly hope shall remain
forever in the realm of science fiction. I trust that most
highly-intelligent and nonconformist readers will share my reaction,
so I don't feel that recommending the book will do any harm - and
it truly is an excellent story. The characters leap off the page in
stark, three-dimensional contrast to the background and each other:
Randall stands out as a unique and vivid person. The plot lines
slither and snarl and reach out to strangle unwary characters. The
setting flows seamlessly from the past to the present to the
projected future, and matches the characterization with consummate
precision. Every question, every conflict hums with tension, the
potential energy of fiction. The miracle of literature lies in the fine line
dividing the good from the bad, the brilliant from the boring. The
one thing a good book must not do is bore the reader. You can
read a good book and love it. You can also read a good book,
even a great book, and disagree with it violently, even detest it. You
read a bad book, though, and you don't care one way or the other.
You don't remember it a day later; you may not even finish it. The
Truth Machine may delight you, or it may bother you as much as it
bothered me (and just because it bothered me didn't keep me from
enjoying the story), but it absolutely will not bore you.
Rating:
Summary: A fantastic story!
Review: In a concise, intelligent manner, a very believable vision of the future is presented. The story crosses almost every aspect of life that has, does, or will affect society as a whole. Brilliant and well thought out! I can only hope the author will continue the time line
Rating: 
Summary: More praise for The Truth Machine :
Review: "What would the world be like if scientists developed the perfect lie detector? How would it change our criminal justice system? Psychiatric practice? International diplomacy? In his first novel, Halperin argues that such an invention could lead humanity into an era of unequaled prosperity, one in which crime is virtually unknown and true democracy possible. His speculations about the next 50 years are fascinating, and the consequences of the truth machine are well worked out. In the final analysis, it's hard to believe that Halperin's near-utopian future could be so easily attained, but it would be nice to live there." --Publisher's Weekly. .....
"Halperin has an impressive grasp of ideas, and he does a solid job of conveying the ebb and flow of political and social currents over the next 50 to 60 years. Fascinating." --The Chicago Tribune. .....
"Halperin tells an extremely interesting and provocative story. And he advances a number of provocative ideas without lecturing the reader or, worse, having the characters lecture each other. And while Armstrong is a bit too much of a dysfunctional Tom Swift, it's a hard-hearted reader who will not be moved by the plight of this tormented genius." -- Science Fiction Weekly. ..... "Crime is our number one global national security threat, and The Truth Machine is the first piece of serious speculative fiction to tackle it head on. Not since Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead have we had a portrait of a great man that is as convincing and poignant as that of Pete Armstrong, whose life, sufferings, and achievements are simultaneously credible and moving. James Halperin has turned the future into a great read, projecting current trends about technology, business, government, and psychology into an utterly believable future. This is a novel to be discussed and debated by thoughtful readers for years to come." --Jonathan M. Winer, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Law Enforcement and Crime. .....
"The Truth Machine portrays a riveting dystopia/utopia; the book may well become a cult classic, if not more." --Professor Howard Gardner, Harvard Graduate School of Education Bestselling author, Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. ..... "The Truth Machine is a fantastic read! At times I had to force myself to put it down because I didn't want to finish it too quickly. It is rare to find such a fascinating and thought provoking novel. I believe it is one of the best books I have read in the last five years. This is a very important novel." --Page One Newsletter. ..... "I loved The Truth Machine. Once I started the book, I couldn't put it down." --Dr. Robert Sternberg, professor at Yale Dept. of Psychology, prolific author and widely quoted expert on intelligence research. ...... "A fascinating look into the future; the ideas about health and longevity are truly ingenious. The Truth Machine is the most entertaining and thought-provoking novel I've read in years." --Larry North, bestselling author and nationally syndicated host, WFAA-TV.
Rating:
Summary: An ABSOLUTE ten!
Review: I always have trouble with this type of essay question. Perhaps I liked The Truth Machine because it kept me turning the pages to see what came next...and because it often put a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. I am Forensic Toxocologist in the Dade County Medical Examiners office, and a hard core reader -- but a Truth Machine comic book or video game would be a great way to reach kids. I found no reason at all to dislike The Truth Machine. I liked it absolutely
Rating:
Summary: The all-time champion of our famous "First Look" program.
Review: For years Ballantine has previewed two or three of our titles each month to approximately 4,200 booksellers nationwide. The Truth Machine received the most enthusiastic response of any book we have ever previewed from any genre, fiction or non-fiction. Here are just a few samples from hundreds of rave comments from booksellers: ***** "The most thought-provoking, stimulating book it has been my pleasure to read. It has been a long time since I read a book from cover to cover in one sitting, but The Truth Machine left me no choice." -- Ronald T. Ognibene, Barnes & Noble, Melbourne, FL
***** "Wow! This is a thoroughly engrossing book- I nearly missed my bus and subway stops while reading it!" --Joan Hoffman, Barnes and Noble, Floral Park, NY ***** "The Truth Machine was an exciting, fast-paced novel. I enjoyed it
immensely." -- Frank DiRoss, Waldenbooks, Syracuse, NY ***** "This book is timely and thought-provoking. It was refreshing to be challenged intellectually. The 'computer-author' was a nice touch. Highly recommended." --Bonnie Nelson, Waldenbooks, North Judson, IN *****
"Wow! This book intrigued me from the moment I began to read the jacket cover. By the time I reached page 100, I was already making a mental list of all the people I want to buy this book for. Overall, a thrilling read and a book I will be rampantly hand-selling!" --Heather Klepitsch, bookstore manager, DeKalb, IL ***** "I found this book to be a uniquely creative and imaginative look into the next century and what it might hold for us. The flow was paced fast enough to be intrigued by, and slow enough to comprehend. I thoroughly enjoyed it." --Susan Lay, Waldenbooks, Pensacola, FL ***** "This was a great read. The characters were developed really well...I will most certainly recommend this to customers." --Samuel L. VanDyke, Barnes and Noble, Ida, MI ***** "With a believable premise, highly probably future and memorable characters, I found it almost impossible to set The Truth Machine down. It's a good thing that this is only James Halperin's first book. Otherwise I would be irresistibly compelled to purchase all his other novels." --Michael Rende, Barnes & Noble, Milwaukee, WI
***** "It's one of the best books I've read all year. Fantastic." --Michele L. Richardson, Waldenbooks, Janesville, WI ***** "I enjoyed it immensely, couldn't put it down. Chilling and yet, ironic. One of the best futuristic works I've ever read." --Miles C. Hooley, bookseller, Aurora, CO ***** Applause to Mr. Halperin, whose brilliance in both writing style as well as imagination shines through his first novel. His hypothesis rings true. Could he be the 1990s' George Orwell? I am anxious to read his next novel to see if he can sustain this readability." --Emily Keisler, WK Stewart Booksellers, Louisville, KY ***** "The most thought-provoking, stimulating book- it has been my pleasure to read...It has been a long time since I read a book from cover to cover in one sitting, but TRUTH MACHINE left me no choice." --Ronald T. Ognibene, Barnes and Noble, Melbourne, FL ***** "Crisp and Intelligent- good adult reading. This book was so painfully intense that at times I had to push it away from me to calm down; it's so good that I couldn't resist picking it up again only minutes later." --Jeannine Deni, Waldenbooks, Abington, PA
***** "This book was an eye-opener. Very intriguing. Anyone interested in current events MUST read this book." --Keri Hopkins, Waldenbooks, Wichita, KS ***** "This is a fascinating book. I will happily recommend it to all." --Darlene Peggs, Encore Books, Mechanicsburg, PA ***** "This book couldn't be more timely. Thank you for giving me the pleasure of reading this book..." --Helen P. Wallington, Borders, Buford, GA
***** "Every once in a while you run across a book that makes you stay up late in spite of the fact you have to go to work in the morning." --Robert DeVoe, Waldenbooks, St. Ann, MO ***** "First-time author James L. Halperin has written an extraordinary book. My highest recommendation!" --Tim Hauer, Barnes and Noble, West Bloomfield, MI ***** "What a compelling read. Creates a future both believable and intriguing. It is both thought provoking and entertaining...I am already telling people to watch for this book!"
Todd Briston, bookseller, Portland, IN ***** "What an exciting read! What a thrill!" --Lori Housler, bookseller, Mt. Lake Terrace, WA ***** By the end of the book, I was breathlessly reading...I'm recommending it to my family members and friends. --Melissa McIhinney, bookseller, Warrington, PA
Rating:
Summary: Most thought provoking story I've ever read
Review: The Truth Machine is one of the best books I've ever read. The story is chilling, and continues to haunt my thoughts. I can't wait for Mr. Halperin's next books and hope they have as much of an impact on me as The Truth Machine did
Rating:
Summary: Simultaneously fascinating, moving, and chilling.
Review: This new novel imagines a future in which a brain scanning device can distinguish
perfectly between truth and falsehood. Although a mind boggling prospect, it's
one I've been asked about repeatedly during recent months in response to a
brain scanning study published by my colleagues and I that shows differences in
brain activity during true and false recognition. Readers might find it fascinating
to compare the current state of scientific research on brain scanning
(summarized in Searching for Memory) with Halperin's evocative fictional
depiction of the future possibilities. James Halperin has combined a visionary analysis of the future of brain
imaging technologies with a compelling and deeply human story. The
Truth Machine is simultaneously fascinating, moving, and chilling.
Anyone interested in where society is heading should read this book. --Professor Daniel L. Schacter,Chairman, Department of Psychology, Harvard University
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