Flesh and machines - Rodney Allen Brooks

From the director of the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory-"a stimulating book written by one of the major players in the field-perhaps the major player.... Offers surprisingly deep glimpses into what it is to be human" (The New York Times Book Review).

Are we really on the brink of having robots to mop our floors, do our dishes, mow
our lawns, and clean our windows? And are researchers that close to creating robots
that can think, feel, repair themselves, and even reproduce?

Rodney A. Brooks believes we are. In this lucid
and accessible book, Brooks vividly depicts the history of robots and explores the
ever-changing relationships between humans and their technological brethren, speculating
on the growing role that robots will play in our existence. Knowing the moral battle
likely to ensue, he posits a clear philosophical argument as to why we should not
fear that change. What results is a fascinating book that offers a deeper understanding
of who we are and how we can control what we will become.