Why am I passionate about this?

I spent over forty years developing complex, software-intensive systems, and the Association of Computing Machinery honored me with the title of distinguished engineer. AI and robotics have been my main technical focus for the last 5 years. For the last couple of years, I have been binge-watching videos on advances in AI and robotics and binge-reading books on the topic. I am also a multi-award-winning author of science fiction novels and short stories. Most of the short stories in my coming book involve AI and robots.


I wrote...

A Cauldron of Uncanny Dreams

By Donald Firesmith,

Book cover of A Cauldron of Uncanny Dreams

What is my book about?

My book is a collection of uncanny short stories and poems that dare you to peer into the depths of…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the Twenty-first Century's Greatest Dilemma

Donald Firesmith Why did I love this book?

I loved this book because it is written by one of the foremost experts in AI, so I know I can trust the accuracy of the book’s technical aspects. Although written for a general audience so anyone can read it, the book nevertheless has a great deal of useful insights for engineers working in technology.

It clearly covers the critically important ramifications of today’s extremely rapid technical advancements being made, including safety and the alignment of an Artificial General Intelligence’s goals with those of humanity. It also comes with a clear set of definitions.

By Mustafa Suleyman, Michael Bhaskar,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Coming Wave as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

*An Economist, Financial Times, Guardian, Prospect and Sunday Times Book of the Year*
Shortlisted for the FT and Schroders Business Book of the Year

This is the only book you need to understand our new world - from the ultimate AI insider, the CEO of Microsoft AI and co-founder of the pioneering AI company DeepMind.

'Important' YUVAL NOAH HARARI
'Excellent' BILL GATES
'Astonishing' STEPHEN FRY
'Stunning' RORY STEWART

Soon you will live surrounded by AIs. In a world of quantum computers, robot assistants and abundant energy, they will organise your life, operate your business, and run government services.

None of…


Book cover of The Age of AI: And Our Human Future

Donald Firesmith Why did I love this book?

I loved this book because it provides a unique view of the ramifications of AI, including its impact on politics, international relations, and the military. While not a book one would use to learn the basics of the technology of artificial intelligence, it nevertheless provides a useful view of its important non-technical ramifications.

By Henry A. Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, Daniel Huttenlocher

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Age of AI as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Three of the world’s most accomplished and deep thinkers come together to explore Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the way it is transforming human society—and what this technology means for us all.

An AI learned to win chess by making moves human grand masters had never conceived. Another AI discovered a new antibiotic by analyzing molecular properties human scientists did not understand. Now, AI-powered jets are defeating experienced human pilots in simulated dogfights. AI is coming online in searching, streaming, medicine, education, and many other fields and, in so doing, transforming how humans are experiencing reality.

In The Age of AI,…


Book cover of Machines of Tomorrow: From AI Origins to Superintelligence & Posthumanity

Donald Firesmith Why did I love this book?

I really loved this book because of its wide breadth. If you are only going to read a single book on AI and its ramifications, this would be my top recommendation.

It covers everything from the history of artificial intelligence to what the short- and mid-term future will look like. This book provides a solid foundation to help you prepare for a future dominated by AIs and robots. 

By Pedro Uria-Recio,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Machines of Tomorrow as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Machines of Tomorrow offers a fascinating journey into the future of AI, providing a unique perspective that combines technology, economics, geopolitics, and history." — PASCAL BORNET, Technology Influencer, 2 million followers.

How AI Will Shape Our World.

Written in an easy-to-read style accessible to everyone, "Machines of Tomorrow" grounds the reader in a thorough history and description of Artificial Intelligence, enabling an appreciation of its real trajectory and ultimately a deeper level of engagement with the core concept of the book: what should societies expect from AI in the coming decades?

How does AI truly function? How will AI affect…


Book cover of The Fourth Age: Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity

Donald Firesmith Why did I love this book?

I really liked this book because, besides covering the potential ramifications of AI and robots, it also provides interesting insights explaining why different people hold radically different views on how they will affect the future.

While I don’t agree with all the author’s statements, it nevertheless provides much to consider.

By Byron Reese,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Fourth Age as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

As we approach a great turning point in history when technology is poised to redefine what it means to be human, The Fourth Age offers fascinating insight into AI, robotics, and their extraordinary implications for our species. "If you only read just one book about the AI revolution, make it this one" (John Mackey, cofounder and CEO, Whole Foods Market).

In The Fourth Age, Byron Reese makes the case that technology has reshaped humanity just three times in history: 100,000 years ago, we harnessed fire, which led to language; 10,000 years ago, we developed agriculture, which led to cities and…


Book cover of AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future

Donald Firesmith Why did I love this book?

As an author of science fiction, I loved this book because each chapter included a brief science fiction short story illustrating the chapter’s subject. This is another very-readable book for non-technical people interested in what the future of AI will be like.

The book estimates when various ramifications of AI will occur, but the field is advancing at an accelerating rate, so the dates need to be taken with a grain of salt.

By Kai-Fu Lee, Chen Qiufan,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked AI 2041 as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A WALL STREET JOURNAL, WASHINGTON POST, AND FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

In this ground-breaking blend of imaginative storytelling and scientific forecasting, a pioneering AI expert and a leading writer of speculative fiction join forces to answer an imperative question: How will artificial intelligence change our world within twenty years?

AI will be the defining development of the twenty-first century. Within two decades, aspects of daily human life will be unrecognizable. AI will generate unprecedented wealth, revolutionize medicine and education through human-machine symbiosis, and create brand new forms of communication and entertainment. In liberating us from routine work,…


Explore my book 😀

A Cauldron of Uncanny Dreams

By Donald Firesmith,

Book cover of A Cauldron of Uncanny Dreams

What is my book about?

My book is a collection of uncanny short stories and poems that dare you to peer into the depths of the night and uncover what lies beyond the veil. Each tale conjures a portal to the macabre and the marvelous, destined to haunt your dreams and ignite your imagination.

Designed to be devoured late at night and preferably in solitude, this book is a masterful concoction of fear, suspense, and the utterly unexpected. Take a sip of this strange brew and be prepared to be enthralled, enchanted, and occasionally terrified. Whether you like ghosts, vampires, demons, or voodoo, this book is for you.

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Uniting the States of America: A Self-Care Plan for a Wounded Nation

By Lyle Greenfield,

Book cover of Uniting the States of America: A Self-Care Plan for a Wounded Nation

Lyle Greenfield Author Of Uniting the States of America: A Self-Care Plan for a Wounded Nation

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always been fascinated by group dynamics, large and small. Why things functioned well, why they didn’t. It’s possible my ability to empathize and use humor as a consensus-builder is the reason I was elected president of a homeowners association, a music production association, and even an agricultural group. Books were not particularly involved in this fascination! But in recent years, experiencing the breakdown of civility and trust in our political and cultural discourse, I’ve taken a more analytical view of the dynamics. These books, in their very different ways, have taught me lessons about life, understanding those with different beliefs, and finding ways to connect and move forward. 

Lyle's book list on restoring your belief in human possibility

What is my book about?

We’ve all experienced the overwhelming level of political and social divisiveness in our country. This invisible “virus” of negativity is, in part, the result of the name-calling and heated rhetoric that has become commonplace among commentators and elected leaders alike. 

My book provides a clear perspective on the historical and modern-day causes of our nation's divisive state. It then proposes easy-to-understand solutions—an action plan for our elected leaders and citizens as well. Rather than a scholarly treatment of a complex topic, the book challenges us to take the obvious steps required of those living in a free democracy. And it…

Uniting the States of America: A Self-Care Plan for a Wounded Nation

By Lyle Greenfield,

What is this book about?

Lyle Greenfield's "Uniting the States of America―A Self-Care Plan for a Wounded Nation" is a work of nonfiction and opinion. Incorporating the lessons of history and the ideas and wisdom of many, it is intended as both an educational resource and a call-to-action for citizens concerned about the politically and culturally divided state of our Union. A situation that has raised alarm for the very future of our democracy.

First, the book clearly identifies the causes of what has become a national crisis of belief in and love for our country. How the divisiveness and hostility rampant in our political…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in technology, artificial intelligence, and robots?

Technology 128 books
Robots 100 books