History & Culture

Today's "machine-learning" systems, trained by data, are so effective that we've invited them to see and hear for us - and to make decisions on our behalf. But alarm bells are ringing. Systems cull résumés until, years later, we discover that they have inherent gender biases.

With nearly two decades of experience as a serial entrepreneur, author, and investor, Rob Walling is one of the world's leading experts in SaaS. In this audiobook, he shares little-known strategies that have been battle-tested by some of today's most successful founders....

This program includes an introduction read by the author. No recent scientific enterprise has proved as alluring, terrifying, and filled with extravagant promise and frustrating setbacks as artificial intelligence. The award-winning author Melanie Mitchell, a leading computer scientist, now...

Ignition! is the inside story of the Cold War era search for a rocket propellant which could be trusted to take man into space. A favorite of Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, listeners will want to tune into this "really good book on rocket[s]," available for the first time in audio. Ignition!...

This audiobook narrated by Landon Woodson reveals what you need to know about AI—and how to defend yourself against bogus AI claims and products.

Premonitions are impossible. But they come true all the time. Most are innocent. You think of a forgotten friend. Out of the blue, they call....

Compelling and incisive, Autocracy 2.0 is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand China's meteoric rise and how today's autocrats are reshaping the technological frontier, governance, and the global balance of power.

From an acclaimed Wall Street Journal reporter comes the first biography of the enigmatic leader of the AI revolution, charting his ascent within the tech world as well as his ambitions for this powerful new technology.

A New York Times Bestseller From one of our leading technology thinkers and writers, a guide through the twelve technological imperatives that will shape the next thirty years and transform our lives Much of what will happen in the next thirty years is inevitable, driven by technological trends...

In April 1956, a refitted oil tanker carried 58 shipping containers from Newark to Houston....

In this unique guide, you’re not just hearing about innovation—you're learning how to do it from the people behind some of the biggest breakthroughs of the last 50 years at one of the most influential and valuable companies in the world.

Well, the future’s arrived. We live in a continuous now enabled by Twitter, email, and a so-called real-time technological shift....

In Cyber Crisis, Eric Cole gives listeners a clear-eyed picture of the information war raging in cyberspace. Drawing on 30 years of experience, Cole offers practical, actionable advice that even those with little technical background can implement....

What happens when artificial intelligence moves into your home, drives your car, and starts making your decisions? Wall Street Journal senior tech columnist Joanna Stern surrendered her life to artificial intelligence for one year. The results are both hilarious and alarming. We’ve all heard...

Audio Bonus! Includes exclusive conversations with the authors! From the New York Times bestselling authors of Abundance and Bold comes a practical playbook for technological convergence in our modern era. In their book Abundance, bestselling authors and futurists Peter Diamandis and Steven...

New technologies are offering companies, politicians, and others unprecedented opportunity to manipulate us. Sometimes we are given the illusion of power—of freedom—through choice, yet the game is rigged, pushing us in specific directions that lead to less wealth, worse health, and weaker democracy.

2015 Audie Award Finalist for Nonfiction Following his blockbuster biography of Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson’s New York Times bestselling and critically acclaimed The Innovators is a “riveting, propulsive, and at times deeply moving” (The Atlantic) story of the people who created the...

Steven Levy's classic book traces the exploits of the computer revolution's original hackers - those brilliant and eccentric nerds from the late 1950s through the early '80s who took risks....

In Understanding Artificial Intelligence: Of Minds and Machines, philosopher Patrick Grim traces the story of AI from ancient legends to the neural networks behind today’s breakthroughs. You see how modern systems became so powerful so quickly.

Slate, "25 Best Crime Books, Podcasts, and Documentaries of All Time" Vanity Fair’s “Books We Can't Stop Thinking About” Carnegie Medal Nonfiction Longlist 2023 The Washington Post Best Non-Fiction Books of 2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books 2022 Kirkus Best Non-Fiction Books of 2022 Slate...

A new field of collective intelligence has emerged in the last few years, prompted by a wave of digital technologies that make it possible for organizations and societies to think at large scale....

Software was supposed to radically improve society. Yet in practice, few of the systems we looked to with such high hopes have lived up to their fundamental mandate. In fact, in too many cases they've made things worse. How did we get to this point?

The answer to our contemporary chaos is to practice a rule of life that aligns our habits to our beliefs. The Common Rule offers four daily and four weekly habits, designed to help us create new routines and transform frazzled days into lives of love for God and neighbor....

National security strategist and former FBI counterintelligence operative Eric O’Neill exposes how nefarious cybercriminals relentlessly attempt to access your data and wallet, and arms you with his proven tactics for spotting and neutralizing cyberthreats to protect yourself, your family, and...

Be online without leaving a trace. Your every step online is being tracked and stored, and your identity literally stolen. Big companies and big governments want to know and exploit what you do, and privacy is a luxury few can afford or understand. In this explosive yet practical book, Kevin...

In Understanding Artificial Intelligence: Of Minds and Machines, philosopher Patrick Grim traces the story of AI from ancient legends to the neural networks behind today’s breakthroughs. You see how modern systems became so powerful so quickly. You also explore the very meaning of “intelligence,” discovering how modern AI succeeds by drawing on three resources: vast datasets that let systems learn from examples; deep-learning architectures loosely modeled on the brain’s layers; and feedback loops that help models refine their behavior.

Coexisting with AI: Work, Love, and Play in a Changing World is an exploration of how AI can be used at each stage of our lives. It helps listeners understand the positive impact of AI and where governance is needed from both an individual and business perspective. From childhood through to aging, this book delivers a holistic understanding of this exciting new technology in language that anyone can understand regardless of technical expertise.

This comprehensive book by Dr. Amdy Diene examines the complex relationship between digital technology and human well-being in the modern era. Published in 2024, the work provides an evidence-based exploration of how smartphones and social media affect physical, mental, and social health while offering practical strategies for maintaining digital wellness.

Rigorously empirical and rich in historical insight, The Sentinel State is a singular contribution to our knowledge about Chinese state coercion and, more generally, the survival strategies of authoritarian regimes.

A Financial Times Best Book of the Year A groundbreaking exploration of the shifting landscape of technological innovation and how it has transformed into a global phenomenon, challenging the traditional dominance of Silicon Valley. The US is the source of just about all the technologies that...

In an era where machines compose poetry and algorithms mimic emotion, Machines Coming for Our Souls explores the fragile line between human creativity and artificial intelligence. Alexander Joseph Alfano examines the spiritual and artistic upheaval caused by technology’s intrusion into the sacred act of creation. Through eloquent prose and philosophical insight, the book asks whether authenticity can survive in a world where imagination is automated and originality is replicated.

Voices for Justice is an educational guide to digital citizenship, media literacy, and peaceful civic engagement in the modern internet age. In a world where headlines spread faster than facts, this book helps listeners understand how online narratives form, how reputations can be shaped overnight, and how ordinary people can respond responsibly—without hate, harassment, or misinformation.

Communication has always been at the heart of human progress. From smoke signals on mountaintops to the invisible Wi-Fi networks that surround us today, every leap forward has reshaped how we share ideas, stay safe, build relationships, and understand the world. From Morse Code to Wi-Fi is a clear, captivating journey through the ten biggest breakthroughs that transformed human connection forever.

Unlock the power of artificial intelligence with Writing AI Prompts for Beginners—a comprehensive, hands-on guide that transforms curious learners into confident AI users. Whether you're looking to craft compelling text, generate striking visuals, brainstorm innovative ideas, or accelerate your learning, this book shows you how to do it all with well-crafted prompts. From understanding what a prompt is and why it matters, to mastering creative applications and real-world problem-solving, this guide covers every aspect of prompt engineering.

Dive into the pulsating heart of tomorrow's world with Digital Odyssey: Navigating the Future of Innovation. This insightful guide plunges listeners into the whirlwind of groundbreaking technology that is reshaping our reality. From the rise of artificial intelligence and blockchain to the future of 5G and beyond, this book serves as a compass for those eager to explore the uncharted territories of innovation. Penned by leading tech experts, it blends profound analysis with captivating narratives, making complex concepts accessible to both tech aficionados and novices.