Beyond Boundaries cover art

Beyond Boundaries

The New Neuroscience of Connecting Brains with Machines---and How It Will ChangeOur Lives

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Beyond Boundaries

By: Miguel Nicolelis
Narrated by: Patrick Egan
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About this listen

 A pioneering neuroscientist shows how the long-sought merger of brains with machines is about to become a paradigm-shifting reality.

Imagine living in a world where people use their computers, drive their cars, and communicate with one another simply by thinking. In this stunning and inspiring work, Duke University neuroscientist Miguel Nicolelis shares his revolutionary insights into how the brain creates thought and the human sense of self—and how this might be augmented by machines, so that the entire universe will be within our reach.

Beyond Boundaries draws on Nicolelis's ground-breaking research with monkeys that he taught to control the movements of a robot located halfway around the globe by using brain signals alone. Nicolelis's work with primates has uncovered a new method for capturing brain function—by recording rich neuronal symphonies rather than the activity of single neurons. His lab is now paving the way for a new treatment for Parkinson's, silk-thin exoskeletons to grant mobility to the paralyzed, and breathtaking leaps in space exploration, global communication, manufacturing, and more.

Beyond Boundaries promises to reshape our concept of the technological future, to a world filled with promise and hope. Biological Sciences Biotechnology History & Culture Neuroscience & Neuropsychology Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Science

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All stars
Most relevant
It is a fascinating topic and there are very engaging parts of the book but overall it becomes bogged down in details making it a little laborious for the ordinary listener.

interesting but....

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Would you try another book written by Miguel Nicolelis or narrated by Patrick Egan?

I would absolutely try another book written by Miguel Nicolelis or narrated by Patrick Egan - especaially if Dr. Nicolelis who is a splendind storyteller and has been involved in breathtaking neuroscience research would tune down the drawn out anectdotes and ceaseless soccer-parrallels.

What other book might you compare Beyond Boundaries to, and why?

"Beyond Boundaries" have great things in common with neuroscience classics like Pinker's "How The Mind Works" and Damasio's "Descartes' error", mixing vivid case stories with his own scientific thinking.

What does Patrick Egan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Egan has a comforting voice, and genuinely sounds like he's telling his own science stories.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

Well...hm... there is stuff for several almost sci-fi movies in this non-fiction book. Sure, I'd go see a movie based on it.

Any additional comments?

The only snag is, that this book is too long. Dr. Nicolelis is doing an admirable job of trying to soften up the difficult scientific content with anecdotes and real-world examples (notably drawn from soccer when trying to explain complex systems dynamics), but he shoots way over the proverbial goal. The book would have been better if edited down by at least 25%. I'm pursuing a phd with strong neuroscience components, and even I couldn't finish it, but had to take it up several times.

Very, very long.... but great scientific content

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Nicolelis is not a futurist. He is part of the future. I have been following his research since the 90's.



It just incredible to have the opportunity to get into ideas that a scientist's mind is getting while doing cutting edge science. He is not just a hardcore researcher, but also a visionary. He is not just dreaming the future, he is building it.

Welcome to the future

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