The Future of the Mind

The Scientific Quest to Understand, Enhance, and Empower the Mind

By: Michio Kaku

Narrated by: Feodor Chin

Length: 15 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

The New York Times best-selling author of Physics of the Impossible, Physics of the Future and Hyperspace tackles the most fascinating and complex object in the known universe: the human brain.

For the first time in history, the secrets of the living brain are being revealed by a battery of high-tech brain scans devised by physicists. Now what was once solely the province of science fiction has become a startling reality. Recording memories, telepathy, videotaping our dreams, mind control, avatars, and telekinesis are not only possible; they already exist.

The Future of the Mind gives us an authoritative and compelling look at the astonishing research being done in top laboratories around the world - all based on the latest advancements in neuroscience and physics. One day we might have a "smart pill" that can enhance our cognition; be able to upload our brain to a computer, neuron for neuron; send thoughts and emotions around the world on a "brain-net"; control computers and robots with our mind; push the very limits of immortality; and perhaps even send our consciousness across the universe.

Dr. Kaku takes us on a grand tour of what the future might hold, giving us not only a solid sense of how the brain functions but also how these technologies will change our daily lives. He even presents a radically new way to think about "consciousness" and applies it to provide fresh insight into mental illness, artificial intelligence and alien consciousness.

With Dr. Kaku's deep understanding of modern science and keen eye for future developments, The Future of the Mind is a scientific tour de force - an extraordinary, mind-boggling exploration of the frontiers of neuroscience.

©2014 Michio Kaku (P)2014 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"In this expansive, illuminating journey through the mind, theoretical physicist Kaku ( Physics of the Future) explores fantastical realms of science fiction that may soon become our reality. His futurist framework merges physics with neuroscience...applied to demonstrations that ‘show proof-of-principle’ in accomplishing what was previously fictional: That minds can be read, memories can be digitally stored, and intelligences can be improved to great extents. The discussion, while heavily scientific, is engaging, clear, and replete with cinematic references.... These new mental frontiers make for captivating reading." ( Publishers Weekly )

"Kaku turns his attention to the human mind with equally satisfying results…. Telepathy is no longer a fantasy since scanners can already detect, if crudely, what a subject is thinking, and genetics and biochemistry now allow researchers to alter memories and increase intelligence in animals. Direct electrical stimulation of distinct brain regions has changed behavior, awakened comatose patients, relieved depression, and produced out-of-body and religious experiences…. Kaku is not shy about quoting science-fiction movies and TV (he has seen them all)… he delivers ingenious predictions extrapolated from good research already in progress." ( Kirkus Reviews)

"Chin tells the story of the popularization of brain science with an up-tempo, keeping the listener's interest in the dense material.... This is an excellent attempt at bringing academic research to the layperson in audio format." ( AudioFile)

Robotic, Monotonous, Long Winded

What did you like best about The Future of the Mind? What did you like least?

Interesting thoughts about the mind

What was most disappointing about Michio Kaku’s story?

It was a struggle to get through. The narration was absolutely terrible. Zero emotion.

Would you be willing to try another one of Feodor Chin’s performances?

No

Did The Future of the Mind inspire you to do anything?

No

Any additional comments?

I like Michio Kaku in interviews better than in text. Perhaps if the narration was better I would've enjoyed this more.

Too blue sky

Too blue sky to be of much value for someone who wants to learn about the short term future of brain science.

Physicists should stick to physics!

I have read several books by dr. Michio Kaku, which are dedicated to explaining physics and astronomy to those who have an interest in science and some background in science but not in physics or astronomy. doctor Kaku that's a great job in those books in bringing the fields of science with which he is familiar to life. In the book "Future of the Mind" he speaks with authority on issues that he is not familiar. gives a simplistic View that all of science can be boiled down to physics and Mathematics. this disregards decades a research done by dedicated basic science investigators and clinical neuroscientists. his attempt to make the Neuroscience of the brain simple ends up being far too simplistic. he gives grossly oversimplified views of the brain and its function. for example promoting the myth that dopamine is the "pleasure chemical" when dopamine is simply a neurotransmitter in certain Pathways in the brain having to do with pleasure. it is the neuro pathway not the neurotransmitter that gives the function. for example neurons in the midbrain that use dopamine as a neurotransmitter promote and modulate motor activity. it is extremely well-known and well-established that when these dopamine neurons progressively die off oh, the result is Parkinson disease. the abnormality is motor dysfunction with slow movements and tremor. This is because the neural pathway is a motor pathway . replacing the dopamine by way of its precursor levodopa ( a classical anti Parkinson drug) will improve the Tremor and abnormal movements. It is not the neurotransmitter in this case dopamine that determines the function but the actual connection of the neurons and neural pathways. The analogy would be, note that if a flashlight uses double AA batteries, then double a batteries must therefore be "flashlight specific". We of course recognize that you can take the same batteries out of the flashlight and put them in a portable radio it also takes double a batteries and the radio will work just fine. just like dopamine can work in many different functions in the brain depending upon what neural pathways are being utilized at the time. dopamine is neither motor function specific nor pleasure specific. it depends upon the neural Pathways not the neurotransmitter. therefore the concept of dopamine as the"pleasure chemical" is grossly oversimplified in simply inaccurate. Doctor Kaku's book is, unfortunately full of such oversimplification. In general, I think the doctor Kaku is contribution to the scientific literature is remarkable, when he writes on subjects that he is familiar with, I cannot as a clinical neurologist recommend this book Because of its many misleading statements. doctor Kaku please return to physics and astronomy.

different narrator would be nice

The content of the book was outstanding, Michio Kaku is always a good read/listen/lecturer. The narrator could use some personality. Just didn't have what it takes to narrate Dr. Kaku.

A great book

I recommend this book.
The future of the mind is an awesome book. Michio Kaku a professor of theoretical physics. I've been very interested in his work for about a year now. This book will broaden your mind and question everything.

for the lay man

Michio Kaku does a great job of exlaining all the leading theories and methods involved with understanding the universe that is our brain and consciosness. Although he himself does not go deep into his own theories, he offers a plethora of commentaries about the advancemnet of brain science and the future of the human specie based upon the knowledge and exeriences he has amassed over the years. I'll be reading The Singularity is Near next, a highly imaginitive yet technical preview of the future of humanity.

Mind blown

This was well invested time. The concepts and subject matter explored blew my mind. Very inspiring.

Thinking, the Brain, and Thinking about the Brain

What made the experience of listening to The Future of the Mind the most enjoyable?

This book was a wonderful way to explore the mind and all the little things that make our minds what they are. It will make you think about thinking and your thought of thinking will make your thoughts be all about thinking. That sums up what this book makes you feel, or really think.

What did you like best about this story?

I like the way Dr. Kaku can explain the most complex theories of the mind in a way anyone can understand. The story was good in the fact it built up your knowledge before diving into the weeds. Therefore, he makes it a pleasure to learn and the story definitely makes you think outside of the norm.

Have you listened to any of Feodor Chin’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

It is always a pleasure to hear him speak. I have listened to him on the last Dr. Kaku Book, "Physics of the Future".

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The brain vs the mind

Any additional comments?

If you want to figure out how your brain works; there is no better book to listen to.

Excellent

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I felt like it was written just for me leading me to appreciate not just the author but also all the many people out there that share similar interests and for which the author has so adequately fed the passions thereof. I plan to reread this book again in the future.

very entertaining. fun book

love it!. will need to listen to it again. highly recommend if you love learning