Over the ten years I’ve been writing my WOW blogposts – weekly, until last May, but only sporadically since then – I’ve written dozens of reviews of books I thought WOW readers would appreciate reading as much as I had. These reviews were mostly gentle nudges, sometimes strong suggestions, to read books I’d loved, for whatever reasons I loved them — the way book-loving friends share book suggestions among themselves all the time.
This time, in this review, I’ll need to do more than nudge and suggest, I think. I’ll have to add a bit more pressure, because the subject of this book, artificial intelligence, known by all as A.I., is not necessarily of interest to my WOW readers, who are mainly older women about my age. I know this because my last two blogposts, “Meanwhile” (11/29), and “Stardust to Stardust” (12/12), on the subject of A.I. received so few views.
But bear with me now, please, because this book, THE COMING WAVE, by Mustafa Suleyman, may be the most important book you’ll read in 2025:
So if you have a New Year’s Resolutions list, please add getting and reading this book to it. And if you don’t have such a list, make a resolution to read this book anyway.
As I mentioned in “Meanwhile” (https://blog.bonnieleeblack.com/meanwhile/ ), I set a goal for myself some weeks ago to read four reputable books on the subject of A.I. and treat this list as if it were on a syllabus for a college course. My aim was not to become an expert on A.I. – I’ll never be that — but rather a better informed citizen of the world I still live in.
I’ve just finished reading all four books – James Barrat’s OUR FINAL INVENTION, Henry Kissinger’s THE AGE OF A.I., Alejandro Diego’s THE UNSEEN DANGERS OF A.I.’S UNSTOPPABLE RISE, and now Suleyman’s THE COMING WAVE. Of these four excellent books that I’d chosen for this personal course of study out of the many books now available on the subject, Suleyman’s is the one I’d recommend the highest.
In fact, if I were still teaching Creative Nonfiction Writing at the college level, I would assign THE COMING WAVE to all of my students to read and report on. Why? Because Suleyman has managed to achieve the almost impossible: He’s taken the highly technical, mind-boggling, and unnerving topic of A.I.’s existence, acceleration, benefits, and risks and made it all not only clearly accessible to the layperson (such as myself) but also page-turningly compelling.
His writing sparkles. His storytelling skills – in painting true, human stories of technology’s inexorable advancement through the ages – are gripping. His scope is wide and comprehensive. His tone is consistently reasonable and calm, never alarmist or preachy. He places A.I. as a technological phenomenon in a grand historical context; he looks at it from all angles – past, present, and future; and he offers his best thoughts on ways the immense risks of it might be averted.
Oxford-educated Mustafa Suleyman, now only forty years old, is perfectly positioned to teach us about A.I. In 2023 and 2024 he was named by Time magazine as one of the most influential people in the world in artificial intelligence.
The eldest son of a Syrian father and English mother, he was born and raised in London and became an artificial intelligence entrepreneur in his mid-twenties. Now EVP and CEO of Microsoft A.I., he was the co-founder and former head of applied A.I. at DeepMind, an A.I. company acquired by Google. After leaving DeepMind, he co-founded Inflection A.I., a machine learning and generative A.I. company in 2022.
As he clearly states in the beginning of THE COMING WAVE, “I love technology. It’s been the engine of progress and a cause for us to be proud and excited about humanity’s achievements. But I also believe that those of us driving technology’s creation must have the courage to predict – and take responsibility for – where it might take us in decades to come.”
We’re living at a time when unprecedented opportunities could well be matched by unprecedented risks, he points out. “As the technology has progressed over the years,” he says, “my concerns have grown. What if the wave is actually a tsunami?”
Yes, yes, I know what you may be thinking: This wave, this possible tsunami, will likely hit after I’ve left this mortal coil, so I don’t have to add it to my long list of worries right now. There’s so much else to worry about in this crazy, swirling world! Maybe so. But if we have children or grandchildren – or know people who do – we need to be aware of and concerned about the coming wave destined to hit humanity in the not-too-distant future. And the best way, I feel, to become better aware is to read this book in this new year; in fact, the sooner the better.
Unlike the other books on the subject I’ve read, which speak optimistically – or skeptically – about the possibility of containment and leave it there, Suleyman’s book gives a deeply thought-through ten-point outline at the end on HOW this containment might be achieved. He believes in being realistic, clear-eyed, and proactive:
“People often ask me,” he says, “given all this, why work in A.I. and build A.I. companies and tools? Aside from the huge positive contribution they can make, my answer is that I don’t just want to talk about and debate containment. I want to proactively help make it happen, on the front foot, ahead of where the technology is going. Containment needs technologists utterly focused on making it a reality.”
So here’s an idea: After you’ve read this book and you’re fully inspired to act, why not encourage your grandchildren (or friends’ grandchildren) to pursue careers in A.I. containment? There are not enough of these specialists, Suleyman says. That would be a good place to begin, I feel.
“The closer you are to a technology’s beating heart,” Suleyman says, “the more you can affect outcomes, steer it in more positive directions, and block harmful applications.” Fundamentally, though, he says, “neither technologists nor governments will solve this problem alone. But together we all might.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m delighted to retire my bent and battered SMA 2024 calendar – so symbolic of this year just passed — and replace it with this big, brand new, clean, shiny 2025 calendar I have in my hand. Twenty-twenty-five will be a challenging year, no doubt about it, but we must all resolve to work to make good things happen in it.
HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!
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OK, you convinced me! I just ordered The Coming Wave from Amazon! Have you read anything by George Packer?
Yay, Carol dear! I think I’ll keep track of WOW readers who promise to read it! You are number two (so far). Please let me know what you think after you’ve read it. To answer your question, I haven’t read anything by George Packer in recent memory. Happy New Year to you. I hope you’re doing well. — xx
I’ve just added my name to the waiting list at my local library for The Coming Wave. It’s not a topic that I’d typically gravitate to, but your recommendation carrries great weight. Over the years, you’ve only disappointed once. At Peace and The Soul of a Woman more than made of up for Mother Land! Best wishes for a wonderful 2025.
Thanks so much, Joanne. I’ve been trying to recall Mother Land… Ah, yes, Paul Theroux’s novel based on his own mother! Sorry you didn’t care for it. But I’m sure you’ll appreciate Suleyman’s book. Let me know! Happy New Year!
BonnieDear, I so admire your curiosity and your will. I forwarded your post to Ellie’s partner, Connor, who is tech brilliant and could probably qualify as one who might work to find ways to control it. You actually made me want to read this book! xoxo ~ Be
Thanks, BeDear! I’m sure Connor has heard good things about Suleyman and his book. Maybe he’s already read it? And I hope YOU read it so we can discuss it, as if we were in class… — Happy New Year to you and Mikey.
May the new calendar be a year full of wonderful events!
Will look for the book. Though…AI containment? Hmmm…Feliz 2025, la Bonnie!
Yes, Te, well, vamos a ver re containment. But if lots of people follow Suleyman’s suggestions, it’ll be much more doable! Feliz ano to you and Gary.
Happy New Year, Bonnie! Thanks for the book recommendation! I’m going to visit my dad in MX and will read it while down there.
What fun, Molly! I hope you two will be visiting San Miguel too. I’d love to see you both. Happy New Year to you and your whole family.
I’ll definitely read the book.
Happy New Year to you, Bonnie!
Wonderful! And Happy New Year to you, too, dear Helen.
I like your attitude, face the AI challenges head on, understand and perhaps we can contain and keep the best of it. And may 2025 with it’s very obvious challenges be met head on too. That’s really all we can do in the end.
Happy New Year!
Yes, dear Theresa — plough ahead! That’s all we can do, really, isn’t it? Happy New Challenging Year!
Thank you, thank you. The book recommendation complete with the book’s cover photo and calendar images is simply a perfect post for the beginning. …. of a new year and likely a new era. The post makes me feel part of a bigger effort, hopeful there can be a good future. You are awesome!
What a wonderful way to start my day this morning, Marie, by reading your new comment! Thank YOU! Yes, a new year — and a new era. Well said. I’m so glad this post spoke to you. Happy New Year to you!
Bonnie, you continue to be a role model on how to live a good life. You are impressive with your self prescribed college courses and then sharing your wisdom. I am grateful to know you. I will order and read this book because you recommend it!
Ah, dear Karen, thank you for your kind words! I look forward to discussing THE COMING WAVE with you after you’ve read it. I’m sure you’ll really appreciate it. Happy New Year! — BB
You are right, AI seems so far from my understanding that I wouldn’t naturally choose to read more about it. Thanks for your book review. “The Coming Wave” looks like a good place to start.
Paula, I’m so happy to hear this! I know I’d been high-tech averse for far too long. Suleyman’s book has been an especially clear and rich education for me. I’m sure you’ll feel similarly. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, Bonnie! I love everything your write. And miss you! Cherie
I miss you too, cherie Cherie! When are you coming to visit? Happy New Year to you and your whole family. — BB xx
What a good way to bgein a new year in troubled times, reading The Coming Wave and hopefully discussing it with you.
You remian a light to follow with your keen mind and great compassion for humankind.
Sending you love and hopes for a humane loving healthy 2025.JJ
What a fine way to bgein a new year in troubled times, reading The Coming Wave and hopefully discussing it with you.
You remain a light to follow with your keen mind and great compassion for humankind.
Sending you love and hopes for a humane loving healthy 2025.JJ xoxox
Thank you, dear Judith, for these kind words. Yes, I wish the same for you in 2025. And I look forward to discussing THE COMING WAVE with you over lunch soon. — BB
Dear amiga, Bonnie,
You are a marvel of inspiration. I’ve recently been thinking, and worrying a lot about AI. Your suggestion for a “good (and important) read”comes at the perfect time. My library book club is making up their year’s monthly choices and I will ask them to add Suleyman’s The Coming Wave.
Sending Buen Ano Nuevo good wishes to you with love and friendship! We’ll be in SMA Jan. 9 to 15th, so please let’s make a date to get together!
Querida Sher — How wonderful that you’ll be back here soon! I’ll mark my shiny, new 2025 calendar and look forward to getting together and catching up.Thank you for suggesting Suleyman’s book to your library club. Happy New Year to you and yours!