Book review
I just finished reading "The Truth Machine," by James L. Halperin. I found it to be an intelligent, introspective, and enthralling read.
Written in the year 2050, by the (fictional) Intel 22g CP-TLMos reporting computer; it is a detailed "future history," recording the events, and history of the inventor of The Truth Machine. The Truth Machine is a lie detector that is 100% accurate. The inventor Randell Peterson Armstrong (Pete), is an incredibly gifted genius, with a photographic memory. A horrible experience when he was young forever alters the course of human history.
The book explores many aspects of politics, economics, and society in general; the first half of the book is a culmination of events that leads up to the final creation of the truth machine, is set in a world where violent crime is spiraling out of control, WODs are becoming more prevalent and portable, and governments even individuals who are inclined to use them. Fearing total destruction of the human race, the U.S. has initiated the "swift and sure" act; this legislation streamlined the legal system, advocated victims, and treated them fairly, but at the horrible cost of raising the punishment for violent crimes, and many related crimes, to death. I found the idea of the state killing 16,000 people a year as sickening, and the author did a good job of, although advocating, not overshadowing the social implications of such legislation.
Although swift and sure eventually reduced violent crime, the populace certainly questioned a system where as much as 5% of people being executed were potentially innocent of the crime. Thus the Truth Machine Bill was enacted, offering ridiculously lucrative government incentives to be the first company to build a 100% accurate truth machine, to the governments standards; one of which was that the creators, and CEO of the company had to say, while being monitored by the machine, that no crimes were committed to make that device. Pete already an advocate of the truth machine, and considered the smartest person alive, was considered the front-runner to invent the "device." The only problem was that right before its fruition, he is forced into a corner, and compromises the device.
There are many more topics covered in this book. Although I definitely do not agree with all the views, I have to say that some of the ideas are incredibly compelling. The book is thought provoking, in fact for the first time I found myself underlining quotes, dog earring pages, and marking paragraphs (something that I have never done before, and in a library book to boot!) The writing really is good, each chapter starts with tid-bits from that days (fictional, except for the first few chapters) news events, giving you a clear rooting in the global political, and social environment. It really reads like a well written biography, and immerses you in the events.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this book, it is a good read even if the implications don't interest you, but even better if they do; even though the Truth Machine's impact on the world is the focus of the book, it is by no means the only idea that is there, and I think that anyone can find something that they can identify with (and absolutely loath) as something that would definitely change the world for the better.
Written in the year 2050, by the (fictional) Intel 22g CP-TLMos reporting computer; it is a detailed "future history," recording the events, and history of the inventor of The Truth Machine. The Truth Machine is a lie detector that is 100% accurate. The inventor Randell Peterson Armstrong (Pete), is an incredibly gifted genius, with a photographic memory. A horrible experience when he was young forever alters the course of human history.
The book explores many aspects of politics, economics, and society in general; the first half of the book is a culmination of events that leads up to the final creation of the truth machine, is set in a world where violent crime is spiraling out of control, WODs are becoming more prevalent and portable, and governments even individuals who are inclined to use them. Fearing total destruction of the human race, the U.S. has initiated the "swift and sure" act; this legislation streamlined the legal system, advocated victims, and treated them fairly, but at the horrible cost of raising the punishment for violent crimes, and many related crimes, to death. I found the idea of the state killing 16,000 people a year as sickening, and the author did a good job of, although advocating, not overshadowing the social implications of such legislation.
Although swift and sure eventually reduced violent crime, the populace certainly questioned a system where as much as 5% of people being executed were potentially innocent of the crime. Thus the Truth Machine Bill was enacted, offering ridiculously lucrative government incentives to be the first company to build a 100% accurate truth machine, to the governments standards; one of which was that the creators, and CEO of the company had to say, while being monitored by the machine, that no crimes were committed to make that device. Pete already an advocate of the truth machine, and considered the smartest person alive, was considered the front-runner to invent the "device." The only problem was that right before its fruition, he is forced into a corner, and compromises the device.
There are many more topics covered in this book. Although I definitely do not agree with all the views, I have to say that some of the ideas are incredibly compelling. The book is thought provoking, in fact for the first time I found myself underlining quotes, dog earring pages, and marking paragraphs (something that I have never done before, and in a library book to boot!) The writing really is good, each chapter starts with tid-bits from that days (fictional, except for the first few chapters) news events, giving you a clear rooting in the global political, and social environment. It really reads like a well written biography, and immerses you in the events.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this book, it is a good read even if the implications don't interest you, but even better if they do; even though the Truth Machine's impact on the world is the focus of the book, it is by no means the only idea that is there, and I think that anyone can find something that they can identify with (and absolutely loath) as something that would definitely change the world for the better.