Brydan, David

We encounter the idea of intelligence everywhere in our modern lives. Parents are told that their children will grow up smart if they are made to listen to Mozart, play with the right toys, and eat the healthiest foods. Schools plunge everyone into the ruthless world of testing and academic competition. Those who attend the right universities are likely to earn vastly more over their lifetimes than those who found education a struggle. We are told repeatedly that some of the richest and most successful people in society – tech pioneers, CEOs or financial wizards – are rich and successful precisely because they’re so smart. And we now have to worry about the impact of artificial intelligence on our jobs, our societies, and the very survival of our species. This book draws on science, politics, and popular culture to uncover the stories of the people and projects that built the idea of modern intelligence.