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Eric Drexler

Engines of creation

Sometimes the pace of technological change might seem to overwhelm us - but for nanotechnology there has been plenty of time to get used to the concept. Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology, written nearly 20 years ago, is Eric Drexler's classic work on the promises and dangers of this technology.

Drexler explains how it is certainly possible to build molecular sized machines - our cells do so all the time. When we are able to control machines on this scale it will make possible a huge range of new products - for instance much lighter and stronger materials, leading to new possibilities in space travel. They will also be able to act within our bodies, curing diseases and leading to the possibility of extending our lives greatly.

Of course there are dangers to this technology, and Drexler spends much of the book discussing them. They would give any nation overwhelming power, and so we must hope that we have a responsible world order before such technology comes to pass.

The most interesting thing about reading a book like this is to see how the passage of 20 years has affected its message. In one chapter Drexler desscribes a network very much like the WWW, and one sees what hopes have been fulfilled and what has turned out differently. It's not really a book offering specific predictions about nanotechnology though, its would be more suited to those readers looking for a discussion of futuristic ideas in general.

Note: This book can be read online for free

Amazon.com info

Paperback 320 pages
ISBN: 0385199732
Salesrank: 31090
Weight:0.6 lbs

Published: 1987 Anchor

Amazon price $10.17

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Amazon.co.uk info

Paperback 320 pages
ISBN: 0385199732
Salesrank: 83102
Weight:0.6 lbs

Published: 1987 Non Basic Stock Line

Amazon price £13.95

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Amazon.ca info

Paperback 320 pages
ISBN: 0385199732
Salesrank: 97747
Weight:0.6 lbs

Published: 1987 Anchor

Amazon price CDN$ 15.33

Marketplace:New from CDN$ 7.38:Used from CDN$ 1.96

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Product Description
This brilliant work heralds the new age of nanotechnology, which will give us thorough and inexpensive control of the structure of matter. Drexler examines the enormous implications of these developments for medicine, the economy, and the environment, and makes astounding yet well-founded projections for the future.

Product Description

This brilliant work heralds the new age of nanotechnology, which will give us thorough and inexpensive control of the structure of matter. Drexler examines the enormous implications of these developments for medicine, the economy, and the environment, and makes astounding yet well-founded projections for the future.

Engines of nanotechnology *****
I was actually expecting that this book would fulfill my expectations, on account of a large number of citations I've seen. It's absolutely prerequisite lecture to anyone who's interested in the nano perspectives.

Engines of nanotechnology *****

I was actually expecting that this book would fulfill my expectations, on account of a large number of citations I've seen. It's absolutely prerequisite lecture to anyone who's interested in the nano perspectives.

Watershed book on the transhumanist movement ****
Engines of Creation describes the foundations of and the issues surrounding humankind's increasing potential for building molecular machines. (Indeed as we stand here on the verge of 2008, notable accomplishments in nanotechnology continue to be made.) Drexler's "starter kit" comprises what he calls "universal assemblers," which are nanomachines designed for a simple task, such as replacing defective genetic links with healthful ones or bonding one cellular structure to another. ...I'm impressed with what the author and his peers have deeply pondered on preventing nanotechnological disasters, either from accident or from conscious intention of some malefactor. When one realizes a technology that can terraform planets can also readily destroy them... and us, one becomes a bit careful in how the technology is handled. The entire Part 3 of Drexler's book, "Engines of Destruction," is devoted to this issue. ... For my complete review of this book and for other book and movie reviews, please visit my site [...] Brian Wright Copyright 2007

Watershed book on the transhumanist movement ****

Engines of Creation describes the foundations of and the issues surrounding humankind's increasing potential for building molecular machines. (Indeed as we stand here on the verge of 2008, notable accomplishments in nanotechnology continue to be made.) Drexler's "starter kit" comprises what he calls "universal assemblers," which are nanomachines designed for a simple task, such as replacing defective genetic links with healthful ones or bonding one cellular structure to another.

...I'm impressed with what the author and his peers have deeply pondered on preventing nanotechnological disasters, either from accident or from conscious intention of some malefactor. When one realizes a technology that can terraform planets can also readily destroy them... and us, one becomes a bit careful in how the technology is handled. The entire Part 3 of Drexler's book, "Engines of Destruction," is devoted to this issue.

...

For my complete review of this book and for other book and movie
reviews, please visit my site [...]

Brian Wright
Copyright 2007

Nano Technology *****
This book was ordered as a gift. I bought the book years ago and was so impressed with it I've purchased several as gifts.

Nano Technology *****

This book was ordered as a gift. I bought the book years ago and was so impressed with it I've purchased several as gifts.

too bad it's all balderdash *
It's been twenty years. Over 50 million bucks have been spent on Nanotechnology, and not a single useful thing has come of it. Drexler writes really gee-whizzy stuff, but he's basically selling snake oil. Anybody with the basic clue about the law of scale can see most of the nanotech concepts are basically impossible. Meachnical devices can't be scaled down much below the millimeter level-- the basic laws of scale, friction, surface tension, charge, and materials disallows it. So Nanotech guys make microscopic "gears", but no shafts. Shafts, but no gears. "Motors" that can't turn anything. A 5x5 atomic checkerboard, a factor of 100 billion too small to be useful. And so on, and so forth. It's a clever book, but basically intellectually dishonest. Drexler went on to raise $20 million in venture capital and blew it all. That should give one pause when compared to the "limitless horizons" extolled in this book.

too bad it's all balderdash *

It's been twenty years. Over 50 million bucks have been spent on Nanotechnology, and not a single useful thing has come of it.

Drexler writes really gee-whizzy stuff, but he's basically selling snake oil. Anybody with the basic clue about the law of scale can see most of the nanotech concepts are basically impossible. Meachnical devices can't be scaled down much below the millimeter level-- the basic laws of scale, friction, surface tension, charge, and materials disallows it. So Nanotech guys make microscopic "gears", but no shafts. Shafts, but no gears. "Motors" that can't turn anything. A 5x5 atomic checkerboard, a factor of 100 billion too small to be useful. And so on, and so forth.

It's a clever book, but basically intellectually dishonest. Drexler went on to raise $20 million in venture capital and blew it all. That should give one pause when compared to the "limitless horizons" extolled in this book.

Definitely a provocative read! *****
I read this book a number of years ago, and it still has a special place in my canon of books on technology and humanity. This is an engaging and lucid look at the future potential, and dangers, of miniturization, nano-scale physics and science meeting together in the form of nanotechnology. The ideas of molecular construction and deconstruction are truly intriguing and scary. Imagine being disassembled molecule by molecule by a nanoconstructor. Or, the idea of creating a crystal rocket out of pure atoms. This book is full of ideas and potentiality, and the ethical questions are perhaps just the tip of this literary iceberg. A great read for anyone interested in future technology and how science and technology are fusing on the cutting edge of reality. You don't need to be a quantum physicist or even a PhD to enojy this book. I read it as an undergrad in college and had a good time with it. It even inspired a sci-fi/fantasy book still in progress.

Definitely a provocative read! *****

I read this book a number of years ago, and it still has a special place in my canon of books on technology and humanity. This is an engaging and lucid look at the future potential, and dangers, of miniturization, nano-scale physics and science meeting together in the form of nanotechnology.

The ideas of molecular construction and deconstruction are truly intriguing and scary. Imagine being disassembled molecule by molecule by a nanoconstructor. Or, the idea of creating a crystal rocket out of pure atoms. This book is full of ideas and potentiality, and the ethical questions are perhaps just the tip of this literary iceberg.

A great read for anyone interested in future technology and how science and technology are fusing on the cutting edge of reality. You don't need to be a quantum physicist or even a PhD to enojy this book. I read it as an undergrad in college and had a good time with it. It even inspired a sci-fi/fantasy book still in progress.

A definitive book about the subject *****
This book is one of the definitive early books on Nanotechnology, from K. Eric Drexler, who developed most of the concept. The nanotechnology proposed by Drexler is not merely the sort of "nanotechnology" described routinely in the media in stories about new drugs or hair products but a fully capable system of "digital matter processing" using machines built to nanometere level precision, capable of self-replicating and doing for the handling of matter what computers did for the handling of information. This book aims for readability and persuasion more than depth, but Drexler's other definitive book, Nanosystems, discusses the concept in more technical detail. For most readers, however, this book is an ideal introduction to Drexler's ideas. If Drexler is right then once such technology appears the world will be radically different. Engines of Creation is an essential book for anyone interested in future technology.

A definitive book about the subject *****

This book is one of the definitive early books on Nanotechnology, from K. Eric Drexler, who developed most of the concept. The nanotechnology proposed by Drexler is not merely the sort of "nanotechnology" described routinely in the media in stories about new drugs or hair products but a fully capable system of "digital matter processing" using machines built to nanometere level precision, capable of self-replicating and doing for the handling of matter what computers did for the handling of information.

This book aims for readability and persuasion more than depth, but Drexler's other definitive book, Nanosystems, discusses the concept in more technical detail. For most readers, however, this book is an ideal introduction to Drexler's ideas.

If Drexler is right then once such technology appears the world will be radically different. Engines of Creation is an essential book for anyone interested in future technology.

the 21st century's bible *****
If Carl Sagan's Cosmos was the book about everything (being the Universe everything) then Eric Drexler's Engines of Creation could well be the 21st Century's Bible.. Notice that it was written quite a long time ago yet it'll be hard even for the next generation to criticise. It's a true vision with a magnificent scientific support. It tells you all about nanotechnology's power to be with it's overwhelming future effects on our society. It's also great for you if you're starting a career in nanosciences allthough the practical aspect has been neglected to some extent (being difficult to prove most of his visions - for the time being..) I'm convinced that he's shown us the next human being's Frontier with this masterpiece and it should be read in school no matter what you'll be studying in the future.

the 21st century's bible *****

If Carl Sagan's Cosmos was the book about everything (being the Universe everything) then Eric Drexler's Engines of Creation could well be the 21st Century's Bible.. Notice that it was written quite a long time ago yet it'll be hard even for the next generation to criticise. It's a true vision with a magnificent scientific support. It tells you all about nanotechnology's power to be with it's overwhelming future effects on our society. It's also great for you if you're starting a career in nanosciences allthough the practical aspect has been neglected to some extent (being difficult to prove most of his visions - for the time being..) I'm convinced that he's shown us the next human being's Frontier with this masterpiece and it should be read in school no matter what you'll be studying in the future.

Amazing *****
Drexler takes the reader methodically through the possibilities of nanotechnology. He builds a really strong case for the inevitability of this technology and how profoundly it will change the world. His philosophical reasoning is outstanding and I have to say I'm convinced about what he is saying. When you get his vision, you realize just how archaic the pre-nano world will seem from the future. How inexact our "bulk-technology" is! Dealing with billions of atoms at a time at best - come on! Also dealt with is the coming age of intelligent machines. In Drexler's future intelligent machines and are tied in very closely with nanotechnology. Anyone who is remotely interested in this topic or the future of mankind should read this book; it's a mind blower. It was given to me by a friend and in the inscription he wrote that this book has turned him "religious" - religious about nanotechnology.

Amazing *****

Drexler takes the reader methodically through the possibilities of nanotechnology. He builds a really strong case for the inevitability of this technology and how profoundly it will change the world. His philosophical reasoning is outstanding and I have to say I'm convinced about what he is saying. When you get his vision, you realize just how archaic the pre-nano world will seem from the future. How inexact our "bulk-technology" is! Dealing with billions of atoms at a time at best - come on!

Also dealt with is the coming age of intelligent machines. In Drexler's future intelligent machines and are tied in very closely with nanotechnology.

Anyone who is remotely interested in this topic or the future of mankind should read this book; it's a mind blower. It was given to me by a friend and in the inscription he wrote that this book has turned him "religious" - religious about nanotechnology.

Best Nonfiction Nanotech Intro *****
THE best nonfiction intro to nanotechnology yet written--by the father of nanotechnology, K. Eric Drexler. The must-have book that started it all. If you'd like a dramatic presentation of what nanotechnology will be able to do once it's developed, read the new novel NANO by John Robert Marlow ("the most important piece of fiction written to date" says Nanotechnology Now's editor in his amazon review). ENGINES is the best nonfiction book on this topic; NANO the best fiction. Read 'em both.

Best Nonfiction Nanotech Intro *****

THE best nonfiction intro to nanotechnology yet written--by the father of nanotechnology, K. Eric Drexler. The must-have book that started it all. If you'd like a dramatic presentation of what nanotechnology will be able to do once it's developed, read the new novel NANO by John Robert Marlow ("the most important piece of fiction written to date" says Nanotechnology Now's editor in his amazon review). ENGINES is the best nonfiction book on this topic; NANO the best fiction. Read 'em both.

Still relevant after fifteen years *****
It's important to judge this book in context. It was written more than fifteen years ago and that the ideas are still provocative fifteen years on is important. That they are relevant is testament to Drexler's predictive powers (When in 1987 he evangelises a hypertext based system of leaping between fragments of information stored on a network - well, sound familiar?). Progress in the intervening years sees us with tangible advances in the fields of nanocomputing, bionanotechnology and nanomedicine. Scientific criticism of this book often focuses on Drexler's concept of an assembler (a molecular machine for building nanoscale objects). The concept is attacked either for dissimilarities with existing biological systems or because the critics claim molecular manufacturing simply can't be done. Significantly, Dr. Drexler continues to defend his original thesis in recent writings. 'Engines of Creation' is bold, provocative and at times frightening. It deserves its accolades.

Still relevant after fifteen years *****

It's important to judge this book in context. It was written more than fifteen years ago and that the ideas are still provocative fifteen years on is important. That they are relevant is testament to Drexler's predictive powers (When in 1987 he evangelises a hypertext based system of leaping between fragments of information stored on a network - well, sound familiar?). Progress in the intervening years sees us with tangible advances in the fields of nanocomputing, bionanotechnology and nanomedicine. Scientific criticism of this book often focuses on Drexler's concept of an assembler (a molecular machine for building nanoscale objects). The concept is attacked either for dissimilarities with existing biological systems or because the critics claim molecular manufacturing simply can't be done. Significantly, Dr. Drexler continues to defend his original thesis in recent writings. 'Engines of Creation' is bold, provocative and at times frightening. It deserves its accolades.

A revolutionary book... *****
Despite a massive assault by its critics, "Engines of Creation" is a truly revolutionary work, and Eric Drexler should be commended for launching a worldwide discussion on the topic of molecular manufacturing, or molecular nanotechnology (MNT), as some refer to it. First of all, this is a book that needs to be updated (the opening chapters deal in-depth with protein design and a later chapter tries to paint a picture of a future network of information known as "the Internet"). But the remainder of the book is timeless. The true merit of "Engines of Creation" comes not from the argument of whether or not manipulation of individual molecules is possible. We already know that it is. Our bodies are filled with nature's own molecular machines. But the true worth of this book stems from its assumption that such technology will develop into a worldwide enterprise and will have enormous consequences for the human experience. The importance of the examination and study of those consequences cannot be overstated, and Drexler formed the Foresight Institute in an attempt to grapple with many of these issues. (Although personally, I recommend The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology as the best "think-tank" on MNT's benefits and dangers). The power to thoroughly and inexpensively control the structure of matter will effect every aspect of the human experience, and although it is a worthy endeavor to speculate on the implications for medicine, space exploration, ending poverty, etc., none of these benefits will be realized if we fail to work out a reasonable system of governance in the nanotechnic era. The development of molecular manufacturing will lead to the creation of new weapons of destructive power, possibly give rise to demagogues, and provide the conditions necessary to precipitate a dangerous, and possibly world-threatening, arms race between competing nanotechnic nation-states. Although we have faced these concerns since the dawn of the Nuclear Age, it remains unclear as to whether or not the same principles of mutually assured destruction will apply. "Engines of Creation" sparks the debate on how we will deal with the new problems that arise from man's ability to manipulate molecules, and in doing so, it provides an invaluable service to the human race. Those concerned about our future and the world in which we live should read this book, because molecular manufacturing will define that future world... Britt Gillette Author of the nanotechnology thriller "Conquest of Paradise"

A revolutionary book... *****

Despite a massive assault by its critics, "Engines of Creation" is a truly revolutionary work, and Eric Drexler should be commended for launching a worldwide discussion on the topic of molecular manufacturing, or molecular nanotechnology (MNT), as some refer to it. First of all, this is a book that needs to be updated (the opening chapters deal in-depth with protein design and a later chapter tries to paint a picture of a future network of information known as "the Internet"). But the remainder of the book is timeless.

The true merit of "Engines of Creation" comes not from the argument of whether or not manipulation of individual molecules is possible. We already know that it is. Our bodies are filled with nature's own molecular machines. But the true worth of this book stems from its assumption that such technology will develop into a worldwide enterprise and will have enormous consequences for the human experience. The importance of the examination and study of those consequences cannot be overstated, and Drexler formed the Foresight Institute in an attempt to grapple with many of these issues. (Although personally, I recommend The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology as the best "think-tank" on MNT's benefits and dangers).

The power to thoroughly and inexpensively control the structure of matter will effect every aspect of the human experience, and although it is a worthy endeavor to speculate on the implications for medicine, space exploration, ending poverty, etc., none of these benefits will be realized if we fail to work out a reasonable system of governance in the nanotechnic era. The development of molecular manufacturing will lead to the creation of new weapons of destructive power, possibly give rise to demagogues, and provide the conditions necessary to precipitate a dangerous, and possibly world-threatening, arms race between competing nanotechnic nation-states. Although we have faced these concerns since the dawn of the Nuclear Age, it remains unclear as to whether or not the same principles of mutually assured destruction will apply. "Engines of Creation" sparks the debate on how we will deal with the new problems that arise from man's ability to manipulate molecules, and in doing so, it provides an invaluable service to the human race.

Those concerned about our future and the world in which we live should read this book, because molecular manufacturing will define that future world...

Britt Gillette
Author of the nanotechnology thriller "Conquest of Paradise"

Interesting but meandering ***
I would start by giving the book 3 1/2 stars. I can't bring myself to give it 4 but 3 represents mediocrity and the book deserves slightly more than that. In my opinion Drexler spends too much time in the setup and fallout of nanotech instead of getting to the meat of the subject. His comments about evolution and political repercussions deserved a chapter combined (maybe) but it seems like half of the book focused on these areas where he seemed out of his depth. In short, too little science and too much social commentary. Still a worthwhile read but somewhat dissapointing from what has been called a seminal work.

Interesting but meandering ***

I would start by giving the book 3 1/2 stars. I can't bring myself to give it 4 but 3 represents mediocrity and the book deserves slightly more than that.

In my opinion Drexler spends too much time in the setup and fallout of nanotech instead of getting to the meat of the subject. His comments about evolution and political repercussions deserved a chapter combined (maybe) but it seems like half of the book focused on these areas where he seemed out of his depth.

In short, too little science and too much social commentary. Still a worthwhile read but somewhat dissapointing from what has been called a seminal work.

Out of date **
This book was written ten or more years ago and its whole approach is out of date. Drexler assumes that the nanoscale will work like the meso (human) scale, with little wrenchs and machines that look just like our human scale machines. He misses the whole concept that nature has been working at the nanoscale for years with biological mechanisms that don't resemble his devices even though they peform many of the same functions . Also he appears to ignore quantum forces which are much more significant at the nanoscale where materials behave diffently. The book is fine as a introduction to a whole new arena, although it is out of date. On the other hand, the promise of nanotechnology is probably even more exciting than he predicts.

Out of date **

This book was written ten or more years ago and its whole approach is out of date. Drexler assumes that the nanoscale will work like the meso (human) scale, with little wrenchs and machines that look just like our human scale machines. He misses the whole concept that nature has been working at the nanoscale for years with biological mechanisms that don't resemble his devices even though they peform many of the same functions . Also he appears to ignore quantum forces which are much more significant at the nanoscale where materials behave diffently.

The book is fine as a introduction to a whole new arena, although it is out of date. On the other hand, the promise of nanotechnology is probably even more exciting than he predicts.