Imagine a person trying to become part-robot to live forever — would you want that?
Meet Mark O'Connell: a 21st-century Irish writer best known for exploring how people use technology to change what it means to be human. His most famous book, "To Be a Machine," takes readers into the world of transhumanism — the idea of using science to make people stronger, smarter, or longer-lived.
What he did: he traveled and talked with scientists, engineers, and people dreaming about becoming cyborgs or escaping disaster. Instead of dry facts, he turned their strange, exciting ideas into clear, funny, and curious stories.
Why it matters: his writing helped lots of readers understand big questions about technology and life — like what we should change, and what we should keep about being human. He made us think about the future in a friendly, thoughtful way.
