Inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil examines the next step in the evolutionary process of the union of human and machine. Kurzweil foresees the dawning of a new civilization where we will be able to transcend our biological limitations and amplify our creativity, combining our biological skills with the vastly greater capacity, speed and knowledge-sharing abilities of our creations. In practical terms, human ageing and illness will be reversed; pollution will be stopped and world hunger and poverty will be solved. There will be no clear distinction between human and machine, real reality and virtual reality. 'The Singularity is Near' offers a view of the coming age that is both a dramatic culmination of centuries of technological ingenuity and a genuinely inspiring vision of our ultimate destiny.

Ray Kurzweil is one of the world's leading inventors, thinkers and futurists. A recipient of the National Medal of Technology and 12 honorary doctorates, he is the author of four previous books: 'Fantastic Voyage: Live Long Enough to Live Forever', 'The Age of Spiritual Machines', 'The 10 per cent Solution for a Healthy Life' and 'The Age of Intelligent Machines'.