Naam, Ramez

PERSONAL: Born in Egypt. Education: University of Illinois, degree in computer science.

ADDRESSES: Home—Seattle, WA. Agent—Ted Weinstein Literary Management, 35 Stillman St., Ste. 203, San Francisco, CA 94107. E-mail—author@morethanhuman.org.

CAREER: Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, computer engineer. Apex NanoTechnologies, founder and head. Nano Business Alliance, member of advisory board, 2002–.

MEMBER: World Future Society, World Transhumanist AssociationExtropy Institute.

WRITINGS:

More than Human: Embracing the Promise of Biological Enhancement (nonfiction), Broadway Books (New York, NY), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS: Computer technologist Ramez Naam, who helped develop two popular software components for Microsoft Corp.—Internet Explorer, a Web browser, and Outlook, an e-mail program—looks at uses of biotechnology in More than Human: Embracing the Promise of Biological Enhancement. In this book he examines research that aims to improve human life with gene therapy, cloning, and even electronic implants. Much has already been done, he notes, and he sees the future as holding infinite potential. Scientists have manipulated genes to create mice that are stronger and smarter than ordinary rodents, and Naam theorizes that similar projects are possible with humans. Electrodes, he relates, have restored lost hearing in thousands of people and also have been used to treat Parkinson's disease, and other uses include restoring sight and helping paralyzed people manipulate robotic limbs. In keeping with his subtitle, he makes a case that humanity should embrace rather than fear biotechnological advances. He has remarked that fear has surrounded many scientific and medical breakthroughs.

In an interview for BookBrowse.com, he said, "When Jenner first introduced the smallpox vaccine, he was denounced as playing god and as dabbling in things too dangerous for mortal men." He added, "My greatest goal with More than Human is to educate people on how these technologies work and what they can and can't do." Naam related that these enhancements will "bring many goods and some ills. Society will have to wrestle with the problems these technologies cause and find solutions. But the alternative—to prohibit these technologies—just isn't viable." Speaking with James M. Pethokoukis for U.S. News & World Report, he mentioned that biotech experiments have met with criticism from both liberals and conservatives, "so I thought I would write a counterpoint—a book that educated readers on the underlying science, so they're better able to make judgments for themselves … and articulated some of the benefits to both individuals and society—some of the reasons we would actually want this stuff." These reasons, he said, include to "make us smarter, extend our lives, help us understand the world we live in better."

Some reviewers thought he had done so effectively. Naam's book brings "vividly to life" a world where seemingly far-fetched technologies are routinely available, observed Arlene Weintraub in Business Week. He provides "a fascinating tour of biotech experiments that could someday bring benefits we would barely recognize as medical," she continued, summing up his work as "provocative—and edifying." A Kirkus Reviews critic commented that Naam offers "a logical and structured explanation of bioengineering projects" in "an intriguing presentation." A Publishers Weekly contributor called the book "an excellent and comprehensive survey," and concluded: "Naam is persuasive that many of these advances are going to happen no matter what, and … they offer hope for our well-being."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, February 15, 2005, Gilbert Taylor, review of More than Human: Embracing the Promise of Biological Enhancement, p. 1045.

Business Week, April 4, 2005, Arlene Weintraub, "Biotech's Fountain of Youth," p. 22.

Kirkus Reviews, January 1, 2005, review of More than Human, p. 39.

Publishers Weekly, February 7, 2005, review of More than Human, p. 54.

U.S. News & World Report, July 23, 2003, James M. Pethokoukis, "A Brain Thinks about Its Future."

ONLINE

BookBrowse.com, http://www.bookbrowse.com/ (July 12, 2005), interview with Naam.

Life Enhancement Web site, http://www.lifeenhancement.com/ (July 12, 2005), interview with Naam.

More than Human Web site, http://www.morethanhuman.org/ (July 12, 2005).

NuSapiens, http://www.nusapiens.blogspot.com/ (March 11, 2005), interview with Naam.