University presses have released a new wave of catalogs, showcasing books that delve into the intricate networks that shape our world. From ant colonies to online subcultures, these networks are interconnected and can be depicted as geometric diagrams with vertices and edges representing interactions. Anthony Bonato’s “Dots and Lines: Hidden Networks in Social Media, AI, and Nature” from Johns Hopkins University Press explores how everything from Bitcoin transactions to neural connections can be mapped using the network perspective.
In a different vein, Isak Ladegaard’s “Open Secrecy: How Technology Empowers the Digital Underworld” from University of California Press delves into the shadowy world of military-grade encryption and cryptocurrencies that enable illicit activities online. Leif Weatherby’s “Language Machines: Cultural AI and the End of Remainder Humanism” from University of Minnesota Press offers a new theory of meaning in language and computation, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence-generated texts.
However, not all advancements in technology have positive outcomes. Daniel Oberhaus’s “The Silicon Shrink: How Artificial Intelligence Made the World an Asylum” from MIT Press cautions against the use of AI in psychiatry, highlighting the risks associated with flawed psychiatric models and the emergence of a psychiatric surveillance economy.
On the topic of gender and sexuality, Agustín Fuentes challenges traditional assumptions in “Sex Is a Spectrum: The Biological Limits of the Binary” from Princeton University Press. The book argues for a more nuanced understanding of sex and gender, drawing on scientific research to debunk the binary view. In “To Belong Here: A New Generation of Queer, Trans, and Two-Spirit Appalachian Writers” from University Press of Kentucky, Rae Garringer collects writings that explore themes of resilience and identity in the Appalachian region.
Transgender studies also receive attention in recent publications. Talia Mae Bettcher’s “Beyond Personhood” from University of Minnesota Press offers a new philosophical approach to trans experience and gender identity. Oliver L. Haimson’s “Trans Technologies” from MIT Press examines the intersection of engineering and transgender studies, showcasing how technology can meet the needs of trans individuals.
Finally, “The Dream of a Common Movement” from Duke University Press pays tribute to Urvashi Vaid, a pioneering feminist and civil rights advocate whose work shaped the LGBTQ movement. Her belief in transformation over assimilation resonates with the idea that solidarity is essential for social progress.
Overall, these university press publications offer a diverse range of perspectives on networks, technology, gender, and social movements. Through these books, readers can gain insight into the complex interplay of forces that shape our world. “Entonces traduce al español B1 y recupera solo el texto en español. Mantén las etiquetas HTML. No devuelvas la versión en inglés. No me repitas. No me devuelvas el texto enviado. Solo proporciona el texto en español.”