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Emergence - by  David Sussillo (Hardcover) - 1 of 1

Emergence - by David Sussillo (Hardcover)

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Highlights

  • For fans of Educated and Invisible Child, David Sussillo combines memoir and cutting-edge neuroscience to tell the story of his unlikely journey from group homes and drug-addicted parents to the scientific elite--exploring why, and how, he managed to succeed against all odds.
  • About the Author: David Sussillo spent five years in the Albuquerque Christian Children's Home and four years at the Milton Hershey School as a child.
  • 384 Pages
  • Biography + Autobiography, Personal Memoirs

Description



Book Synopsis



For fans of Educated and Invisible Child, David Sussillo combines memoir and cutting-edge neuroscience to tell the story of his unlikely journey from group homes and drug-addicted parents to the scientific elite--exploring why, and how, he managed to succeed against all odds.

David Sussillo has made a career at the cutting edge of neuroscience and technology--yet his path there was anything but a straight line. Born to drug-addicted parents in New Mexico, he navigated a childhood marked by violence and neglect. But a seed was planted at the unlikeliest of places--the local arcade.

What follows is a remarkable journey of resilience and transformation, from the chaotic corridors of group homes to the halls of Columbia and Stanford. Along the way, Sussillo takes readers on an illuminating tour of the century-long dance between neuroscience, physics, and computation that has laid the groundwork for neural networks--the technology that drives modern artificial intelligence. As he advances in the field, working to demystify these networks, he also begins to pursue an answer to a more personal question: why, and how, did he succeed against all odds?

Emergence radiates heartbreak, humor, and scientific wonder, inviting readers on an unforgettable journey that bridges the personal and the profound, revealing how intricate complexities arise from simple beginnings.



Review Quotes




"A riveting account of journeying from childhood chaos to a career studying order and disorder in neural networks."--Kirkus Reviews

"[Sussillo's] musings offer both a stirring tribute to resilience and a humble acknowledgment of how much remains unknown about the human mind. It's a gripping and erudite self-portrait."--Publishers Weekly

"David Sussillo writes with rare honesty about chaos, longing, and the work of making a life. Emergence is not just a memoir but an invitation to pay attention to the forces--neural and cultural, intimate and vast--that shape us, and to notice the moments when something new becomes possible."--Sarah Sentilles, author of Stranger Care

"From shattered beginnings to the cutting edge of science, Sussillo's raw and luminous memoir charts the extraordinary journey of a child born into chaos to his eventual emergence as a pioneering scientist. This is a raw story you'll never forget; it's a testament to resilience, the power of curiosity, and the stubborn light of hope that illuminates even the darkest places."--David Eagleman, neuroscientist at Stanford, author of Incognito and Livewired

"In Emergence, the author beautifully weaves together the personal and the scientific, the societal and the individual, to create an emotional roadmap of one person's journey that just happens to coincide with a technology that is reshaping society. This story could not be more timely."--David Ambroz, author of A Place Called Home

"This fascinating personal journey takes you behind the scenes of the biggest scientific and engineering revolution in our lifetime--the birth of NeuroAI."--Terrence Sejnowski, Francis Crick Chair, Salk Institute for Biological Studies and Distinguished Professor of Neurobiology, University of California, San Diego



About the Author



David Sussillo spent five years in the Albuquerque Christian Children's Home and four years at the Milton Hershey School as a child. After graduating high school, he ultimately received a Ph.D. from Columbia University in Computational Neuroscience. Now David is an adjunct professor at Stanford University and has been a scientist at the Google Brain group (recently featured in the book Genius Makers) and Meta Reality Labs. In his professional pursuits, David researches brain-machine interfaces to develop the next generation of computers. David was the recipient of a Fulbright research grant and is an internationally recognized neuroscientist with over 40 publications. He works to understand the ghost in the machine - how cells in our brain collectively give rise to the computations that determine behavior. David has been happily married these last 17 years to his wife, Robin.
Dimensions (Overall): 9.19 Inches (H) x 6.34 Inches (W) x 1.3 Inches (D)
Weight: 1.21 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 384
Genre: Biography + Autobiography
Sub-Genre: Personal Memoirs
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Format: Hardcover
Author: David Sussillo
Language: English
Street Date: March 17, 2026
TCIN: 1005334853
UPC: 9781538768570
Item Number (DPCI): 247-32-2497
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 1.3 inches length x 6.34 inches width x 9.19 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 1.21 pounds
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Q: What educational background does David Sussillo have?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 2 months ago
  • A: He graduated high school and earned a Ph.D. in Computational Neuroscience from Columbia University.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 2 months ago
    Ai generated

Q: What inspired David Sussillo's journey into neuroscience?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 2 months ago
  • A: His childhood experiences in group homes and the tumultuous influence of his parents sparked his interest in understanding the human mind.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 2 months ago
    Ai generated

Q: Who published 'Emergence' and when was it released?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 2 months ago
  • A: The book was published by Grand Central Publishing, though the specific release date isn't mentioned in the context.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 2 months ago
    Ai generated

Q: How does the book connect personal history and scientific concepts?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 2 months ago
  • A: It intertwines Sussillo's life story with insights on neuroscience, exploring the relationship between personal experiences and scientific breakthroughs.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 2 months ago
    Ai generated

Q: What themes are prevalent in Sussillo's memoir?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 2 months ago
  • A: Prominent themes include resilience, transformation, the interplay of chaos and order, and the impact of neuroscience on understanding behavior.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 2 months ago
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