https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DT6ZMKXQ/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title

This is really going to be about the book "Culpability." Really. But I'm going to start by telling you how I got there, how I ended up reading this book.

You see I read "The Compound," which has gotten great reviews but was basically a joke, a fictional version of "Love Island," a waste of my time.

And then I got involved in a couple of girl books.

Hmm... "Girl books," what do I mean by that?

Well, when you look at the reviews on Amazon none are from respected publications, they're at best from fashion rags, and a lot of the author's friends are testifying. They might by endorsed by Jenna, or be a GMA book, but rarely is that first class fiction. And then there are books that seemingly all the women have read and they testify about them, say how great they are, but once again none of the traditional reviewers have weighed in, never mind uttered a good word. They may be bestsellers, but...

I don't know why I reserved "Culpability" on Libby. Once again, I get my reviews from the Sunday "Times" Book Review, Ron Charles's WaPo newsletter and "The Week." Some other outlets too, but those are my mainstays. But by time the book finally arrives, I don't recall why it interested me. And in this case, not wanting to start a loser, one of the aforementioned "girl books," whose titles I choose not to reveal for fear of angering readers, I decided to research "Culpability" before I started it.

Turns out it's an Oprah book. And despite the James Frey and "American Dirt" controversies, she usually endorses worthwhile books (and "American Dirt" was pretty good!).

And it had 4.5 stars on Amazon, which is rare.

But doing more research I learned that it was about AI...which sounds about as interesting a book on JavaScript.

But Oprah said: "I was riveted until the very last shocking sentence."

Don't wait for it. The last sentence is not shocking, as a matter of fact, the book kind of peters out about 95% through, but before that...

"Culpability" is about the ethics of the algorithm. We make them, but AI is a black box, nobody knows exactly how it works, truly.

But the context is a family story. There's a plot and AI is laid down on top of that.

You see it all comes down to whether the algorithm is responsible, does it take all the blame, or are we, the constructors of said algorithm, responsible.

And a lot of the issues arise around products that are here now. Like self-driving cars and drones. Forget legislation, forget hysteria, these products driven by algorithm will come into play more and more...who is responsible for their actions?

But the story could survive completely sans the AI overlay.

Of course you've got the family dynamics...three kids who alternately love and hate each other, a genius mother and a genial father. Then throw some tragedy into the mix...

And a billionaire techie... Who thinks the rules don't apply to him and throws money at every problem all the while denying any culpability.

And the law...

"Culpability" is highly readable. This is not dense literary fiction that has you looking up multiple words on every page. This is the kind of book you can discuss with your friends.

But you have to read it first.

I recommend you do.


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