Review: "2040: A Silicon Valley Satire"

2040: A Silicon Valley Satire by Pedro Domingos
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The premise and idea of this book were enough to pique my interest. With a background in software development and AI, I found the description intriguing. However, the technology mentioned in the book felt very surface-level and almost corny. I was also interested in the heavily political nature of the book, but it didn’t quite land as expected.

While politics were a central theme from the beginning, the execution fell short. Despite the focus on an AI president, the political elements were exaggerated to the point of being unconvincing, even for a satire. The characters felt extremely shallow, and their conversations and decisions seemed weightless, which was contradictory to the gravity of a presidential election that could end America as a whole. The satire spelled things out so explicitly that it left little to the reader’s imagination. There was very little suspense or any hook that compelled me to keep reading.

The ending was particularly disappointing. It was abrupt and wrapped everything up in a neat bow in about five pages, leaving nothing to ponder. For a political satire, I expected to be left reflecting on the implications of our own political decisions rather than feeling unsatisfied with an overly tidy conclusion.

While the concept had potential, the execution did not live up to it. The book lacked the depth and subtlety needed to make a lasting impact. It presents a light, unserious, and overly exaggerated narrative. Even understanding that it is satire, the story felt under-baked and ultimately was not that enticing of a read. It might entertain those looking for a light, exaggerated take on future politics, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

That said, if you’re in the mood for a quick, light-hearted read with some humorous takes on future politics, you might still find some enjoyment here.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating:
★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars)

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