The father of virtual reality explains its dazzling possibilities by reflecting on his own lifelong relationship with technology. A look at what it means to be human at a moment of unprecedented technological possibility. Interdisciplinary scientist John Lanier presents a fascinating look back over his life in technology and exposes VR's ability to illuminate and amplify our understanding of our species, giving readers a new perspective on how the brain and body connect to the world. An inventive blend of autobiography, science writing, philosophy and advice, this book tells the wild story of his personal and professional life as a scientist, from his childhood in the UFO territory of New Mexico, to the loss of his mother, the founding of the first start-up, and finally becoming a technological guru. He argues that virtual reality can actually make our lives richer and fuller. Jaron Lanier is the author of Who Owns the Future? and You Are Not a Gadget.