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The Simulation Hypothesis: An MIT Computer Scientist Shows Why AI, Quantum Physics, and Eastern Mystics All Agree We Are in a Video Game
- Narrated by: Kory Getman
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
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The Simulation Hypothesis: An MIT Computer Scientist Shows Why AI, Quantum Physics, and Eastern Mystics All Agree We Are in a Video Game
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Summary
The Simulation Hypothesis, by best-selling author, renowned MIT computer scientist, and Silicon Valley video game designer Rizwan Virk, explains one of the most daring and consequential theories of our time.
Drawing from research and concepts from computer science, artificial intelligence, video games, quantum physics, and referencing both speculative fiction and ancient eastern spiritual texts, Virk shows how all of these traditions come together to point to the idea that we may be inside a simulated reality like the Matrix.
The Simulation Hypothesis is the idea that our physical reality, far from being a solid physical universe, is part of an increasingly sophisticated video game-like simulation, where we all have multiple lives, consisting of pixels with its own internal clock run by some giant Artificial Intelligence. Simulation theory explains some of the biggest mysteries of quantum and relativistic physics, such as quantum indeterminacy, parallel universes, and the integral nature of the speed of light.
“There’s a one in a billion chance we are not living in a simulation.” (Elon Musk)
“I find it hard to argue we are not in a simulation.” (Neil deGrasse Tyson)
“We are living in computer generated reality.” (Philip K. Dick)
Video game designer Riz Virk shows how the history and evolution of our video games, including virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing could lead us to the point of being able to develop all encompassing virtual worlds like the Oasis in Ready Player One, or the simulated reality in The Matrix.
While the idea sounds like science fiction, many scientists, engineers, and professors have given the simulation hypothesis serious consideration. But the simulation hypothesis is not just a modern idea. Philosophers and mystics of all traditions have long contended that we are living in some kind of “illusion“ and that there are other realities which we can access with our minds.
Whether you are a computer scientist, a fan of science fiction like The Matrix movies, a video game enthusiast, or a spiritual seeker, The Simulation Hypothesis touches on all these areas, and you will never look at the world the same way again!
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What listeners say about The Simulation Hypothesis: An MIT Computer Scientist Shows Why AI, Quantum Physics, and Eastern Mystics All Agree We Are in a Video Game
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- andy m
- 23-02-22
Interesting content, not great production
Heard the author on a podcast, and find it a very interesting subject. However, I suspect this might be better read as an actual book rather than listening to this audiobook. The book (ironically) sounds like it could be being narrated by an AI in places – the intonation and speed of some sentences is bizarre, almost like the actual narrater is reading them for the first time and trying to make sense of what he's saying as he goes along. There is also some dodgy editing in places, with sentences repeated and words obviously spliced together. Diagrams and figures from the actual book are referred to throughout, which we obviously can't see, and overall it feels like a bit of a botched job in terms of a recording.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lee
- 13-02-20
Interesting depiction of simulation hypothesis...
interesting depiction of simulation hypothesis... certainly moves forward some (mostly Eastern) concepts. Clear / not too bad / narration... generally v. good?!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Larry Reacher
- 11-01-20
super good book.
Well written and read. I liked the history about PC games etc, and bringing it all together physics, mystics, video gaming into one big theory was excellent. I guess we should all fear, "the coming of the system reboot" ;-)
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- M. Schaeffer
- 24-10-20
decent, but stretching
although he brings up many good ideas, I feel like he's stretching in many ways
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymou s
- 11-08-23
Great explanation of the simulation hypothesis
I really enjoyed this book. I have previously read a lot of content on physics particularly quantum mechanics and special relativity. It has always struck me how the most strangest and illogical things that occur in physics are explained logically when we think in terms of reality being a simulation. This is the first thing I have read specifically about the simulation hypothesis and it gave a great overview of the hypothesis from all angles. I must admit I did skip over the chapters about the history of video games as I’m just not that interested in that and it’s not necessary to know to understand the evidence in favour of the simulation hypothesis.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- At the deep end
- 11-07-22
Unnecessarily drawn out.
I think the narrator recorded this in his kitchen! Listening through headphones I could frequently hear distracting outside noises, eg cars, sirens, horns, a young child talking, etc (unless it was a glitch in the matrix). Poorly narrated on top of that. The book frequently repeated the same information and the narrator referred to figures, pictures etc which are obviously in the paper copy, but quite frustrating for the listener - I'm ⅔ of the way through and am already at FIG.30. A PDF version would've been helpful. I struggled to finish this quite disappointing book.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 29-02-20
Thought provoking stuff, well sold
This is an incredible book that really pushes the mind to ask those really big questions and does a great job of using game development techniques to illustrate why the holographic universe theory could be correct. The narrator does an excellent job of keeping you interested over technical topics too.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- The Editor - New London Writers
- 08-09-23
Unconvincing
Well narrated, interesting ideas, but too slick and not convincing. Bring together eastern mysticism quantum computing & advanced physics and cook, up simulation hypothesis -
Needs much more than Trendy analysis; This idea of Maya and illusionary reality goes way deeper than that of gigabytes, cubits being controlled by an omnipotent software developer and a squadron of geeky programmers in far off space
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- darren
- 11-07-19
I'm a victim of an Instagram advert!
save your money, just have a look on YouTube or just Google to get the same info. clearly this book was done as a money spinner, and I fell for it
Overall this guy has interesting ideas, but my god he labours it. there's lots of errors in his reading, where a fact is read differently twice or 3 times.
the narration is terrible, far too stumbling and fast as he's clearly no experience in the art.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- brian s.
- 16-09-21
Great Listen
Excellent. I really enjoyed the content and narration. Having been interested in this topic for some time, this book gives a thorough, well detailed and easy to follow analysis of the simulation hypothesis. Numerous examples relating to religion and the every day make it clear that this subject is to be taken seriously. The author also does well to ensure the book is not reaching or holding towards any particular bias and whilst giving plenty of food for thought, makes sure the readers are aware that not all is proven. This book should be read.
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