Robot
Rodney Allen Brooks · first published 2002 · ISBN 9780375420795
Written by MIT's legendary robotics researcher, this book traces the history of artificial intelligence and robotics while questioning what we really mean by intelligence and consciousness. Brooks shares stories from his MIT lab where his team built increasingly autonomous robots, exploring how simple reactive behaviors can create complex-seeming intelligence without trying to replicate the human brain. The narrative spans from early AI dreams to practical robots that actually work in the real world.
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Understanding how a robotics pioneer thinks about problems gives you a mental toolkit you won't get from engineering handbooks. Brooks argues for simplicity and iteration, principles that are now fundamental to robotics work and the maker movement.