Peco Gaskovski is a neuropsychologist and the author of ExoGenesis and, most recently, The Last Upheaval.
Peco and his wife, Ruth Gaskovski, are the creators and lead authors of both ‘Pilgrims in the Machine’ and ‘School of the Unconformed’. In my opinion, two of the best publications out there on how to live in a world rapidly changing due to emerging technologies! These publications are a constant source of inspiration for analogue living and a lighthouse for human values online. Truly, they are doing the Lord’s work.
In this interview, we are discussing Peco’s new sci-fi thriller ‘The Last Upheaval’. We focus on the main themes explored in the book: God, family, relationships in a fractured world, and how to remain human in the machine.
After reading an advanced copy of the book, I can confidently say it is the ‘1984’ or ‘Brave New World’ for our current troubled times. But while Orwell and Huxley had the luxury of chronological distance to their hypothesised future dystopias, Gaskovski has hit a buzzer beater and captured our strange civilisational decline in real time! Despite the heavy material, the book never feels hopeless or despondent. Peco’s unique ability to blend big ideas and humour and humanity into an engaging and exciting story keeps you coming back for more and makes ‘The Last Upheaval’ a must-read for anyone who is still awake, upright and literate today. It is a relatable, enlightening, and edifying tale, and the main character is named after Plato’s uncle Solon, so obviously, I’m in.
If you are interested, collect your copy here 👉 https://www.amazon.ie/Last-Upheaval-Peco-Gaskovski/dp/1988604249
Barnes and Noble link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-last-upheaval-peco-gaskovski/1151382351?ean=9781988604244
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to The Last Upheaval and its themes
01:03 What is the last upheaval in the novel: a cyber attack
02:07 Exploring the human element in societal collapse
02:54 Current civilizational moment and technological influences
05:09 Narratives around AI and their societal impact
07:21 The religious roots of technological eschatology
08:53 The infrastructure built by digital technology and its implications
10:29 Offloading human cognition onto AI and its risks
12:02 The decline of human skills and virtues in the digital age
15:00 Relational debt and AI's impact on human relationships
16:40 The social and emotional effects of AI relationships
18:20 The subtle ways AI creates dependency and relational shifts
20:12 The slow erosion of human competence and character
22:53 The challenges of governance and ethical AI development
24:19 Environmental and energy concerns related to AI and societal collapse
26:38 Balancing technological progress with human resilience
28:52 The return to community, family, and faith as a solution
30:28 Practical ways to stay human in a digital world
33:22 The importance of social trust and relationships
35:37 The Christian worldview and divine anthropology
39:38 Love, virtue, and the Christian model of human relationships
44:23 The necessity of conflict and difficult conversations in love
48:42 Building resilient communities through faith and family
55:51 The role of education and homeschooling in resilience
58:39 The future of education and AI's impact on learning
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