Product Description
After Michael Chorost suddenly lost what was left of his hearing, he took the radical step of having a cochlear implant -- a tiny computer -- installed in his head. A technological marvel, the device not only restored to him the world of sound but also could be routinely upgraded with new software. Despite his intitial fear of the technology's potentially dehumanizing effects, Chorost's implant allowed him to connect with others in surprising ways: as a cyborg, he learned about love, joined a writing group, and formed deeper friendships. More profoundly, his perception of the world around him was dramatically altered. Brimming with insight and written with charm and self-deprecating humor, Rebuilt unveils, in personal terms, the astounding possibilities of a new technological age.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 37 reviews)

Review of Michael Chorost book, Rebuilt by Alan Kelly (Alan K In North American)

4 Stars
September 30, 2009
This book is an easy and interesting read. Its medium technical language and narrative descriptions of the author's experience of being among the pioneers in cochlear implant users made this interesting in the area of human / machine interface. I liked it. Maybe you, Dare Reader, will too.

Being Part Computer Makes You More Human! Excellent Book by Alyssa D. Walz

5 Stars
October 23, 2008
This book was a fascinating autobiography of how becoming a `cyborg' made Chorost more human. A cyborg is "shorthand for cybernetic organism..., and is defined by WordNet as `a human being whose body has been taken over in whole or in part by electromechanical devices'" (7). He approached the book by explaining the human side of having a computer control one of your senses. Instead of thinking about the fact that he would be able to hear again, he was having trouble with the fact that he would not be in control of his hearing. It is a unique story detailing the process of cochlear implants, as he describes his fascination with computers, and his witty sense of humor all of which was complemented by his scientific background. It is a heart felt story that showed the life of a man adjusting to becoming a `cyborg'. Chorost had been partially deaf his entire life relying on hearing aides to allow him to hear. The story starts off describing the tragic day of losing what little hearing he had left. He gave such distinct detail that you know exactly what he is going through. While he was thinking his hearing aide batteries were dying, he actually was going completely deaf. His hair cells are still intact and can be triggered with electrodes, which led him to be a candidate for cochlear implants. Contemplating the idea of having a computerized chip in his head was overwhelming and he gave an interesting point of view of his dilemma. To him, it was more than being able to hear again which is how most people would view cochlear implants; it was losing part of being human and being controlled by a mini computer scared him. The same kind of technology he was obsessed with was going into his body. Throughout the book he talks about the struggles he had as a kid with his hearing problems and really explains his way of thinking. He really allows the readers to involve themselves with the story, and seems to say exactly what is on his mind about his new implant. He speaks of the foreign object in his ear and just spits out whatever thought come to his mind. It gives a vivid imagination of what he is going through and the side effects, so to speak, of a surgery of this kind. It shows the implications and hardships that have to be overcome to hear again. "The essence of the cyborgness is the presence of software that makes if-then-else decisions and acts on the body. It's the `acts' part that is important." His concern for not having control over one of his sense is a troubling matter for him. He is very skeptical about being `switched on' and when he reenters the world of hearing he feels like he is playing a guessing game in deciphering their words. The daily struggle of dealing with his new computerized hearing system was apparent. Chorost went into detail about the anatomy of the ear and how the damage actually occurred to allow the reader to understand how the cochlear implants work. He keeps referring to being less human due to the non-control of this computerized system attached to his skull. He says sixteen electrodes are working to stimulate the neurons in the cochlea to decipher sounds control his hearing. "It was strange that I should be so stubborn about perceiving the world in one and only one way, because the exact thing I loved about computers was their infinite malleability, their ability to create worlds out of imagination "(75). After switching a few electrodes off, he was finally able to hear and distinguish sounds again like the difference between male and female sounds. "The software had not changed. The world presumably had not changed. What had to have changed was my brain" (86). He believes the brain is plastic and "when a part of a body changes, so does the area of the brain that controls it" (87). He describes the everyday normal stuff he goes through as not being so simple and easy. For example, getting a cell phone was a large task because he has to find one that would not interfere with his processor, one that would enter a patch cable and then of course one that works in the area he resides. He even talks about the difficulty of his sex life and how that works out for him. His openness about his personal life might surprise or offend some readers, however, I loved it. This is because that is exactly how I write and would like to read a book like this. It allows for a deeper understanding of what the author is going through by learning various aspects of his life. He also goes into his longing for a group of good friends and the different ways he goes about doing it. By adjusting to his implants, he realized they helped in more ways then he ever imagined. " The computer invaded the sacred domain of my body, yet to my own astonishment we learned to work together as a total system, mutually changing each other in the process. I fed it lithium-ion batteries; it fed me electrons. I altered its software; it repartterened the dendrites in my auditory cortex. We have literally reprogrammed each other" (156). "The one hundred and forty thousand transistors in my skull give me sound, but they cannot make me listen. Its only when I listen that my cyborg technologies make me a better human being" (183). Over the years, his hearing improved with the software updates. He attributes this improvement to neural plasticity, as his auditory cortex is completely rewired due to the increase stimulation. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style of this book. As a partially deaf girl, I can closely relate to the author. The way he described hearing aide batteries dying and the way it sounds when you put a new one in is exactly what goes through my mind. It was cool to see how he really spoke what was on his mind and that other people know what I go though on a regular basis. I also enjoyed his detailed description about the cochlear implants because I was never sure how they actually worked. Due to his writing style, to "just read this book" is an understatement, it's more like you experience the book. This book was provoking, and well written with a unique writing style that was an enjoyable and educational read. I would definitely recommend it to anyone that wants an extraordinary read. Rebuilt: My Journey Back to the Hearing World

Insightful... and a peek at the future by Larry R (Centerport, NY USA)

4 Stars
May 03, 2008
Michael Chorost does an excellent job of explaining the *human* side of cochlear implantation, offering a perspective that just understanding the mechanics does not. I found myself drawn into the book as he described his feeling of despair, as the little bit of hearing he did have mysteriously failed one day. Chorost also provides an insightful view of life in the Signing community, and how the implant may ultimately result in its demise. While I don't agree with those who call this 'genocide', those chapters provided an interesting and thought-provoking point of view. The book is not flawless. Sometimes the author's meanderings on life as a cyborg seem to have no clear destination in sight. But the perspectives provided more than made up for the occasional drift. As someone interested in Augmented Reality, I viewed these chapters as a sneak preview of what the next few years will bring. I also found Chorost's discussion of his sex life to be gratuitous, by which I mean that had it been omitted, I wouldn't have finished the book saying "That was a great book; I only wish I knew more about what he did in bed." But others may find these passages make the protagonist more human. I guess that's what makes horse races. All in all, definitely a worthwhile read if you're interested in getting beyond the electrodes and MIPs and understanding the human side of all this.

Very Well-Written by Busy Mom (Ohio)

3 Stars
April 28, 2008
This is a very well-written book but it was very technical and dry in places. I still ordered my own copy of it since the subject matter is an important one for my family. I have a CI too and I don't consider myself to be a cyborg or part computer. I consider myself lucky and fortunate to be in a time where this is possible. I lost my hearing suddenly before we left for a trip out west to the Rockies at the age of 34 and a young mom of twin boys that were not even two yet. Scary? Oh you betcha. I got mine for a variety of reasons but mainly because I needed to hear. Like the author of this book, I had grown up wearing hearing aids. So getting the implant was a necessity for me and one that I am eternally grateful for. This book is very interesting in the aspect of technology and how cochlear implant works. This book would be perfect for my husband and dad to read since they love anything technical. But all the references to science fiction turned me off as well as his personal stories about his dating/sex life. I honestly don't care about that so that is why this is rated a three stars instead of a four. If they were trimmed out or modified, then this would be a four. I really do appreciate the section on how the Deaf Culture changed from the year of 2000 to 2004 (or something like that). I did watch the movie, "Sound and the Fury" and for the first time in my life, I had a glimpse of what the Deaf Culture is about (not that I agree with it). This author went into more details (and got me to order more books on that subject) about something that has changed since I was a child. As a mother of a HOH child who may be a candidate for a CI, this book is helpful in sharing information that I may not get otherwise. This is an interesting book and a great introduction to cochlear implants and how it affects one man's life and how it affects society today. It is a good read and a helpful one. 4/28/08

Great book for HOH, deaf, DEAF, and even those with perfect ears. by George D. Smith (Clovis, CA.)

5 Stars
March 12, 2008
When I started going deaf, people often said "Well worse things can happen". That is certainly true. Deaf is not dead. But there is a connection that maybe only a poet should make, and Michael Chorost was deaf and is a poet, so he can speak with a poetic inner voice that rings true, even though I will never be able to hear anything really ring again. For now, I have not yet gotten a cochlear implant and simply struggle to hold on to my rapidly diminishing hearing by increasingly expensive and often frustrating hearing aids. Michael's story has helped me to better accept my loss: technology cannot give me back my hearing the way it was, but it can help, and I am certainly not dead. Indeed, compared to Michael and many others, I am really very lucky, since I had many long years of good hearing, and now I look forward to more years of great living even with the hearing loss. I thank Michael for helping me to gain a measured, realistic, perspective on my deafness. This is a book about living, not just about living with a disability.

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