A Comparison of Two Books on Technology, Culture, and Society

This report provides a comparative analysis of two books: Jennifer Robertson's 'Robo Sapiens Japanicus' and Valerie Olson's 'Into the Extreme'. The report begins with an introduction highlighting the impact of technological advancements, particularly robotics and artificial intelligence, on various aspects of society, including culture, politics, religion, and economics. It summarizes each book, with 'Into the Extreme' focusing on the effects of technology on American society, including space exploration, politics, and environmental conditions, while 'Robo Sapiens Japanicus' examines the introduction of robots in Japan and its cultural and economic implications. The report then delves into a theoretical analysis, applying frameworks such as Structural Functionalism and Conflict Theory to understand the concepts presented in each book. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of theoretical models in analyzing technology's impact on societal structures and the economic status of the countries examined. The report also includes cited works for further reading.

Surname 1
Student’s Name:
Professor’s Name:
Course:
Date:
Comparing Roberson’s Book with Olson’s Book
1.0 Introduction
Book review involves a critical analysis of the concepts in the entire literature.
Comparison of the book reviews requires a good understanding of the information contained in
each book (Lippitt, 34). The changes that have occurred in most of the communities are
attributed to the contributions of technological inventions. In the contemporary world, most of
the technical operations are performed by robots that have been generated through the
technological changes in the world. Technological changes and introduction of robots have
impacted political, religious, cultural and economic aspects, especially in developed countries
(Conway, 15). Robo Sapiens Japanicus, is a book that was written by Robertson and described
the implications the technological improvements in the cultural nature of the Japanese people.
Similarly, another book that describes the impacts of technology on the life aspects was written
by Valerie Olson. The book is entitled, Into the Extreme and its focus is based on the cultural,
political, religious and economic aspects of United Sates of America. Olson's book also provides
an overview of the desires of the people to venture into the outer-space. The technological
progression in these two countries provides a clear indication of the life transformation,
therefore, contributing to the historical and anthropological evaluation of life aspects in the
world.

Surname 2
2.0 Summary of Into the Extreme
The analysis of Olson’s book provides the potential impacts of technological changes on
the American people in their contemporary societies. Olson focused on the field of politics,
science and the environment. An interrelation is also made on the technological advancement
and artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is also contributes to the analysis of the available
theories explaining Anthropological development in the United States of America and its
surrounding environs. The book also focuses on the contributions and achievements made by
American scientists and astronauts in the field of technology. The concepts presented in the book
is based on the concepts provided by the first people who visited the moon; therefore, the
exploration of the universe beyond the earth's surface is emphasised in the literature.
The impacts of the outer-space exploration to the lives of the people are also succinctly
elaborated in Olson's book. The visits made to the universe have both positive and negative
impacts on the lives of the people because the universe sustains human life and determine the
ecological conditions. US political systems have impacted the exploration of the universe,
therefore, impacting the environmental conditions of the country. The advancement made on the
technology has affected the political, economic, environmental and social wellbeing of the
people (Raffnsøe, and Hirokazu, 183). The technological progression made in the United States
is also attributed to the strongest military system of the country. There has been a competition
between different developed countries on the frequencies made in exploring the outer space. The
countries with advanced technologies are leading in exploring the universe more than those with
less technological changes. Olson mentions United States of America as the most technologically
equipped country.
3.0 Summary of the Robo Sapiens Japanicus

Surname 3
Robertson was focused on explaining the technological changes that led to the invention
and introduction of robots in Japan. Book, Robo Sapiens Japanicus, utilizes the analysis of the
information and issues that arise from the introduction of the concept of the Japanese robotics
economy. The introduction and application of artificial knowledge in most parts of the world
resulted in the invention of robots and robotic concepts (Miyazaki, 68). Robots have occupied
the opportunities that were initially available for human beings. The need to use robots in
technological and complex operation is due to their faster completion of the tasks. The use of
robots has also impacted the cultural, and economic status of the people because these machines
take the roles that could be performed by human beings.
The technician and companies producing these robots have exaggerated the performance
of their models. The exaggeration of the robots’ performance is used as an appropriate marketing
strategy to attract buyers and spread the idea of robotic to all parts of the world. The companies
are competing in for the production of quality robots; therefore, their performance is manipulated
to fit into the market forces in most countries. The stiff competition among the manufactures
results to the production of manipulated robots, therefore, disadvantaging the customers. The
robots with higher performance and durability have been used for military and industrial
operations (Pipher, 102). Most heavy technical operations in the military like the manufacture of
weapons have utilized the application of robotics to improve performance, therefore, ensuring a
strong Japanese defence. Cultural changes are also identified in Roberson’s book when the
robots are given human characters, that is, these machines are given an upright posture like that
of human beings and the ability to communicate under the control of computers.
4.0 Theoretical Analysis of the Two Books

Surname 4
In Robertson’s book, Robo Sapiens Japanicus, the analysis of the robotics provides an
idea about the cultural structure of the Japanese people in contemporary societies (Rudnyckyj,
122). The title of the book related to the evolution of human beings, therefore, identifies the
robots as another group of people that emerged as a result of evolution. The Structural
Functionalism is the theory that explains the cultural system of the Japanese population about the
introduction of the concept of robotics in the country (Pedersen, and Sune, 18). The performance
of the robots has contributed to various developmental changes in the Japanese communities.
The functions of the robots have replaced the roles that were initially undertaken by men in
societies because, because of their technicalities. The performance of the robots relates to the
Feminism theory because the cultural values in society regulate the manipulation and
performance of the robots. Division of labour is also identified in Robertson's book (Robertson,
82).
The analysis of Olson’s text also provides pivotal theories explaining the relationship
between artificial intelligence and anthropology. Conflict theory is one of the appropriate
theoretical frameworks used in the analysis of the concepts presented by Olson. For example,
astronauts are competing for fame when they make regular explorations to the universe. The
competition leads to conflicts and subsequent negative impacts on the political, economic and
environmental aspect of the country (Moeran, 24). Structural Functionalism is another theory
that is used in the analysis of the technological advancements observed in Olson's book.
Intelligent people have promoted the development of different sectors in the country.
5.0 Conclusion
In conclusion, the Robo Sapiens Japanicus provides an overview of the impacts of
anthropology and technological improvements in shaping the cultural and economic structure of

Surname 5
the Japanese people. Religious background may also be impacted by technological invention
because the beliefs of the people may be changed through anthropological changes. The robots
have generally improved the economic status of the Japanese nation. The use of theoretical
models is important in the analysis if the effects of technology on the environmental, social and
political systems of the people in America.

Surname 6
Works Cited
Conway, Daniel. “Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling”: A Critical Guide. Cambridge University
Press, 2015.
Lippitt, John. "Learning to hope: the role of hope in Fear and Trembling." Kierkegaard’s Fear
and Trembling (2015).
Miyazaki, Hirokazu. “The Method of Hope”. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2004.
Moeran, Brian. “A Japanese advertising agency”: An anthropology of media and markets.
Routledge, 2013.
Olson, Valerie. Into the Extreme: US Environmental Systems and Politics beyond Earth.
University of Minnesota Press, 2018.
Pedersen, Esther Oluffa, and Sune Liisberg. "Trust and Hope: An Introduction." Anthropology
and Philosophy. Berghahn Books, 2015. 1-20.
Pipher, Mary. “Letters to a Young Therapist”: Stories of Hope and Healing: Easyread Super
Large 24pt Edition. ReadHowYouWant. Com, 2009.
Raffnsøe, Sverre, and Hirokazu Miyazaki. "JOINT STATEMENT." Anthropology and
Philosophy: Dialogues on Trust and Hope 4 (2015): 183.
Rudnyckyj, Daromir. "Economy in practice: Islamic finance and the problem of market
reason." American Ethnologist 41.1 (2014): 110-127.
Robertson, Jennifer. Robo Sapiens Japanicus. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2018.