Books

Welcome to the Books section of EvoLensArt. Here, we provide brief overviews of our current book projects, each exploring unique intersections of technology, philosophy, and creativity. Dedicated pages for each book with more details and links will be available soon.

Our Books:

• C is for Competence: Exploring Creativity, Continuity, and AI What we’re zooming in on is the distinction between the supernatural and the natural, in the sense that all technology is part of the natural world. This contrasts with the more typical distinction between the natural and the artificial, where biological things are placed in one category and human-made technologies in another. Drawing on foundational ideas from Richard Dawkins’ extended phenotype and Daniel Dennett’s concept of “competence without comprehension,” this book views even the most primitive human tools—like spears, stone axes, and fire-starters—as natural extensions of human evolution, products of adaptation just as much as feathers or fins. With this perspective, the book advocates for a shift in terminology from “artificial intelligence” to “mechanical competence.” When we look at something as simple as a colander, it’s easy to recognize it as a mechanically competent tool—it separates liquids from solids with efficiency and reliability. But here, we flip the script and say, yes, it’s also a form of artificial intelligence. Like a spell checker, an arpeggiator, or a gradient fill tool, the colander embodies “competence without comprehension.” It performs its function without understanding it, just as Turing machines have done for decades. Fundamentally, what ChatGPT or MidJourney are doing is not so different from what any other computer has done before—just number crunching at a larger scale. But oh, what magical number crunching it is. This book celebrates these AI-driven tools in creative work, particularly ones like MidJourney, which often spark ethical debates. However, the goal here isn’t to settle the controversy around whether these technologies rely on “stolen” creative works. Instead, C is for Competence methodically dissects the many orthogonal claims and assumptions surrounding AI and creativity, untangling misconceptions, emotional responses, and cultural baggage. By breaking these down, the book prepares readers to approach ethical debates about AI with clarity and precision. This isn’t just a defense of AI in art; it’s a philosophical roadmap for understanding human technology as part of the natural world, from the stone axe to the gradient fill to the complex outputs of ChatGPT.
• The Semantic Event Horizon: A Practical Guide for Creatives in the Age of AI The Semantic Event Horizon is designed as a foundational textbook for anyone venturing into the world of generative AI. It’s more than just a collection of tutorials; it’s a zero-to-one primer that provides both practical skills and the deeper philosophical grounding needed to navigate AI creatively and independently. Using ChatGPT and MidJourney as core examples, this book teaches universal concepts that apply across generative AI platforms, providing readers with a toolkit that extends beyond specific software. This guide isn’t just about following steps; it’s about thinking critically and developing the meta-tools to understand your own creative process. It introduces ways of thinking about your thinking, equipping you to explore AI in any mode, medium, or field that excites you. By the end, readers will have the skills to move beyond structured exercises and dive into their own explorations, with a solid grasp of foundational principles like prompt crafting, iterative prompting, and multimodal creativity. With a mix of philosophy, foundational concepts, and practical advice, The Semantic Event Horizon sets readers up for long-term growth. Whether you’re a digital artist, writer, or simply curious about the creative potential of AI, this book offers a stepping stone into a new frontier, giving you everything you need to launch your own journey with generative AI. Progress: Outline Complete | First Chapter Drafted | Chapters as Articles | Practical Demos in Progress…
• Uncle Bitcoin: A Visionary Exploration of Decentralized Systems Uncle Bitcoin began as a riff on Douglas Hofstadter’s Gödel, Escher, Bach, where the character Aunt Hillary embodies the concept of decentralized intelligence—a sentient anthill emerging from the collective behaviors of countless ants, none of which are independently “intelligent.” Inspired by this, Uncle Bitcoin introduces Uncle Bitcoin as a playful but insightful personification of Bitcoin, reimagining it as an emergent, collective intelligence, shaped by countless independent nodes, miners, developers, and advocates. Uncle Bitcoin is the avatar of Bitcoin’s network—a decentralized, resilient, and adaptive force that embodies an intelligence beyond any single contributor. Structured in three parts—Abiogenesis, The Eukaryotic Revolution, and The Cambrian Explosion—Uncle Bitcoin traces Bitcoin’s metaphorical journey from its fragile beginnings to a future where its principles reshape our understanding of value and time across the cosmos. Part A: Abiogenesis (Nurturing Uncle Bitcoin) This first section grounds Bitcoin as a foundational protocol, not merely a piece of software but something more elemental—akin to the laws of mathematics or physics. Unlike HTTP or SMTP, Bitcoin operates like a universal truth: a set of rules and principles that are absolute, consistent, and globally applicable. Bitcoin is less an invention and more a discovery—an open protocol with immutable rules, like the rules of chess, which define interactions and outcomes with absolute precision. It is, in this way, the unmoving foundation of the time chain—a decentralized, borderless standard for value, bound by the laws of physics rather than the dictates of any central authority. The early chapters introduce Bitcoin’s unique characters, setting the stage for a network that would grow from a spore into a pervasive, unstoppable force. Part B: The Eukaryotic Revolution (Walking with Uncle Bitcoin) Part B shifts from Bitcoin’s fragile early days to the present, where Bitcoin is an established, maturing network, resilient enough that its continued existence is a conservative assumption. In this era, Bitcoin is no longer isolated; it is integrating with global systems—energy markets, financial institutions, and decentralized technologies. This period reflects a eukaryotic phase of evolution, where independent systems start to combine and interact, creating a complex, symbiotic ecosystem. Enter NOSTR (N-O-S-T-R), a decentralized communication protocol that stands as an independent counterpart to Bitcoin, representing freedom of speech in the same way Bitcoin represents freedom of money. NOSTR isn’t dependent on Bitcoin, yet it has Bitcoin payments integrated seamlessly within it, enabling communication and transactions in a censorship-resistant environment. Currently, most people discovering NOSTR come from the Bitcoin community, but there’s a strong case to be made that, in time, the flow might reverse—NOSTR’s unique utility could attract people on its own, becoming a new path that brings people to Bitcoin rather than the other way around. The NOSTRich symbolizes this potent but independent protocol, a lieutenant in Bitcoin’s ecosystem but one that can thrive on its own terms. The NOSTRich is Uncle Bitcoin’s indispensable companion, reflecting a future where decentralized communication and decentralized money coexist and strengthen each other. The eukaryotic revolution demonstrates that the future is already here, though still unevenly distributed, as Bitcoin and NOSTR lead the way for a decentralized world. Part C: The Cambrian Explosion (Being Led by Uncle Bitcoin) In the final section, Uncle Bitcoin projects into the future with Bitcoin astronomy—an era that begins when humanity settles on Mars and extends Bitcoin’s reach into interplanetary space. While Bitcoin can travel wherever nodes and private keys go, the speed of light imposes a fundamental limit on mining. Mars and other colonies will be able to use Bitcoin, but they won’t be able to mine it due to the time delay, sparking a profound realization that Bitcoin is but a specific instance of a broader concept: the proof of work time chain. The limitations introduced by the speed of light reveal the need for localized proof of work time chains across the cosmos, each tailored to its energy resources and spatial constraints. Bitcoin astronomy’s principles, pioneered by thinkers like Drew Bonsall at Unchained Capital, allow us to make sweeping predictions about this future, grounded in the laws of physics. Rather than imagining specific events, Bitcoin astronomy outlines a blueprint for how decentralized systems will inevitably evolve across space and time, bound by physical realities yet capable of transcending human limitations. In this future, Bitcoin transcends itself, becoming part of a universal framework of decentralized, time-bound value systems. Each inhabited region across the cosmos may eventually run its own time chain, but the spirit and principles pioneered by Bitcoin will remain intact, guiding these future civilizations in a decentralized, trust-minimized framework that honors autonomy and interstellar cooperation. Supporting Characters and Ecosystem Throughout the book, readers encounter a diverse cast of characters, each representing a facet of Bitcoin’s identity and influence: • The Maximally Fractal Mycelium symbolizes Bitcoin’s pervasive spread, growing like a mycelium from a spore into a vast network that connects stranded resources on Earth and embeds itself deeply in individual psyches, families, and institutions. • The Three Blind Men and the Elephant illustrate different perspectives on Bitcoin—as technology, as a form of life, and as an economic paradigm—showing how each perspective captures a piece of Bitcoin’s nature, but none see the whole. • The Decentralized Octopus embodies Bitcoin’s resilience and adaptability, able to navigate obstacles and evade suppression with “all tentacle, no head,” ensuring that no central point of failure exists. • The Cyber Hornets, defenders of the time chain, are divided into node runners, developers, miners, and advocates, each protecting and reinforcing Bitcoin’s integrity from their unique vantage point. And at the heart of it all lies the Time Chain itself, Bitcoin’s immutable record and the core avatar from which Uncle Bitcoin emerges. The Time Chain is both a record of the past and a beacon to the future, a crystalline, multi-dimensional lattice that serves as the foundation for all decentralized interactions. It is the constant that unites all characters, guiding Bitcoin’s journey as both a ledger and a vision for a time-bound yet timeless system. This ambitious, multi-layered journey in Uncle Bitcoin traces Bitcoin’s evolution from a fragile protocol to an interstellar standard, showing how it inspires new forms of decentralized cooperation and autonomy across space and time. It is a vision of Bitcoin not just as a currency, but as the foundation for a cosmic civilization grounded in trust, proof of work, and the immutable laws of physics.
• Vast and Vanishing: The Libraries of Babel Imagine a library so vast that it contains every possible book, not only the canonical works of Shakespeare, Tolstoy, and Borges but also every variant: every single-letter typo, every jumbled and nonsensical version, every new draft that could exist. This is the Library of Babel—a conceptual space that holds within it all potential arrangements of letters, all possible ideas, from masterpieces to random gibberish. Vast and Vanishing dives into the paradox of this infinite representational space, where the vast majority is noise, and yet, vanishingly small subsets contain all recognizable works of art, coherent ideas, and meaningful sequences. But the Library of Babel is just the beginning. This book guides readers through a journey across multiple conceptual “libraries,” each a specialized subset of the Babelian whole: the Library of Mendel, containing every possible genetic sequence; the Library of MidJourney, which holds every imaginable image; and the Library of Spielberg, where every conceivable audiovisual work exists. Each library is vast yet finite, and each contains its own vanishingly small islands of coherence. Together, they form a landscape where creativity becomes an act of navigation, not invention—a process of discovery within structured spaces of endless possibility. As we explore these libraries, Vast and Vanishing confronts the role of AI-generated creativity in this paradigm. What does it mean for AI to produce competent outputs, from visual art to written stories, without the subjectivity or intent that humans bring? In the final chapters, we see that while AI can generate content with astounding precision, true creativity—true art—requires a subjective mind to interpret, assign value, and bring meaning to what it encounters. AI can generate the raw material, but only humans can turn it into art. The book ends with a cosmic perspective, asking: when does data become art? As we stand at the frontier of AI-enabled creativity, it’s clear that machines are competent, but humans are the ultimate creators. The Libraries of Babel remind us that while all possibilities already exist within a vast space of permutations, it is our human experience, subjectivity, and responsibility that bring art into existence. In an age where data flows freely, Vast and Vanishing challenges us to consider that art emerges only when we make the choice to imbue it with meaning.
• Thank God for Bitcoin? A Universal Framework for Deriving ‘Ought’ from ‘Is For the author, a materialist atheist, the phrase “Thank God for Bitcoin” serves as a metaphor for a discovery that is both ordinary and extraordinary. Bitcoin isn’t worshiped here—it’s understood as something tangible, a specific instance of a broader principle that any intelligent life might eventually recognize. Much like how civilizations across the galaxy might independently grasp constants like pi or concepts akin to Maxwell’s equations, Bitcoin is our local example of a universal solution: the proof-of-work time chain. Just as we wouldn’t expect alien civilizations to write pi with the same symbols we use, we don’t expect their time chains to be formatted like Bitcoin’s. But we’d still expect them to recognize and grapple with universal constraints—finite resources, entropy, and the need for reliable systems of exchange. Bitcoin operates on principles that echo these constants. Through the structure of the proof-of-work time chain, it offers a model of fairness, transparency, and self-regulation grounded in the real world. While Bitcoin is our particular expression, the general concept is something any society could discover, implement, and understand with enough analysis. Drawing on Quine’s framework of radical translation, we can imagine a process of recognizing each other’s time chains. If we encountered a data structure in alien transmissions with patterns resembling a time chain, we could reasonably conclude it serves a similar function, even if the encoding is unfamiliar. The principles underpinning it—tying value to energy, securing trust through work—would be universally comprehensible. This book explores Bitcoin as more than just a financial innovation. It’s a structure that exists everywhere and nowhere, operating independently of belief, guiding human action without requiring faith. For some, such a framework might evoke what they call “God.” But Bitcoin’s magic lies precisely in its grounded, mundane nature—it doesn’t demand trust; it’s built to be verified. Through its verifiable rules, it encourages a low time preference, aligning economic behavior with principles of sustainability and fairness. Bitcoin’s value is in its ability to embody a timeless structure that fosters individual autonomy and societal resilience. It stands as a bridge between the “is” of physical reality and the “ought” of ethical conduct, making it both uniquely human and potentially universal. As we confront a world increasingly shaped by centralized control and ephemeral priorities, Bitcoin reminds us of a more sustainable, transparent path—one where everyone can navigate by the same rules, secure in the knowledge that those rules are rooted in reality itself. For those willing to look beyond the transactional, Bitcoin reveals a framework for organizing society on principles that extend beyond culture, language, or planetary boundaries. It offers a system that, like the constants of physics, could serve as common ground, guiding us toward a future aligned with enduring values.
• Invisible Chains: Navigating the Future with Bitcoin and AI “The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding.” — Louis D. Brandeis In Invisible Chains, we explore a future where two groundbreaking technologies—Bitcoin and Artificial Intelligence—are reshaping the landscape of freedom, power, and individual sovereignty. But this isn’t a tech-utopia pitch, nor a dystopian prophecy. It’s a clear-eyed look at the profound ways these tools are upending our world, for better and for worse, and what that means for all of us. Bitcoin, often misunderstood as a mere digital currency, has proven itself a potent force for financial independence, a check against the encroaching power of centralized finance. AI, on the other hand, is a double-edged sword, offering unprecedented capabilities while opening doors to surveillance, manipulation, and control on a scale we’re only beginning to grasp. Together, they represent a tectonic shift, a challenge to the status quo, and a call to rethink the very foundations of autonomy and accountability. This book doesn’t sugarcoat the dangers. From government-controlled digital currencies that track every purchase to AI-driven surveillance that nudges our every decision, the risks of centralized technology are already unfolding around us. Yet Invisible Chains also illuminates a path forward, showing how Bitcoin’s decentralized ethos and open-source AI’s potential could be our best defenses against the invisible chains that threaten to bind us. Drawing on real-world examples, philosophical insights, and policy implications, Invisible Chains is a guide for those ready to question old political divides and take seriously the choices that will shape our digital future. Because the technologies transforming our world aren’t going away; the only question is whether they’ll serve as instruments of liberation—or of control.
• 21 Memes: Memetic Scaffolding and the Ontological Power of Shitposting 21 Memes is a concentrated dose of Bitcoin wisdom, crafted for the Bitcoin-obsessed and the pre-coiner on the edge of the rabbit hole. Each meme is more than a meme; it’s a layer of hard-won insight, distilled from the vision, perseverance, and relentless curiosity of the OGs who blazed this trail. You could devour this book in a single sitting, but each meme is a potent thinking tool, revealing new depths as your own understanding matures. Bitcoin has grown up. It’s not just the tech that’s more robust—our collective understanding and the educational resources around it have evolved, too. We’re spoiled compared to the early days, and 21 Memes is both a tribute to that journey and a toolkit for newcomers and veterans alike. This book is the perfect companion for the start of your Bitcoin journey, but it’s designed to age well with you. On day one, it’s a primer. A year in, it’s an entirely different read. Each meme offers insights that deepen with time, delivering a scaffolding of ideas that catch you on the way down and keep you grounded as you dig deeper. For the newcomer, 21 Memes plants the seeds of revolutionary thought. For the veteran, it distills thousands of hours of hard study into a fierce, unapologetic manifesto for Bitcoin maximalism. Bitcoin isn’t just money; it’s a mental upgrade, a lens through which the world—and your place in it—becomes clearer with every layer of understanding. Welcome to the future—whether you’re ready or not.
• Bitcoin for Kids: A Journey Through the History of Money This book takes young readers on an adventure through the fascinating story of money, showing how values like hard work, fairness, and integrity have shaped the way we trade and interact. From the barter systems of hunter-gatherer societies to the development of coins, paper currency, and now digital money, this book explains why money isn’t just a means to an end but a powerful tool that helps us build trust, foster cooperation, and connect with people near and far. In clear, kid-friendly terms, Bitcoin for Kids explores the importance of saving, living responsibly, and creating value for others. It challenges the idea that capitalism is inherently flawed or “evil,” showing instead that capitalism, at its core, is about freedom and fair exchange. True capitalism is powered by sound money and incentives—not by impositions or manipulation. Many of the problems we see today, often blamed on “late-stage capitalism,” are actually consequences of unsound money. With a return to principles of sound money, as Bitcoin aims to provide, we have a chance to build a system where incentives align with the greater good. This book breaks down big ideas like inflation, decentralization, and transparency, explaining how they impact us and why Bitcoin could be the next chapter in the history of honest, reliable exchange. It’s an engaging introduction that shows young minds how fair and responsible systems—powered by sound money—are key to building a brighter, more just future. With illustrations, simple stories, and fun facts, Bitcoin for Kids brings the world of money to life, helping kids understand how the right incentives can create positive change. Whether they’re reading on their own or with family, kids will come away with a new understanding of money and a sense of excitement about what sound, fair systems like Bitcoin could bring to the world.

Stay tuned for more updates and detailed pages on each of these exciting projects.