Mind Design

Mind Design II was my first serious introduction to artificial intelligence and the issues surrounding work in this multi-disciplinary area. I found it both accessible and enlightening. That being said, it is by no means a completely light read for newcomers, and it is important to invest time into thinking about the key discussion points of the book (connectionism (NFAI) vs. GOFAI, symbolism, representation, etc.). My only complaint with the book is that it is hard to tell the difference between what is current and what isn't (Turing's essay, for instance), and the fact that it was published in 1997 doesn't make it any easier. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the philosophy and science of "mind design."

This is the best compendium of papers in artificial intelligence that I've seen (at least on the same level of "the artificial intelligence debate" -- which is also excellent).However, some of these ideas are getting outdated. If you want to see some true innovation in AI you should check out Douglas Hofstadter's Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies.