Into the Light, Into the Dark
By Seth Egger
I've lived inside addiction—heroin, alcohol, video games, and social media. Half of those didn't even exist when my grandfather was my age. They were engineered.
As I immersed myself in AI development, I noticed something chilling: the same brilliant minds who engineered social media's infinite scroll are building AI systems. The psychological levers that kept me clicking and craving are being woven into technology that will touch every corner of our lives.
I've learned to recognize patterns of exploitation. This book is your guide to seeing them too—and making conscious choices before it's too late.
We stand at the most consequential crossroads in human history. This book doesn't peddle fear or false hope. Instead, it offers a clear-eyed examination of both the tremendous risks and extraordinary opportunities ahead.
Through personal stories, hard data, and practical frameworks, you'll learn to navigate this transformation with wisdom instead of being swept along by forces you don't understand.
The perfect metaphor for our cultural crisis. When AI can generate perfect content instantly, what makes human creation valuable? The book reveals how authenticity becomes revolutionary when everything can be faked.
Key Insight: The “Certified Human-Made” movement shows authentic work commanding 3-5x higher prices. Conscious human creation becomes the ultimate differentiator.
Everything has changed. The fundamental relationship between creation and consumption has flipped, and we're only beginning to understand the implications for meaning, value, and human purpose.
Throughout the book, my mother provides grounding wisdom that cuts through technological complexity:
“You don't think anymore. You just ask your phone.”
“I use their tools, but I don't become one.”
“When the computers fail, I'll still have real people.”
Her perspective offers practical guidance for maintaining human connection and agency in an AI world.
Official Release: November 14, 2025
Also coming to Barnes & Noble and major book retailers
"This book isn't about selling you fear or false hope. It's about equipping you with the understanding and tools to navigate the most important transition in human history. The choices we make now will echo for generations. Let's make them consciously, together."
— Seth Egger