'Are you a (literary) machine?'
North student pens essay, publishes book
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

Elie Sternberg

If you ask him about Williamsville North English teacher Carol Palm, Elie Sternberg has nothing but nice things to say.

"She's a special kind of teacher," the 2005 North graduate said. "Her goal is to open your mind."

For the final writing project of his junior year Advanced Placement English class, for which Palm told her students to pick any topic, Sternberg decided to explore an idea that had been discussed in a biology class.

What makes humans act the way that they do? Why do people fall in love or make certain choices?

These questions prompted Sternberg to read more into the subject of the brain and its reactions.

As he read, he came across theories and papers involving the decisions that humans make. And if all decisions are just a series of reactions, could they be imitated by mechanical beings? Would that make human beings organic robots?

"It struck me as cool," he said. "Can we build conscious machines and if not, why?"

After finishing his 20-page paper, titled "Are You a Machine?" for class, Sternberg decided to take a chance and send the paper to Amherst publishing house Prometheus Books.

Editor Steven Mitchell expressed interest in seeing more and told Sternberg to send in a complete manuscript for publication.

"Prometheus was a perfect fit," Sternberg said. "They have a lot of stuff for non-experts, and I liked that they were local."

Sternberg spent his senior year working on the manuscript with Palm.

"I started to do research and anytime I had a question or a concept that I liked, I would tell her what it was and then we would argue about it," he said. "Those arguments

helped me to conceptualize almost every angle in the book."

"Are You a Machine?: The Brain, the Mind and What It Means to be Human" was published by Humanity Books, an imprint of Prometheus Books, last month. Sternberg is currently a sophomore at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass.

"I don't commit myself to any particular view," Sternberg said of his book. "My goal is not to teach hardcore philosophy. I want people to be excited about what I'm excited about."

Majoring in philosophy and neuroscience, Sternberg continues to write while balancing his schoolwork and personal life.

His second book, entitled "Neurons Stole My Wallet: How Modern Neuroscience Threatens Moral Agency," is nearing completion.

"It's about neuroscience and free will and how it affects morality," he said.

Sternberg also hopes to continue his education with advanced degrees and research positions in the Boston area. However, his main driving force is writing books.

"I don't think I would be as excited about what I learn if I couldn't write about it," he said. "I would be frustrated if I couldn't do something with it when I'm finished."