The Paradox of Progress: The Roses and Thorns of Artificial Intelligence: Received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Michael Karch.
1. What is the name of the book, and when was it published?
The book is titled The Paradox of Progress: The Roses and Thorns of Artificial Intelligence, and it was published on September 16, 2025.
2. What’s the book’s first line?
“Armed with a long grocery list from my wife, I gave my middle-aged brain a workout, reminiscent of a Sudoku puzzle.”
3. What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch.”
The Paradox of Progress explores the double-edged nature of artificial intelligence — its revolutionary power and its deeply human cost. From algorithmic bias to deepfakes, job displacement to digital warfare, I trace how AI is reshaping our lives at a pace few truly grasp.
This is not a technical manual or a dystopian prophecy — it’s a candid, accessible, and compelling invitation to think deeply about the future we are building. Drawing on historical patterns of innovation and disruption, I offer a clear-eyed framework for navigating this moment with curiosity, caution, and collective responsibility.
Whether you’re a policymaker, clinician, parent, educator, or just AI-curious, this book helps you understand what’s at stake — and how we might still shape a future that works for all of us.
4. What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
It started, unexpectedly, with a grocery list. Thanksgiving 2020. My daughter Olivia, 17 at the time, watched me try to memorize a long shopping list for a dinner serving 20 people. She rolled her eyes — the kind of eye roll only a teenager can deliver — and said, “Dad, just put it in your phone.” I laughed, but the comment stuck.
After we collected our groceries, I noticed an automated checkout lane. Curious, I used it for the first time. It was fast and efficient — but also sterile, cold. I missed the small human kindness of a cashier’s smile or a simple hello.
That’s when the paradox really hit me. What are we giving up in exchange for convenience and efficiency? What are we automating away — not just in labor, but in connection, in dignity, in meaning?
That moment became the seed of the book.
5. What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
This book isn’t here to give easy answers — it’s here to raise better questions. My hope is that it sparks thoughtful, everyday conversations in coffee shops, classrooms, hospital break rooms, and company boardrooms.
Artificial intelligence may be the most powerful tool humanity has ever picked up. But like any power tool, it can build or it can destroy. You wouldn’t pick up a circular saw without training — and yet, many of us are racing to adopt AI without stopping to ask how, or why.
The Paradox of Progress invites readers to pause, reflect, and engage — not with fear, but with intention. It’s a book for those who want to help shape this moment, not be shaped by it.
6. Is this the first book you’ve written?
No — this is actually my third book.
My first, Tangible Heroes, was born out of my work in disaster zones and humanitarian crises. One night over dinner, I was telling my kids a story from the field, and my son, Dabe, looked at me and said, “Dad, you really need to write this stuff down.” The next morning, I woke up early and began putting stories to paper — stories and lessons, many learned the hard way. Writing was unexpectedly cathartic, and to my surprise, I fell in love with it. It’s become one of my favorite pastimes — and I never once thought of myself as a writer.
My second book, Artificial Intelligence for the Everyday User, mapped my personal journey through learning about AI. It started as a series of study notes and slowly evolved into a teaching tool — filled with practical explanations, working vocabulary, and analogies to help make this complex field approachable for anyone.
Each book builds on the last. Each one explores the tension between innovation and humanity.
7. What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I’m an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee replacements, with a focus on robotic and navigational surgery. I’m also an inventor of medical devices and a global disaster response physician. Much of my current work sits at the intersection of AI, surgery, ethics, and real-world application.
8. How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
Most mornings, I write from about 4:00 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. That quiet window before the world wakes up has become sacred space — when the ideas are raw and the mind is clear.
9. What’s a great piece of advice you can share with fellow indie authors?
Write what you’re passionate about — and give more than you expect to receive. Don’t write to impress. Write to serve. Teach something you care deeply about, and the energy will come through.
When you write with the goal of contribution — not applause — you’ll find your voice. You’ll find your readers. And you’ll build something that actually matters.
Innovation always brings unintended consequences. That’s the paradox. As indie authors, especially in this technological moment, we have a unique responsibility — to explain, to explore, to challenge, and to connect.