The Handbook of Artificial Intelligence

"The Handbook of Artificial Intelligence" is a comprehensive three-volume series edited by Edward A. Feigenbaum and Avron Barr. Here is a detailed overview of the book:

Key Themes

1. Introduction to AI: The handbook is designed to serve as an introductory reference book for both researchers within the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and those outside who need a guide to the uncharted waters of AI research and literature.
2. Major Topics: Volume 1 covers search, knowledge representation, and language both written and spoken. Each major topic includes many different ideas and systems, preventing newcomers to the field from assuming they know everything about AI with just one method.
3. Advanced Concepts: The series delves into advanced concepts such as expert systems, natural language understanding, knowledge-based software engineering, qualitative physics, and knowledge-based simulation.

Plot Summary

The handbook is structured to provide a broad and in-depth exploration of AI concepts. Each volume is a collection of outstanding original articles by renowned AI experts, investigating new theories and technologies and pointing to future directions for AI. The articles are written in a literate and accessible style, making them readable by both students and professionals in the field.

Critical Reception

• Review by William Kaufmann, Inc.: The review notes that while ten years ago a single book on AI would have been sufficient, the field has grown so much that three volumes are now required. This ensures that newcomers to the field are not misled into thinking they can solve all problems with one method.
• Sage Journals Review: The review highlights the comprehensive nature of the handbook, noting that it is based on the work of Barr and Feigenbaum (Vols. 1 and 2) and Cohen and Feigenbaum (Vol. 3). It emphasizes the importance of the handbook in providing a guide to AI research and literature.
• Goodreads Rating: Although there are no specific reviews on Goodreads, the book is listed as describing the basic concepts and latest techniques for programming computers to duplicate the human thinking process. It is categorized under the genre of artificial intelligence.

Additional Information

• Publication Details: The handbook was published in 1981 by William Kaufmann, Inc. It is part of the Edward A. Feigenbaum Papers collection, which primarily concerns his work in AI at Stanford University.
• Volume IV: The fourth volume, edited by Avron Barr, Paul R. Cohen, and Edward A. Feigenbaum, continues the series' tradition of excellence. It includes chapters on the blackboard model of problem solving, cooperative distributed problem solving, expert systems, natural language understanding, and computer vision update.

In summary, "The Handbook of Artificial Intelligence" by Edward A. Feigenbaum and Avron Barr is a seminal work in the field of AI, providing a comprehensive and accessible guide to the latest techniques and concepts in AI research. Its critical reception highlights its importance as an introductory reference for both researchers and newcomers to the field.