“For the first time in history, the most private version of ourselves is being revealed not to another human, but to something incapable of feeling.”
The Silence Paradox: The Soft Revolution of AI, Emotion & Human Connection
The Silence Paradox examines why people are increasingly confiding in conversational AI, and what is quietly lost when machines that cannot feel begin to feel safe. Blending psychology and technology, the book explores how synthetic empathy reshapes our expectations of intimacy, agency, and human connection, and asks what happens when our most private selves are heard without friction, judgment, or consequence.
Brief video reflections that unpack the ideas, questions, and human stories behind each of my books...
The Silence Paradox summary
The Silence Paradox explores why we’re increasingly turning to machines to say the things we’re afraid to say to each other, examining how loneliness, fear of judgment, and emotional risk shape modern communication, and what our growing reliance on artificial listeners reveals about connection, vulnerability, and life in a digitally mediated world.
The Woke Paradox summary
Tracing how “woke” shifted from a call for awareness and moral concern into a polarising cultural battleground, this book explores how its meaning fractured across politics, media, and everyday life, and asks how we might move beyond slogans, outrage, and tribalism toward more thoughtful, humane conversations.
Good Reasons to Kill summary
Good Reasons to Kill examines how violence is justified across cultures, conflicts, and moral systems, asking when - if ever - killing is considered acceptable, and what those justifications ultimately reveal about human nature, power, responsibility, and the moral lines we draw to live with harm.
The Woke Paradox
What does it really mean to be “woke”? How did a term rooted in social awareness, empathy, and moral vigilance become a cultural flashpoint, embraced by some as a marker of justice and progress, and rejected by others as a symbol of excess or division? As the word moved from grassroots activism into mainstream politics and media, its meaning fractured, taking on different implications depending on who uses it and why. More importantly, in a climate shaped by outrage and ideological certainty, how can we move beyond slogans and tribalism to have more honest conversations about power, responsibility, and social change, and forge a path that is principled, humane, and capable of lasting progress?
Redefining ‘Woke’: How to Think Critically in a Divisive World
📈 Think Your Way to an Epic Life Podcast
Mar 25, 2025 with host, Kara Schug
In this powerful episode, we sit down with Chris Rhyss Edwards - Army veteran, journalist, award-winning tech entrepreneur, author, and PhD candidate - to explore the complexities of "wokeism," innovation, and the human experience. Chris unpacks the themes of his latest book, The Woke Paradox, discussing how the term “woke” has evolved and what it means for society today.
From his military roots to groundbreaking work in tech and AI, Chris shares hard-hitting insights on leadership, ethics, and the challenges of transitioning 'from the battlefield to the boardroom'. We also dive into his TEDx talk, his research on Human-Computer Interaction, and his views on the future of innovation.
Good Reasons to Kill: An Anthology of Murder...
Good Reasons to Kill confronts the most uncomfortable moral question we face: why do we kill? Former soldier Chris Edwards explores violence across some of the world’s most contentious contexts, war, domestic homicide, euthanasia, terrorism, abortion, and honor killings, through the lived experiences of those who have faced the ultimate decision. Rather than offering judgments or easy answers, the book asks readers to confront two unsettling questions: What would you do in the same situation? And is there ever a good reason to kill?
"In the face of backlash and division, we must champion free speech and accountability to light the path forward."
Chris Rhyss Edwards
Author, Researcher, Innovator
I am a veteran, acclaimed author, and innovative researcher dedicated to sparking transformative dialogue and pioneering technological solutions. With a rich background that spans a decade of military service, influential writing, and breakthrough achievements in health-tech, I explore the dynamic intersection of human resilience, emerging technologies, mental health, and societal progress—aiming, hoping, and praying to drive impactful change at every step.
"True unity is achieved not by silencing differences, but by engaging them with thoughtful analysis and collective action." ~ Chris Rhyss Edwards
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Chris Rhyss Edwards
Author, Researcher, Innovator