本书是诺依曼在1955—1956年为西里曼讲座而准备的未完成讲稿，是作者对过去十几年在计算机领域所做研究的一个总结性梳理。诺依曼在书中首先概述了模拟计算机和数字计算机的一些基本设计思想和理论基础，然后从数学的角度，主要是逻辑和统计数学的角度，探讨了人脑的神经系统的控制和逻辑结构，对计算机的数学运算和人脑思维的过程进行了比较研究。 本书是计算机和人工智能领域的一篇重要的原始文献，具有高度的前瞻性，为计算机的创新与发展以及机器人的研究指明了方向。

前辅文
Introduction
PART 1 THE COMPUTER
  The Analog Procedure
   The Conventional Basic Operations
   Unusual Basic Operations
  The Digital Procedure
   Markers, Their Combinations and Embodiments
   Digital Machine Types and Their Basic Components
   Parallel and Serial Schemes
   The Conventional Basic Operations
  Logical Control
   Plugged Control
   Logical Tape Control
   The Principle of Only One Organ for Each Basic Operation
   The Consequent Need for a Special Memory Organ
   Control by “Control Sequence” Points
   Memory-Stored Control
   Modus Operandi of the Memory-Stored Control
   Mixed Forms of Control
  Mixed Numerical Procedures
   Mixed Representations of Numbers; Machines Built on This Basis
  Precision
   Reasons for the High (Digital) Precision Requirements
  Characteristics of Modern Analog Machines
  Characteristics of Modern Digital Machines
   Active Components; Questions of Speed
   Number of Active Components Required
   Memory Organs; Access Times and Memory Capacities
   Memory Registers Built from Active Organs
   The Hierarchic Principle for Memory Organs
   Memory Components; Questions of Access
   Complexities of the Concept of Access Time
   The Principle of Direct Addressing
PART 2 THE BRAIN
  Simplified Description of the Function of the Neuron
  The Nature of the Nerve Impulse
   The Process of Stimulation
   The Mechanism of Stimulating Pulses by Pulses; Its Digital Character
   Time Characteristics of Nerve Response,Fatigue, and Recovery
   Size of a Neuron; Comparisons with Artificial Components
   Energy Dissipation; Comparisons with Artificial Components
   Summary of Comparisons
  Stimulation Criteria
   The Simplest—Elementary Logical
   More Complicated Stimulation Criteria
   The Threshold
   The Summation Time
   Stimulation Criteria for Receptors
  The Problem of Memory within the Nervous System
   Principles for Estimating the Capacity of the Memory in the Nervous System
   Memory Capacity Estimates with These Stipulations
   Various Possible Physical Embodiments of the Memory
   Analogies with Artificial Computing Machines
   The Underlying Componentry of the Memory Need Not Be the Same as That of the Basic Active Organs
  Digital and Analog Parts in the Nervous System
   Role of the Genetic Mechanism in the Above Context
  Codes and Their Role in the Control of the Functioning of a Machine
   The Concept of a Complete Code
   The Concept of a Short Code
   The Function of a Short Code
  The Logical Structure of the Nervous System
   Importance of the Numerical Procedures
   Interaction of Numerical Procedures with Logic
   Reasons for Expecting High Precision Requirements
  Nature of the System of Notations Employed: Not Digital but Statistical
   Arithmetical Deterioration. Roles of Arithmetical and Logical Depths
   Arithmetical Precision or Logical Reliability, Alternatives
   Other Statistical Traits of the Message System That Could Be Used
  The Language of the Brain Not the Language of Mathematics