Author: Yuval Noah Harari

I could honestly listen to and read Harari all day long. If there is an opportunity to fly to Israel and hear him lecture, I’d seriously consider it.

Now that he’s hit the international spotlight and is in high demand through many outlets, there’s no doubt he’ll be getting pitched many publishing deals. This book appears to be one of those and serves as a starting point to a plethora of what he names as conversation starters.

If you’ve never read Sapiens or Homo Deus, this book wouldn’t be a bad starting point to Harari’s work and the way he thinks. Looking at the next hundred years, he pulls on questions that many would fear to tread and suggests alternatives would shy away from.

In essence, humanity could be creating its own disastrous end where technological innovation would turn an elite few to gods and leave the rest behind. To circumvent a dystopian future, we need global cooperation, the dispelling of our myths (religion, nationalism, etc.) and a clear view of the bigger picture.

The last chapter he puts himself under scrutiny for his practice of meditation. While this has worked for him, it may not be the solution for everyone. 

I appreciate he mentions his practice of it (vipassana) is specific to helping him provide clarity. I am inundated daily with people who barrage me with the necessity of getting everyone to meditate, as long as it’s done in one specific way. 

This book is a good entry point into some deeper conversations as long as you’re willing to wrestle with potential answers and outcomes. It’s worth the time to read.