21 lessons for the 21st century

Yuval Noah Harari

In a world deluged by irrelevant information, clarity is power. In theory, anybody can join the debate about the future of humanity, but it is so hard to maintain a clear vision. Frequently, we don’t even notice that a debate is going on, or what the key questions are. Billions of us can hardly afford the luxury of  investigating, because we have more pressing things to do: we have to go to work, take care of the kids,     or look after elderly parents. Unfortunately, history gives no discounts. If the  future  of  humanity  is  decided in your absence, because you are too busy feeding and clothing your kids – you and they will not    be exempt from the consequences. This is very unfair; but who said history was fair?

As a historian, I cannot give people food or clothes – but I can try and offer some clarity, thereby helping  to level the global playing field. If this empowers even a handful of additional people to join the debate  about the future of our species, I have done my job.

My first book, Sapiens, surveyed the  human past, examining how an insignificant ape became the ruler   of planet Earth.

Homo Deus, my second book, explored the long-term future of life, contemplating how humans might eventually become gods, and what might be the ultimate destiny of intelligence and consciousness.