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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Kinda amazing that this book was written for the year 2018 and the rise of Trump and all that and yet reading it in 2025 it still hold up and stays relevant. Amazing read.
This was an excellent, clear-eyed explanation of so much that is confusing in the world today: politics, religion, climate change, AI, economics, etc. Highly recommend!
Harari reduces biology and the history of humankind to highly digestible chunks in this dubious yet inspiring read. TBH I legitimately ENJOYED this book, even given my quibbles with his simplifications. I liked his merciless attack on religion, especially that he picks apart his own (Judaism). He also, IMO, does a decent job of linking historical trends and giving a very broad picture of how we got here (i.e., to the breakdown of liberalism) and where we might go.
The sweeping scope and analytical superficiality make this book hard to categorize, but whatever it is, this troubling aspect of Harari's style makes it better suited to this kind of speculative work (though I wouldn't even call it philosophy), than to pop science writing (see the scientific community's backlash to [b:Sapiens|23692271|Sapiens A Brief History of Humankind|Yuval Noah Harari|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1420585954s/23692271.jpg|18962767]). I kept thinking as I listened to the audiobook, "He really ought to try his hand at sci-fi." Speaking of which, I'm giving it an extra star because Chapter 4, "The Techonological Challenge: Equality" reads like 15 minutes of nonstop sci-fi plot summaries (as does Chapter 18: Truth: Sciece Fiction". As a book of prompts, highly recommended for creative writers.
The audiobook narrator, with his lush British baritone, may perpetuate the highbrow disguise, but he is also is pleasant to listen to, and hits the comedic notes perfectly.
The sweeping scope and analytical superficiality make this book hard to categorize, but whatever it is, this troubling aspect of Harari's style makes it better suited to this kind of speculative work (though I wouldn't even call it philosophy), than to pop science writing (see the scientific community's backlash to [b:Sapiens|23692271|Sapiens A Brief History of Humankind|Yuval Noah Harari|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1420585954s/23692271.jpg|18962767]). I kept thinking as I listened to the audiobook, "He really ought to try his hand at sci-fi." Speaking of which, I'm giving it an extra star because Chapter 4, "The Techonological Challenge: Equality" reads like 15 minutes of nonstop sci-fi plot summaries (as does Chapter 18: Truth: Sciece Fiction". As a book of prompts, highly recommended for creative writers.
The audiobook narrator, with his lush British baritone, may perpetuate the highbrow disguise, but he is also is pleasant to listen to, and hits the comedic notes perfectly.
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Title: "21 Lessons for the 21st Century" by Yuval Noah Harari
"21 Lessons for the 21st Century," a work by renowned author Yuval Noah Harari, is an ambitious exploration of some of the most pressing issues of our modern era. While undeniably comprehensive and thought-provoking, I found it to be rather disheartening in its outlook. Harari seems to approach the future with a sense of gloom that, rather than spurring the reader to action, could risk inspiring feelings of despondency and defeatism. It is indeed a sobering reality check, but one that could have used a counterbalance of optimism to inspire rather than deflate.
Harari's writing style is engaging, but he tends to lean heavily on the pessimistic side of the spectrum, presenting problems and challenges without offering enough in terms of practical solutions or mitigations. Topics such as AI, climate change, and societal polarization are indeed complex and often fraught with peril, but focusing predominantly on the darker side can create an unnecessarily bleak picture. A more balanced portrayal might have painted a more nuanced and motivational narrative, nudging the reader towards personal action rather than toward surrender to an apparently unstoppable tide of dystopian inevitability.
Moreover, Harari's perceived elitism and a sense of self-absorption can sometimes feel off-putting, creating a gulf between the author and the reader. His vantage point, often coming across as that of an observer looking down from an intellectual high ground, alienates rather than invites the reader into a conversation about our shared future. One could argue this makes the book somewhat inaccessible for those seeking a democratic and inclusive discussion on the 21st-century challenges.
Nevertheless, it's crucial to acknowledge the value in Harari's effort to spark serious reflection and debate about significant global issues. His ability to connect disparate dots and weave together various threads of contemporary crises is laudable. His insights on technology, religion, politics, and education, amongst others, may not offer direct solutions, but they do stimulate thought and provoke questions – a critical starting point for any potential societal change.
In conclusion, "21 Lessons for the 21st Century" offers an intelligent, if somewhat disheartening, perspective on the challenges we face in today's rapidly evolving world. Harari's insight and depth of knowledge are commendable, but the book's overall tone, combined with a sense of the author's aloofness, somewhat detracts from its impact. It is a worthwhile read for its thought-provoking content, though readers should be prepared for its more negative outlook and the potential disconnect they may feel with the author. Thus, I'd rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.
"21 Lessons for the 21st Century," a work by renowned author Yuval Noah Harari, is an ambitious exploration of some of the most pressing issues of our modern era. While undeniably comprehensive and thought-provoking, I found it to be rather disheartening in its outlook. Harari seems to approach the future with a sense of gloom that, rather than spurring the reader to action, could risk inspiring feelings of despondency and defeatism. It is indeed a sobering reality check, but one that could have used a counterbalance of optimism to inspire rather than deflate.
Harari's writing style is engaging, but he tends to lean heavily on the pessimistic side of the spectrum, presenting problems and challenges without offering enough in terms of practical solutions or mitigations. Topics such as AI, climate change, and societal polarization are indeed complex and often fraught with peril, but focusing predominantly on the darker side can create an unnecessarily bleak picture. A more balanced portrayal might have painted a more nuanced and motivational narrative, nudging the reader towards personal action rather than toward surrender to an apparently unstoppable tide of dystopian inevitability.
Moreover, Harari's perceived elitism and a sense of self-absorption can sometimes feel off-putting, creating a gulf between the author and the reader. His vantage point, often coming across as that of an observer looking down from an intellectual high ground, alienates rather than invites the reader into a conversation about our shared future. One could argue this makes the book somewhat inaccessible for those seeking a democratic and inclusive discussion on the 21st-century challenges.
Nevertheless, it's crucial to acknowledge the value in Harari's effort to spark serious reflection and debate about significant global issues. His ability to connect disparate dots and weave together various threads of contemporary crises is laudable. His insights on technology, religion, politics, and education, amongst others, may not offer direct solutions, but they do stimulate thought and provoke questions – a critical starting point for any potential societal change.
In conclusion, "21 Lessons for the 21st Century" offers an intelligent, if somewhat disheartening, perspective on the challenges we face in today's rapidly evolving world. Harari's insight and depth of knowledge are commendable, but the book's overall tone, combined with a sense of the author's aloofness, somewhat detracts from its impact. It is a worthwhile read for its thought-provoking content, though readers should be prepared for its more negative outlook and the potential disconnect they may feel with the author. Thus, I'd rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I tend to agree with some of the published critiques i've seen of this book. It's typically along the lines of saying that this book has a regular occurence of flashy assertions without enough scientific backup for their relevance, at times I wasn't sure that I understood the point being made or if I did and it just didn't hold enough weight. I will say this style of writing is great for speaking to a general audience, generally people like flash! But it's important to balance that with fact and I do think Harrari made a reasonable effort here to at least be clear about when an idea was being posed vs a fact. I guess I was hoping for a higher percentage of fact. Despite this, throughout this book I found Harari posing thought provoking concepts and reading this was a good opportunity for thinking about the world/society/history on a large scale.
challenging
informative
reflective
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Classic Yuval. Makes you think and question everything you thought you knew.