21 lessons for the 21st century

In a world flooded with irrelevant information, clarity is power. Do we even understand the world we have created? Do we know what is happening around us, what the biggest challenges and decisions of our time are? Do we know what to teach our children? This book is not intended as a historical narrative, but as a collection of selected lessons. But these lessons do not provide easy answers either. They are intended to provoke further thought and help the reader participate in the important conversations of our time. What does the rise of Donald Trump signal? What can we do about the epidemic of fake news? Why is liberal democracy in crisis? Is God back? Is a new world war coming? Which civilization dominates the world? The West? China? Islam? Will Europe open its doors to immigrants? Can nationalism solve the problems of inequality and climate change? What should we do about terrorism? Dr. Harari’s first book, Sapiens, explored the past of humanity, examining how an insignificant ape became the master of the planet. His second, Homo Deus, explored the long-term future of life, pondering how man might eventually become a god, and the fate of reason and consciousness. In this book, he focuses on the present and the immediate future of human societies. He examines the forces that are most shaping the world’s societies and are most likely to influence the future of our planet. Some sections focus on technology, others on politics, religion, or art. Some chapters celebrate human wisdom, others highlight the fateful role of human folly. But across all these themes, the same question runs through: what is happening in the world today, and what is the deeper meaning of these events?