Books Recommended by Yuval Noah Harari
Yuval Noah Harari is a historian, philosopher, and author, best known for the books Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century.
Harari studied medieval and military history in Israel, and in 2002 he received his PhD from the University of Oxford. In 2014, he published the book Sapiens, which had sold over 10 million copies by 2018 and was recommended by a multitude of personalities, including Bill Gates and Barack Obama (you can see their quotes here). The book explains the history of humankind, going back thousands of years ago.
Homo Deus explores the future of humanity, and approaches new angles on topics such as the impact of Artificial Intelligence, medical bioenergy, and the ethical issues that we’ll face.
In 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, he turned his attention to the problems we face today, in the age of post-truth, where disinformation and distractions are the new threats. He takes us on a journey through today’s most urgent issues, from nuclear war to ecological cataclysms, dealing with technological disruptions and constant change.
Harari does not have a smartphone, stating he feels privileged for this.
Books recommended by Yuval Noah Harari:
Books by Yuval Noah Harari
10 books recommended by Yuval Noah Harari
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies
A book of big questions, and big answers. The book turned me from a historian of medieval warfare into a student of humankind.
Brave New World
The most prophetic book of the 20th century. Today many people would easily mistake it for a utopia.
Upheaval: Turning Points for Nations in Crisis
A riveting and illuminating tour of how nations deal with crises -- which might hopefully help humanity as a whole deal with our present global crisis.
Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress
There is of course much to argue about, but that’s what makes this book so interesting.
The Attention Merchants: The Epic Scramble to Get Inside Our Heads
by Tim Wu
A very insightful book that surveys the history of modern information technology and its political implications, from the age of print and radio to the era of Google and Facebook. It gives the context of the current battle to control human attention.
Affluence Without Abundance: The Disappearing World of the Bushmen
by James Suzman
An insightful and well-written book, describing the hard transition of foraging communities in Namibia from relative affluence during the Stone Age to contemporary poverty and misery. Avoiding both modern conceits and romantic fantasies, Suzman chronicles how economics and politics have finally conquered some of the… Read the full quote
An insightful and well-written book, describing the hard transition of foraging communities in Namibia from relative affluence during the Stone Age to contemporary poverty and misery. Avoiding both modern conceits and romantic fantasies, Suzman chronicles how economics and politics have finally conquered some of the last outposts of hunter-gatherers, and how much humankind can still learn from the disappearing way of life of the most marginalized communities on earth.
Chimpanzee Politics: Power and Sex among Apes
It completely changed my view of chimpanzees and Homo sapiens alike. Probably the most funny science book I have ever read. A must-read for politicians of all species!
Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about Ourselves
A captivating and big-hearted book, full of compassion and brimming with insights about the lives of animals, including human ones.
The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America
A brilliant and disturbing analysis, which should be read by anyone wishing to understand the political crisis currently engulfing the world.