In a world where technology is rapidly evolving, it’s important to keep up with the latest trends. That’s why Yuval Noah Harari is such an important figure.
He’s a historian and author who has written extensively about the future of technology and its impact on society.
In his most famous book, “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind,” he explores the history of humans and how we’ve come to dominate the earth.
Here are some of the books that Harari recommends to further your understanding of human evolution and behavior.
Age of Ambition by Evan Osnos
In his book, Age of Ambition, Evan Osnos set out to explore what it means to be young and Chinese in a country undergoing immense economic and social change.
From the students who occupy Tiananmen Square to the entrepreneurs who are remaking China’s economy, Osnos offers an intimate and nuanced portrait of lives that are both aspirational and uncertain.
In a country where opportunities are expanding even as the political system constrains them, Osnos captures the contradictions of modern China with grace and insight.
Black Flags by Joby Warrick
In his book, “Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS,” Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Joby Warrick traces the origins of the terrorist group that has seized control of large parts of Iraq and Syria.
Warrick reconstructs the events that led up to ISIS’s lightning advance across Iraq in the summer of 2014 when the group took over the city of Mosul and declared a “caliphate.”
He shows how ISIS’s success was due in part to the group’s skillful exploitation of the sectarian tensions between Sunni and Shia Muslims that have long bedeviled Iraq.
But Warrick also shows how ISIS’s rise was enabled by a series of blunders and miscalculations by the United States and its allies.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is a novel about a future society where people are born into castes and live in a strictly controlled environment.
The novel explores the themes of control, conformity, and freedom. Huxley’s vision of the future is both frightening and prescient, and his novel is a classic of dystopian fiction.
Chimpanzee Politics by Frans de Waal
In his book, Chimpanzee Politics, Frans de Waal explores the fascinating world of chimpanzee politics and power struggles.
He draws on his years of experience working with chimpanzees at the Arnhem Zoo in the Netherlands to provide insights into the complex social interactions and relationships among these intelligent animals.
de Waal describes how chimpanzees form alliances, engage in power struggles, and use intimidation and force to achieve their goals.
He also discusses the implications of his findings for our understanding of human political behavior.
Congo by David Van Reybrouck
In his book, Congo, David Van Reybrouck offers a comprehensive and damning portrait of the Central African country that has been plagued by violence, poverty, and corruption for decades.
Van Reybrouck, a Belgian-born writer and historian, spent four years traveling throughout Congo, talking to everyone from government officials and rebel leaders to ordinary citizens. The result is a searing indictment of the Congolese government and its Western backers.
Van Reybrouck argues that the only way to bring peace and stability to Congo is through radical reform. He proposes a radical plan for decentralizing power and giving more control to local communities. It’s a bold vision for Congo’s future and one that is sure to provoke controversy.
Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker
In his book, Enlightenment Now, Steven Pinker argues that reason, science, and humanism have brought about unprecedented advances in humanity’s well-being.
Pinker begins by tracing the origins of the Enlightenment to its 18th-century European roots. He then looks at how the values of the Enlightenment have played out in the real world over the past 250 years.
Pinker argues that reason, science, and humanism have made the world a much better place. He points to advances in medicine, education, and democracy as evidence of this. Pinker also challenges some of the common criticisms of the Enlightenment, such as that it has led to an increase in materialism and a decline in morality.
Overall, Pinker makes a compelling case for why we should all be supporters of the Enlightenment values of reason and progress.
Europe by Tim Flannery
Tim Flannery is one of the world’s most respected and best-known scientists. In his book Europe, he offers a sweeping and provocative history of the continent, from its earliest days to the present.
Flannery argues that Europe has always been a hotbed of scientific innovation and that its people have played a crucial role in shaping our planet’s future.
He also suggests that Europe faces some daunting challenges in the years ahead, but that its people are up to the task. This is an essential read for anyone who cares about Europe and its place in the world.
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
In Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel, the author argues that the disparities in power and technology between civilizations are due to geographical factors.
Diamond contends that the Eurasian continent was better suited for the development of agriculture and animal domestication, which led to advantages in military technology and social organization.
These advantages allowed Eurasian societies to expand and conquer other continents, resulting in the domination of the world by Western powers.
How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan
In his book, “How to Change Your Mind,” Michael Pollan explores the science of psychedelics and their potential for treating mental health conditions.
Psychedelics have been used for centuries by indigenous cultures for religious and spiritual purposes. In the mid-20th century, psychedelics were researched for their potential therapeutic benefits. However, this research was largely halted due to the political and social climate of the time.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in psychedelic research. A growing body of evidence suggests that these substances could be effective in treating a range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and addiction.
Mama’s Last Hug by Frans de Waal
Mama’s Last Hug, by Frans de Waal, is a heartwarming book about the special bond between a mother and her child. The author shares touching stories and beautiful photos of animals showing affection for their young.
Mama’s Last Hug will fill you with hope and love, and leave you feeling grateful for the simple act of hugging your own mom.
On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder
On Tyranny is a book by Timothy Snyder that looks at the rise of fascism in Europe in the 20th century. The book examines how fascism took hold in Europe and what lessons can be learned from that history to prevent it from happening again.
Snyder argues that fascism thrives when people are afraid and when there is a breakdown of trust in institutions. He also argues that we need to be vigilant in our defense of democracy and that we should stand up to tyrants whenever they try to take away our freedoms.
The book has been praised by many reviewers as an important work that helps us understand the threat of fascism and how to combat it.
Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt
In her book, Origins of Totalitarianism, Hannah Arendt examines the rise of totalitarianism in Europe in the first half of the 20th century.
She argues that totalitarianism is a new form of government that is different from other tyrannies in history. Totalitarian regimes are characterized by their single-party rule, their use of propaganda and terror to control the population, and their goal of creating a new type of society.
Arendt contends that the roots of totalitarianism can be found in the social and economic changes that took place in Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These changes included the growth of modern industry, the rise of nationalism, and the decline of traditional class structures.
Our Inner Ape by Frans de Waal
If you want to understand human nature, says world-renowned primatologist Frans de Waal, you need to look at our closest animal relatives: the chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas that share 98.7 percent of our DNA.
In his book, Our Inner Ape, de Waal draws on decades of experience studying these apes to explore what makes us tick.
De Waal shows that apes have a lot in common with humans, including a capacity for selfishness and aggression as well as empathy and altruism.
He argues that our better angels are not the result of cultural conditioning but are hardwired into our biology. By understanding our inner apes, we can learn to control our dark impulses and make the world a better place.
The Attention Merchants by Tim Wu
In his book, “The Attention Merchants,” Tim Wu argues that the economic and cultural system we have today is one in which our attention is constantly being bought and sold.
Wu traces the history of this system, from the early days of advertising to the present day, when we are bombarded with ads, clickbait, and other forms of persuasion. He makes a compelling case that our attention is under constant assault from forces that seek to control and manipulate us.
While “The Attention Merchants” is a sobering look at the state of affairs, it is also an ultimately optimistic book. Wu believes that we can take back control of our attention if we are aware of the ways in which it is being used against us. In doing so, we can create a more just and humane world.
The Master Switch by Tim Wu
In “The Master Switch,” Tim Wu tells the story of the rise and fall of information empires.
He begins with the early days of the telegraph when Samuel Morse and his associates created a network that spanned the globe. Wu traces the history of the telephone, radio, and television, showing how each new technology was quickly monopolized by a single company.
But Wu is not simply telling a history of technology. He is also telling a story about power and control.
The companies that have controlled our information networks have wielded enormous power. They have been able to dictate what we can and cannot see and hear. They have used their power to censor and silence dissent.
But as Wu shows, these companies’ grip on our information networks is not permanent. New technologies always create new opportunities for challengers to take on the incumbents.
The Road to Unfreedom by Timothy Snyder
In his book, “The Road to Unfreedom,” historian Timothy Snyder argues that the rise of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump is part of a global trend towards autocracy.
Snyder traces the roots of this trend back to the 2008 financial crisis, which he says created a power vacuum that was filled by authoritarian leaders. He argues that Putin and Trump are both using propaganda and disinformation to control their populations and consolidate power.
Snyder concludes with a warning that democracy is in danger of being eroded from within by these autocratic forces. He urges readers to fight back against them by supporting institutions like truth and justice.
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu is a book that explores the consequences of what would happen if an advanced alien civilization made contact with Earth.
The novel has been praised for its scientific accuracy and its ability to evoke a sense of wonder. Liu has said that he wrote the novel in order to give readers a new perspective on humanity’s place in the universe.
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Daniel Kahneman’s book, Thinking, Fast and Slow, is a bestseller that has been translated into 35 languages.
The book explores the two systems that drive the way we think and make choices. System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional; System 2 is slower, more deliberative, and more logical.
Kahneman shows how these two systems work together to produce our judgments and decisions. He also shows how they can sometimes lead us astray, leading to errors in judgment and decision-making.
Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O’Neil
Cathy O’Neil’s book, Weapons of Math Destruction, is a searing indictment of the way that Big Data and algorithms are being used to make decisions that affect our lives, often in ways that are profoundly unfair.
O’Neil, a former hedge fund manager, and data scientist draws on her unique insider’s perspective to show how math is being used to rig the system in favor of the rich and powerful. She shows how these “weapons of math destruction” are being used to predict and manipulate consumers, workers, and citizens.
O’Neil makes a compelling case that we need to take control of these powerful tools before they do even more damage. This is a must-read for anyone who cares about fairness and justice in our increasingly data-driven world.
The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert is a book about the mass extinction of species that is happening today. Kolbert argues that the Earth is in the midst of a sixth mass extinction and that humans are to blame.
The book details the various ways in which humans are causing species to go extinct and paints a bleak picture of the future if we do not change our ways. Despite its depressing subject matter, The Sixth Extinction is an important book that everyone should read.
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