Book Review: Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari

Yuval Noah Harari is a renowned author, widely recognized across the globe, with his books now found in many households and libraries. While he has authored several works, Homo Deus is the first of his books that I’ve read. This thought-provoking and informative book presents new insights, often drawing parallels with past events, and offers fresh perspectives that sparked many new ideas and reflections in my mind.

The book starts with the concept of the New Human Agenda, where the author argues that, despite thousands of years of progress, humanity's fundamental questions remain the same. In the past, issues such as famine, plague, and war were caused by nature; today, however, many of these problems are the result of human actions.

Sugar is now more dangerous than gunpowder : Yuval Noah Harari

The author suggests that the pursuit of happiness is humanity's second agenda. Throughout history, happiness has been defined in various ways. In the book, the author discusses how this pursuit of happiness is a central theme and explores different perspectives on what truly brings fulfillment.

Harari argues that the cognitive revolution led to the emergence of language among humans, which, in turn, enabled humans to create narratives. These narratives allowed humans to imagine myths, stories, and creative ideas, fostering collaboration among them. While lions may live in groups of 10-15, or other animals in small groups, humans can live in large groups of thousands or more. This ability to create and share abstract ideas, such as money, religion, and nations—concepts not found in nature—helped humans build large, complex societies. These narratives laid the foundation for political systems and human societies to thrive. Now, the author suggests that with advancements in big data, AI, and machine learning, it has become easier to control these human narratives, potentially restricting our freedom.

Harari says that in the coming times, AI and automation will play a vital role in human society, which will create a huge gap between people. On one side, there will be elite people who will have great access to technology and biochemistry and on the other side, people will suffer from diseases and life will be based on minimum income. On one side, there will be super humans who will have technological advancement and god-like control and on the other side there will be a struggle to survive. This gap will increase further when these controls will be under the rich and powerful people. Here Yuval Harari presents different perspectives for the economic and political life of humans.

The author explains that fictions help people work together more effectively. However, these same fictions also decide the purpose of that teamwork. This means we might build complex systems to achieve imaginary goals. In the 21st century, we will create even more powerful stories and stricter belief systems than ever before. Using biotechnology and computer algorithms, these systems won't just influence our daily lives but will also shape our bodies, brains, and thoughts, and could even create virtual worlds with their own heavens and hells.

The author explains that if our ancestors were aware of the modern technologies and resources at our disposal, they would assume we would be happier and more peaceful compared to their time. However, the reality is that people today often suffer from depression and feel overwhelmed by the relentless demands of economic growth and progress. Despite our remarkable achievements, there is a constant pressure to do more and produce more. In the modern world, as humans manage the complexities of business, we remain under continuous pressure both day and night.

The author highlights the difference between intelligence and consciousness and questions their importance. In the past, when they were closely linked, comparing their value was just a topic for philosophical debate. However, in this century, it has become a critical political and economic issue. For organizations like armies and corporations, the choice is clear: intelligence is essential, while consciousness is seen as optional.

In Summary:

Homo Deus is an exemplary and highly informative book written by Yuval Noah Harari. The book is rich with insights, and each chapter presents unique and thought-provoking information. In my opinion, everyone should read this book as it provides thoughtful, life-changing perspectives. Below, I have shared some key takeaways and interesting insights from the book for reference.

Published on: January 20, 2025

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Power Platform , D365 CE & Cloud

Dynamics 365 CE, Power Apps, Powerapps, Azure, Dataverse, D365,Power Platforms (Power Apps, Power Automate, Virtual Agent and AI Builder), Book Review

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Power Platform , D365 CE & Cloud

Dynamics 365 CE, Power Apps, Powerapps, Azure, Dataverse, D365,Power Platforms (Power Apps, Power Automate, Virtual Agent and AI Builder), Book Review

Learn more

Book Review: Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari

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