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.

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.