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21 Lessons for the 21st Century

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21 Lessons for the 21st Century

By: Yuval Noah Harari
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
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#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In Sapiens, he explored our past. In Homo Deus, he looked to our future. Now, one of the world’s most innovative thinkers explores what it means to be human in an age of bewilderment.

“Fascinating . . . a crucial global conversation about how to take on the problems of the twenty-first century.”—The New York Times Book Review

A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

How can we protect ourselves from nuclear war or ecological catastrophe? What do we do about the epidemic of fake news or the threat of terrorism? How should we prepare our children for the future?

21 Lessons for the 21st Century is a probing and visionary investigation into today’s most urgent issues as we move into the future. As technology advances faster than our understanding of it, hacking becomes a tactic of war, and the world feels more polarized than ever, Harari addresses the challenge of navigating life in the face of constant and disorienting change and raises the important questions we need to ask ourselves in order to survive.

In twenty-one accessible chapters that are both provocative and profound, Harari untangles political, technological, social, and existential issues and offers advice on how to prepare for a very different future from the world we now live in: How can we retain freedom of choice when Big Data is watching us? What will the future workforce look like, and how should we ready ourselves for it? Why is liberal democracy in crisis?

Harari’s unique ability to make sense of where we have come from and where we are going has captured the imaginations of millions of readers. Here he invites us to consider values, meaning, and personal engagement in a world full of noise and uncertainty. When we are deluged with irrelevant information, clarity is power. Presenting complex contemporary challenges clearly and accessibly, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century is essential reading. 20th Century Civilization Social Sciences World Thought-Provoking 21st Century Modern War Anthropology Inspiring Middle Ages Latin America Iran Socialism Imperialism Capitalism Russia Middle East Africa Funny

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Thought-provoking Content • Accessible Explanations • Excellent Narration • Philosophical Depth • Engaging Connections

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unfortunately sapien's is by far his best book, homo Deus his second, and this one is a few steps down from homo Deus

not nearly as good as his first two.

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For those of us who haven’t had a chance to read his prior work, this is a great substitute. Last couple of sections drag a bit, but overall, compelling and thought-provoking. Some of it is derivative, but these days, what isn’t? He’s an excellent writer, and Perkins is a very engaging reader.

Great overview of Harari’s perspectives

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More uneven than Sapiens. Some chapters -- e.g. on Humility & Secularism -- are just wonderful, illuminating. Others -- e.g. on AI -- are redundant, speculative, and a bit obsessive. But overall, it's worth fast forwarding a bit through the sluggish parts to get to the best parts. And the the best are worth re-listening to again and again.

I totally agree with his last chapter on Meditation, and appreciate the author sharing a bit of his personal life. However it's overly long and a bit pedantic and repetitive.

When he's good, he's very very good

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The beginning and AI talk are a bit repetitive of Harari's previous books but this book gains momentum as it progresses, raising many questions for a discussion.

As good as Sapiens.

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Very thought provoking writing. Strays a bit and tries to explain a bit harder but still very engaging. And will be relevant for years to come.

Thought Provoking

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