(18/08/17) A birthday gift from my DD. Thank you :)

This isn't as well-structured or as approachable as Sapiens. However, it is still brilliant and thought-provoking. It's more philosophical than Sapiens, but understandably Harari is wary of trying to predict the future, he has to look at historical precedence and draw out some possible threads to what might come next, the new human agenda.

So, after C20th with the end of war, famine and plague* comes some new challenges for mankind; attaining bliss (happiness), immortality and divinity. Moreover, what political systems and religions will prevail and how do we give [new] meaning to the world? A big chunk of the middle section of the book looks at the prevailing liberalism [the post-God politics/religion of choice] in the world, which sees humans, individualism, and our inner voices dominant (the Gods inside all of us). However, this doesn't work if we are simply bio-chemical algorithms with no 'mind', free will or consciousness ... you have to read the book! The most fascinating future model for me is Dataism, which posits that all human activity is recorded and shared in a free flow of information and connected to an Internet of All Things. Harari briefly touches on Techno-humanism and the possible creation of enhanced super-humans - which is happening already - and what it might mean for the advantaged and the disadvantaged, maybe the end of Homo Sapiens and a schism in the species? All very interesting and challenging for us all!

*with caveats of course!

Another book for the growing bookshelf for visitors to the Long House in Criccieth. Enjoy :)

I'm going things around a bit ... this is going to the Ipswich UnConvention 2018 for the 'table of temptation' and my fellow bookcrossers :)

Sapiens is on my wishlist, so I couldn't resist this one... (ETA .... Not on my wishlist anymore, found it in some charity shop in Saffron Walden a few days after the UnCon.)

Terrific book, lots of food for thought!
(And I loved the angry Capuchin monkey on YouTube - grapes for everyone!)
Harari's next one is lined up already :-)

Passed on over a cup of hot beverage at one of our lovely little after-work meet-ups.

Can't wait to read this book! Thanks for the company yesterday and for the lovely books (and souvenirs!).

After reading "21 Lessons" by Harari, I had high expectations for this book. Maybe too high. I liked the beginning and the end of the book, lot's of food for thought. But the middle seemed to be nothing but a ranting against liberalism/humanism. Some of the claims really didn't seem to be very thought out. A bit disappointing, but all together still a good book and definitely a lot of truth about how humanity allows itself to be manipulated.

This book is currently with a non-BC friend. Not sure if I'll get the book back or if she will pass it on.