Nexus

A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI

De: Yuval Noah Harari

Narrado por: Vidish Athavale

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of Sapiens comes the groundbreaking story of how information networks have made, and unmade, our world.

“Strikingly original . . . A historian whose arguments operate on the scale of millennia has managed to capture the zeitgeist perfectly.”—The Economist

“This deeply important book comes at a critical time as we all think through the implications of AI and automated content production. . . . Masterful and provocative.”—Mustafa Suleyman, author of The Coming Wave

For the last 100,000 years, we Sapiens have accumulated enormous power. But despite all our discoveries, inventions, and conquests, we now find ourselves in an existential crisis. The world is on the verge of ecological collapse. Misinformation abounds. And we are rushing headlong into the age of AI—a new information network that threatens to annihilate us. For all that we have accomplished, why are we so self-destructive?

Nexus looks through the long lens of human history to consider how the flow of information has shaped us, and our world. Taking us from the Stone Age, through the canonization of the Bible, early modern witch-hunts, Stalinism, Nazism, and the resurgence of populism today, Yuval Noah Harari asks us to consider the complex relationship between information and truth, bureaucracy and mythology, wisdom and power. He explores how different societies and political systems throughout history have wielded information to achieve their goals, for good and ill. And he addresses the urgent choices we face as non-human intelligence threatens our very existence.

Information is not the raw material of truth; neither is it a mere weapon. Nexus explores the hopeful middle ground between these extremes, and in doing so, rediscovers our shared humanity.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A historian whose arguments operate on the scale of millennia has managed to capture the zeitgeist perfectly . . . Harari’s narrative is engaging, and his framing is strikingly original.”—The Economist

“Engrossing . . . A diagnosis and a call to action.”—Guardian

“A useful, well-informed primer . . . wise and bold.”—The New York Times

“Nexus is ambitious, bold and at times, unsettling. . . . For anyone interested in the intersection of history, technology and power, Harari once again provokes deep thought.”—The Conversation

“A cautionary tale about the power of stories.”—Publishers Weekly

“Nexus will challenge your core beliefs about technology and information while leaving you grateful for the experience.”—Dr. Joy Buolamwini, author of Unmasking AI

“Yuval Noah Harari has a unique ability to unite history’s finest details and its grandest megatrends in a single view. In this masterful and provocative new book, he makes a compelling case that information networks are—and always have been—the primary driving force shaping human societies. This deeply important book comes at a critical time as we all think through the implications of AI and automated content production.”—Mustafa Suleyman

“An important and timely must-read as our survival is at the mercy of information.”—Booklist, starred review

“Confronting the avalanche of books on the prospects of AI, readers would do well to begin with this one.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Well done but long

I really enjoy the author’s previous books and therefore I preordered this audiobook. First of all, the narration is poor as narration is monotoned and the harsh voice plus the British accent are hard to listen to. A more animated and soothing voice would made it much more enjoyable. The first part about Jews and Christianity are not relatable unless you are from those cultures. It’s was very boring and a struggle to focus on the contents. It went on to the history of politics which felt repetitive and not interesting. I’m debating if I should continue the book or move on to something more interesting. The author is great, but this book is not in the same league as his previous books.

Update: finished the book and it did get more interesting and relevant in the second half. Very glad to have finished it and highly recommend it.

We learn patterns in history to plot the path to the future. At least the author has, with great critical insight.

The author in detail explains the genesis of living things from unicellular organisms to organisms capable of nuclear fission. The author has done best to explain structures that govern us, the powers we create and the possibilities of implementing our flaws into these powers.

Outstanding

His best, most incisive work yet. Wide ranging, fizzing with insights and ideas. A tour de force

must read

If you want a deeper understanding in the interdynamics of human beings that is accompanied by new intelligence, then you must read this book. Lets have better conversations.

Fantastic eye-opening stories - MUST READ is right

Listened to this book over a few weeks, the stories were amazing. Lots of information how AI can be harnessed and leveraged in ways with many unintended consequences. A few times when he is going to refer to the Nose Dive episode on Black Mirror, and there it was.

Well done, Mr. Harari. Another great book. I trust that you did write, not an AI bot. Looking forward to your reading your future books .