NEXUS: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI – Yuval Noah Harari
Summary: In his book NEXUS Yuval Noah Harari argues that what distinguishes humans from other species is not individual intelligence but our unique ability to create and maintain information networks – from myths and religions to writing systems, printing presses and now AI. He traces how these networks have shaped civilizations, enabled mass cooperation, and also spread misinformation and ideology, showing that information is not inherently truthful but rather a tool for creating shared realities and power structures. The book explores how AI represents the first information network that can generate and spread information autonomously, without human creators fully understanding or controlling it – potentially the most dangerous inflection point in human history. Harari warns that just as previous information revolutions (writing, printing, internet) amplified both human cooperation and human violence, AI could either save or destroy us, depending on whether we build systems that serve truth and human flourishing or manipulation and control.
Why we like it: Yuval Noah Harari masterfully connects 70,000 years of human history to our current AI moment, making abstract tech debates visceral and urgent through his signature storytelling style. The book is essential reading because it reframes AI not as a tech problem but as a continuation of humanity’s eternal struggle with information, power, and truth – giving readers the historical context to understand why this moment matters so profoundly.