The name of Yuval Noah Harari, professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is now widely known not only among his fellow specialists, but also among ordinary readers. His name attracts particular attention from those who are concerned about the future development of humanity – the history of the future. Yuval Noah Harari is currently one of the most popular authors, and his international bestseller Sapiens.
Yuval Noah was born on February 24, 1976, in Kiryat Ata (Israel) to a family of immigrants from Lebanon and Poland. From 1993 to 1998, Harari studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he studied medieval and military history. He then continued his studies at Oxford and defended his doctoral dissertation in 2002. The young scientist’s area of interest lies in the study of macrohistorical processes. Since 2004, his articles and books have been published regularly and are very popular among the general reader.
Harari is an active animal rights advocate and vegan (vegetarian) who practices meditation. He is openly gay and married his partner, Itzik, in 2002. The couple lives in the moshav of Mesilat Zion, near Jerusalem.
Harari teaches at the Hebrew University and is a prolific and popular author of historical books. His first book, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, became a global bestseller. In it, Harari uses language accessible to non-specialists to talk about who we are and where humanity is headed. At the same time, the presentation is completely devoid of dogmatism and intrusiveness, which usually irritates the thinking reader. The incredible breadth of the author’s coverage of reality and his convincing position attract readers. Harari’s narrative style is such that it is impossible to put his books down. The facts familiar to the reader are presented in such an original way, and the analysis of the course of history is so unusual and broad that the book can be read in one sitting, like a good detective novel. Moreover, Harari not only introduces the reader to his views, but, more importantly, awakens their own thoughts about the place and role of humans in the universe.
In his book Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, before making a leap into the distant (or not so distant) future, the author takes the reader back to the past. Why is what people did three hundred years ago so important? It turns out that it is important. After all, it was our ancestors who determined the path that humanity is following today. And the reader will learn how and why decisions were made that led to the world we live in today.
Then there is a leap into the present, and the situation that has developed in the world is analyzed in detail. How did people trade God for humanism? And is this the humanism that our ancestors dreamed of? Why does the author equate human behavior with algorithms, and what exactly does this mean? We have all heard about artificial intelligence, but on what principles will it be created? At this stage of human development, is it possible to predict where we are headed? And is this really the only path available to us? The author does not have a clear answer to these questions, but he makes it clear that change is still possible if there is a desire for it. But is it really possible to change everything, or have humans trapped themselves in the idea of their own superiority?
Harari identifies and describes the most important problems that humanity has already faced or is about to face: terrorism, the migration crisis, the threat of nuclear war, inequality, environmental pollution, and the creation of artificial intelligence. One can imagine how enormous the impact of these problems will be on people’s lives in the near future. The author also writes about what can be done to prevent their negative consequences and prepare for the impending challenges.
Our world is becoming increasingly globalized, and its influence on the fate of society as a whole and on each individual is growing accordingly. Our behavior and morals are changing. Moreover, with the development of the latest means of communication, people’s influence on each other is increasing to such an extent that sometimes the actions of one person can cause revolutionary changes in an entire nation. An example of such influence is the self-immolation of the Tunisian youth Mohamed Bouazizi, which marked the beginning of the “Arab Spring.”
The main ideological trends in modern society are of interest. Throughout the 20th century, there was a constant struggle between fascism, communism, and liberalism. By the end of the 20th century, it seemed that liberalism had triumphed as a system of beliefs. The world is dominated by the free market, democracy, and human rights, but at the beginning of the 21st century, according to Harari, liberalism has reached an impasse, and today it is unclear where society is headed. Trust in liberalism is falling against the backdrop of a revolution in biotechnology and information technology. The author believes that the old beliefs that the world was based on until recently are crumbling, but nothing has yet come to replace them. The world does not understand where it is going, what it needs to do, what skills to acquire, and what professions to master. And where, ultimately, this may lead humanity.
Harari focused in particular detail on the development and influence of artificial intelligence on society. In the near future, artificial intelligence will not completely replace human workers, but it will significantly reduce their numbers and change their specializations.
Harari believes that artificial intelligence will change all familiar forms of employment in the coming years. What will these changes be like? Some experts suggest that in a few decades, billions (!) of people will lose their jobs, while others believe that jobs will simply change and require different qualifications. Perhaps both scenarios will occur?
Harari believes that migration policy is one of the weakest points of liberal ideology. It is globalization that has led to refugees, seeking shelter from wars in their own territories, trying by any means to get into prosperous and peaceful countries.
The political system that has developed in developed countries is not ready to respond adequately to this. On the one hand, multiculturalism implies overcoming cultural differences, but on the other hand, it poses a threat to the cultural identity of Europeans.
In his books, Harari shares his own views on the past, present, and future. At the same time, the author does not simplify the situation in the world. Our world has always been and will always be changeable, and we must grasp the trends of the changes taking place so as not to be disoriented and confused.