Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks eBook by Yuval Noah Harari

Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI by Yuval Noah Harari explores how the flow of information has shaped human societies throughout history, from the Stone Age to the age of AI. The book examines the complex relationship between information, truth, bureaucracy, and power, drawing parallels from historical events like the canonization of the Bible, witch hunts, Stalinism, Nazism, and contemporary populism. Harari argues that information networks are the primary driving force behind human societies and addresses the urgent choices humanity faces with the rise of AI, which he suggests threatens our very existence. The book aims to find a hopeful middle ground between viewing information as mere raw material for truth or as a weapon, ultimately rediscovering our shared humanity. 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. Specifications: print_length: 768 pages language: English publisher: Random House publication_date: September 10, 2024 file_size: 5.1 MB screen_reader: Supported enhanced_typesetting: Enabled x_ray: Enabled word_wise: Enabled page_flip: Enabled asin: B0CRP6SPL1 isbn_13: 978-0593734247