Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI. Yuval Noah Harari. Summary

In the last one hundred thousand years, humanity has achieved significant success. However, despite progress in science, technology, and politics, we face a serious existential crisis. Environmental problems are worsening, international relations are tense, and conflicts continue. Lies and disinformation have become commonplace. We’ve entered the era of artificial intelligence, which has begun to affect our lives. Why, despite all the progress, do we keep moving toward self-destruction?

In the book “Nexus,” Yuval Harari explores the history of humanity, trying to understand how information flows brought us to our current state. He analyzes key historical moments—from the Stone Age to the canonization of the Bible, the invention of the printing press, the development of the media, and the revival of populism. Harari examines the complex relationships between information and truth, bureaucracy and mythology, wisdom and power, and shows how information has always been used by societies and political systems to achieve their goals. Special attention is given to today’s challenges, when non-human intelligence puts our existence at risk.