Connections: A Quick Overview of Information Networks from the Stone Age to Artificial Intelligence

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#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the mind behind Sapiens comes a revolutionary exploration of how information networks have shaped our reality, for better or worse.

“Innovatively insightful . . . A historian who weaves arguments spanning millennia has adeptly captured the spirit of our times.”—The Economist

“This critically significant book arises at a pivotal juncture as we consider the ramifications of AI and automated content creation. . . . Brilliant and thought-provoking.”—Mustafa Suleyman, author of The Coming Wave

Over the last 100,000 years, we Sapiens have amassed tremendous power. Yet, in light of our myriad discoveries, innovations, and victories, we find ourselves grappling with an existential crisis. Our planet stands on the brink of ecological collapse. Misinformation runs rampant. We are urgently moving into the AI era—a new information network that could spell our doom. Given our achievements, why do we continue on this destructive path?

Nexus examines human history through a broad lens to understand how the distribution of information has influenced us and our world. Journeying from the Stone Age to the canonization of the Bible, early modern witch-hunts, Stalinism, Nazism, and the rise of contemporary populism, Yuval Noah Harari prompts us to reflect on the intricate connections between information and truth, bureaucracy and mythology, wisdom and power. He delves into how various societies and political regimes have harnessed information to fulfill their objectives, both positively and negatively. Finally, he confronts the critical decisions we must make as non-human intelligence poses a threat to our very survival.

Information is neither the mere substance of truth nor simply a weapon. Nexus navigates a hopeful middle ground between these viewpoints, ultimately reconnecting us with our shared humanity.
From the Publisher

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 10, 2024
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 528 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 059373422X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593734223
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.55 x 9.53 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #1,771 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #1 in Cultural Anthropology (Books) #3 in Artificial Intelligence & Semantics #3 in History of Civilization & Culture