Nexus. A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI. 2025 edition

In the remarkable global and Sunday Times bestseller by the author of "Sapiens," the narrative unfolds over the course of 100,000 years, chronicling how we, as Sapiens, have acquired vast power. Yet, despite our numerous achievements in discoveries, inventions, and conquests, we face a profound existential dilemma. Our planet is teetering on the edge of ecological disaster, and geopolitical tensions are escalating. Moreover, we are rapidly advancing into the era of artificial intelligence, an unfamiliar web of information that poses a potential threat to our existence. Despite all that we have achieved, why do we continue to exhibit self-destructive tendencies?"Nexus" delves deep into the annals of human history, examining how the evolution of information has led us to our current state. From the Stone Age to the canonization of the Bible, the birth of printing, the proliferation of mass media, and the recent rise of populism, Yuval Noah Harari encourages us to reflect on the intricate connections between information and truth, bureaucracy and mythology, wisdom and power. He investigates the ways in which entities like the Roman Empire, the Catholic Church, and the Soviet Union have manipulated information to serve their aims, both beneficially and detrimentally. Harari highlights the critical decisions we must make as non-human intelligence emerges as a tangible threat to our very survival. Information transcends being merely the basis of truth or a tool of manipulation. "Nexus" navigates the promising space between these opposing views, rekindling a sense of our common humanity along the way.