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crankylibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
Some good ideas and stimulating observations, but even more oversimplifications and faulty logic. Harari conflates political systems (democracy, totalitarianism) with economic systems (free market capitalism, socialism) ignoring the existence of say democratic socialism. His lengthy chapter on the flaws of humanism and liberalism use definitions many would disagree with (that humanism is all about glorifying “feelings” for example). Likewise his equating of “dataism” and humanism with “failed religions, and his contempt for Islam in particular give one pause.
Yet there is a lot worth pondering. Do states insitute social welfare programs merely to breed healthy armies and worker bees? Once the majority of workers are replaced by AI, will that mean these dispensable humans will be…dispensed with? Writing in 2014-16, Harari was prescient about the anxieties we now face as AI becomes
more entrenched in our lives, threatening dozens of professions and occupations. The most frightening of his predictions is not the elimination of humanity by machines but the elimination of our sense of purpose. Harari’s imagined future of nonproductive humans spending their lives playing virtual reality games is the true horror.
Yet there is a lot worth pondering. Do states insitute social welfare programs merely to breed healthy armies and worker bees? Once the majority of workers are replaced by AI, will that mean these dispensable humans will be…dispensed with? Writing in 2014-16, Harari was prescient about the anxieties we now face as AI becomes
more entrenched in our lives, threatening dozens of professions and occupations. The most frightening of his predictions is not the elimination of humanity by machines but the elimination of our sense of purpose. Harari’s imagined future of nonproductive humans spending their lives playing virtual reality games is the true horror.
stumpnugget's review against another edition
4.0
Sapiens is one of my favorite books of the year. This repeated a lot of ideas from that book. Still super engaging and his speculations about the future are pretty fascinating
deschatjes's review against another edition
4.0
I have a small problem with reviewing this - on the one hand it was very interesting and insightful, on the other I kept on wanting to say "yes but ..." - the thing is it's easy to make these sweeping statements about the world and humanity and technology when viewed from 50,000 feet, but the reality on the ground is a little less prosaic and somewhat more messy. In fact a lot more messy. Added to this I'd just been listening to a freakanomics podcast in parallel on "prophets and wizards" and he is definitely is on the prophet side of things.
The thing is that nothing works quite as well as advertised and most technology is shockingly badly designed and executed, with vast tracts of interactions occurring with legacy systems from pre-2000 - ever tried to change your bank account address? I also have to bristle when authors make assumptions and projections based on flying into and out of countries (like the one on Beijing - where the day to day reality is so different from whatever snapshop he may have had in the moment he happened to be here).
But still it was a worthwhile read (listen), and I'm just pausing before embarking on Sapiens. I do however think that fiction writers do a better job on dystopian future than nonfiction writers.
The thing is that nothing works quite as well as advertised and most technology is shockingly badly designed and executed, with vast tracts of interactions occurring with legacy systems from pre-2000 - ever tried to change your bank account address? I also have to bristle when authors make assumptions and projections based on flying into and out of countries (like the one on Beijing - where the day to day reality is so different from whatever snapshop he may have had in the moment he happened to be here).
But still it was a worthwhile read (listen), and I'm just pausing before embarking on Sapiens. I do however think that fiction writers do a better job on dystopian future than nonfiction writers.
furlanius's review against another edition
5.0
Continuing on from Sapiens, Harari sets up where to for Homp Sapiens. well researched and thought provoking, Harari, provides a number of alternate theories as to our future.
annineamundsen's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as Sapiens, but it's an interesting read. Felt a little dragged out at times, and I'm not quite sure what the main point actually is?