Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI by Yuval Noah Harari is a very detailed book about how the flow of information works. It begins by explaining what information is and how it is useful, and it ends by telling of the dangers of AI. While I enjoyed a lot of the information in this book, it did get a little tedious for me about halfway through. I do think there is a lot of good facts presented in the book though. Here's a quote I highlighted: "In history, power stems only partially from knowing the truth. It also stems from the ability to maintain social order among a large number of people." Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

Nexus is the sort of popular nonfiction I think most people can enjoy. Harari does not offer anything truly groundbreaking, but he certainly has a knack for drawing our attention to interesting ideas.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for this advanced copy of Nexus, by Yuval Noah Harai. This indepth look at how information shapes us took me a while to get to. Full of ideas past and present to help us get to a mid point in how we seek information. We are constantly bombarded with information that we must know, but Harari asks us to dig deeper and understand.

Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari is a cerebral prism, refracting the entangled trajectories of technology, consciousness, and power into a speculative meditation that feels both prophetic and unnervingly intimate. Harari's prose glides with academic precision yet simmers with existential urgency, stitching together threads from neuroscience, history, and philosophy into a tapestry of unsettling coherence. This is not so much a book as a diagnostic lens—cold, clear, and quietly terrifying in its implications.

Such a thought-provoking look at society, our future, and how we got here. In a time when our access to and use of information is rapidly changing, thinking through these developments and how they fit into our moral frameworks is vital.

The big question in Nexus asks whether or not we should trust AI with everything. This book challenges us to pause and reflect on how deeply embedded computers have become in our lives—not just as tools, but as active participants in our social, political, and emotional networks. Algorithms determine so much already, how much more are we willing to hand over to them?

“The computer network has become the nexus of most human activities. In the middle of almost every financial, social, or political transaction, we now find a computer.”

Unlike previous revolutions in communication—writing, printing, radio—AI is not just another medium. It has its own intelligence; it has agency. One of the most striking concepts Harari explores is the idea that we now live in a world where computers can create, manipulate, and impersonate intimacy.

In the 2010s, social media fought to control our attention. But now, Harari argues, the 2020s are about controlling our intimacy. What happens when bots begin making emotional connections—albeit fake ones—that influence how we vote, shop, or even understand ourselves?

Harari isn’t an alarmist about it, but he does tell us we need to get morally clear about this while we still have the ability to shape the future. He writes:

“We humans are still in control. We don’t know for how long, but we still have the power to shape these new realities.”

I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to more deeply understand not only technology, but also politics, society, and culture. They are all now linked, and how we use these connections going forward will have a great impact on our future.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the review copy of Nexus.

I was not able to read this book and review it before its publishing date but now that I read it I have given it 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the advanced copy of this work in exchange for my honest review.

As expected Y.N. Harari has written an informative work that is easy to approach and easy to understand. I am never disappointed no matter the topic when I pick up a book by this author. So much of what he focuses on is something I consider to be essential to understanding what is happening in our world.

For those that enjoyed Sapiens, a comprehensive look at how humans and information have evolved through time. Fascinating and timely.

Though alarmist at times, the premise is very interesting. More or less, if you start with questions as to what is truth and what is the role of information in finding truth, you find difficulties in modern thought. The opening discussions about religious texts being a means of creating a truth from available information, which then get interpreted by "holy men" leading to the need for more religious texts to be regarded as truth, which in turn get interpreted is a pretty unique viewpoint leading you to interpretations of various attempts at "truth" that point to many modern problems. Where I think this falls apart a bit is the assumption that social networks and AI are considered "truth". I think some people think that, but as a general world or society? I think there is a lot of push back on that view, so the more problematic issues the author raises likely won't come to pass.

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

5/5

I would like to thank NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to preview this book. Yuval Noah Harari’s Nexus is a profound exploration of the evolution of information networks and their pivotal role in shaping human civilization. Building upon the narrative style that made Sapiens a global sensation, Harari delves into the intricate web of information dissemination, from ancient oral traditions to the digital age dominated by artificial intelligence.

Harari’s ability to weave complex historical events into a cohesive and engaging narrative is truly remarkable. He examines how information has been used to unite societies, establish religions, and wield power. For instance, he discusses the canonization of the Bible and its profound impact on societal structures, as well as the role of propaganda in regimes like Stalinism and Nazism. These historical insights provide a comprehensive understanding of the dual-edged nature of information networks.

One of the book’s standout features is its examination of the current AI revolution. Harari presents a balanced perspective, acknowledging the immense potential of AI while cautioning against its possible dangers. He argues that the real threat of AI lies not in autonomous robots, but in its capacity to manipulate information and, by extension, human behavior. This perspective is both refreshing and thought-provoking, urging readers to consider the ethical implications of our rapidly advancing technologies.

Harari’s writing is both accessible and intellectually stimulating. He has a knack for presenting complex ideas in a manner that is easy to grasp, without oversimplifying the subject matter. His use of historical anecdotes and contemporary examples makes the book relatable and engaging.

In conclusion, Nexus is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the profound impact of information networks on human history and the potential future implications of AI. Harari’s insightful analysis and engaging storytelling make this book both enlightening and enjoyable. It’s a timely reminder of the power of information and the responsibility that comes with it.

3.75
There was a lot going on in this book for better or for worse. At times, felt that it could have been tightened up at times and a central thesis more focused. A lot of relevant information regarding AI, political polarization, current conflict climate, etc. that made me intrigued to read Harari's other work

As someone who has worked in tech since close to the dawn of Internet time, I love reading books on technology occasionally. Yuval Noah Harari’s Nexus isn’t just a book—it’s a mental workout that makes you question everything from AI to the meaning of life to whether you’re spending too much time scrolling memes. Harari connects humanity’s past, present, and future like a philosophical jigsaw puzzle, and while it’s fascinating, you might need a nap after each chapter. I found it fascinating...but I do love NAPS!

A solid commentary, I think Harari is a special person who I love reading. As someone more "in" on the culture I found the book to be more speculative than fact. Sapiens is a tough book to beat!

What I've realized about Yuval Noah Harari is that he writes books for audiences that he assumes are ready to be dazzled by his ideas. There's a lot of quickly condensed information dumping, often to such reductive effect that it can't really be considered an introduction at all, followed by a lot of speculation leading to the conclusions that the reader is supposed to absorb and accept. It's a bit underwhelming. Readers looking for more thoughtful contemplations on information science, AI, and ethics in application of emerging technologies would be better served by reading:

Code-Dependent by Madhumita Murgia
Unmasking AI by Joy Buolamwini
A Brief History of Intelligence by Max Solomon Bennett
The Alignment Problem by Brian Christian
Human Compatible by Stuart Russell

A very informative book about information, how it spreads and the way AI may affect us in the years to come. Harari's book is well researched, thought out and presented in a way that they reader can digest a lot of heavy information. He also builds on concepts. I look forward to reading his other work.

As a first time reader of the author Yuval Noah Harari, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth, reach and overall readability of Nexus, his latest book. The throughline for this book is how the structure of information networks through human history has evolved from requiring human input into the current state where machines can act on their own accord and AI seems poised to take over. There is actually not much in this book that has not been examined before however the presentation makes the material considerably easier to comprehend and absorb than that of many previous works .Additionally, it is a real pleasure to be presented with a book that encourages intellectual pursuits without promoting the pretensions and barriers to access that so often accompany them. Readers who want to understand more deeply how the management of information has, does and will structure our everyday experiences are will find something of value here.


4.5 stars rounded to 4

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Publishing Group , for providing me with an eARC in Exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book. I did not enjoy this book, but also think it should be required reading for anyone living in the modern age. I found the premise of this book on the importance of information and the systems we use to organize was so timely and relevant for humanity's next big leap in information and data analysis. It also reminded me of why I almost exclusively read fantasy. This was a terrifying look at AI, the negative forces that are undermining democracy and freedom in social media and the amount of surveillance and behavior control that is already occurring. I thought it was fascinating how he explained the naive view of more information always being a good thing ignores how information can be misinterpreted, misused, and ignored. As someone who is old enough to remember a world before Facebook and Google, I remember how optimistic and excited we were for these new tools and tech without even sparing a thought for the implications of what social media, data mining, and optimized searches would be over time. I think it was a good choice for the author to bring up this past shortsightedness when talking about the current development of AI.
I really appreciated how the book did not end on a negative note, but offered concrete action items and solutions for some of the problems our new advances in information technology and data analysis. The concerning part is that the reasonable solutions he proposed do not seem likely given the precarious state of the world right now. I also thought Harari's perspective was really unique and fascinating and I will definitely be picking up more of his books.

Alright, I received a cipy through NetGalley quite a while ago, and just didn't get to post an actual review until now. Which I should've done at the time for sure. Oh well. I still remember enough of the book, in any case, to be able to do so now.

This isn't the first book by Harari that I read. Regardless of what one may think of the research itself, there is no denying that this author has a knoack for storytelling and for grabbing a reader's attention (in a good way), all things that are a strong point when it comes to non fiction just as well as for fiction. Especially on the theme if information networks and their latest child (so to speak), the artificial intelligence, a pretty current topic.

Overall, it was quite an interesting read, and one that I would recommend, even though it wasn't my favourite one by Harari—the latter being caused, perhaps, by the amount of information in the book, which means that each piece couldn't be prodded in much depth. It does give food for thought, though, and a foundation for a reader to go and do more research on this or that aspect of it—sometimes, all we need is the idea of "check this out" for us to realise that, well, said topic is A Thing. That said, if you're looking for something with, well, more depth and deeper analysis, this is not the book.

This book was really far-ranging. I enjoyed thinking of all of the topics Noah-Harari connected throughout the book. I really enjoyed his discussion about how the spread of information can make a big difference to how societies function. Lots to think about for the future.