21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
As I liked Harari’s previous two books, I also read this book. As is the case for many writers, his 3 rd book for the public appeared less daring and refreshing to me, compared with his previous two books, although it is still good enough. Among five parts in the book, my favorite part was part IV, Truth, and two chapters, chapter 15 (ignorance) and 17 (post-truth) were the best of 21 chapters or lessons to me. As he repeatedly mentioned, we don’t know ourselves less than we think. Furthermore, he points out that power distorts reality so those with power cannot grasp the truth or reality as it is. The powerful ones would put people who have the same belief as theirs around them, and the surrounding people would willingly be committed to the powerful one’s viewpoint as they believe the power’s ideas or they are just interested in fulfilling their private desires. The author metaphorically said, “Great power thus acts like a blackhole” p.221 . To make matters worse, powerful people a...