Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI

Harari examines how information and truth are not always the same thing, arguing that more information does not automatically lead to greater accuracy or greater truth. How does Harari explore the nature of these differences? How do some forms of information he examines—e.g., government propaganda, social media, religious myths—help to illustrate these differences?

Harari presents AI as both a potential benefit and a potential threat to humanity. What are some of these potential benefits and threats? What other benefits or drawbacks, if any, did Harari’s analysis overlook?

Harari discusses the importance of self-correcting mechanisms in various spheres of human activity. What are some of these self-correcting mechanisms? What role do such mechanisms play in the creation, dissemination, and/or interpretation of information?

Harari draws upon many historical examples when discussing present-day issues and offering predictions about the future. Choose a historical case study and closely analyze it. What does this case study illustrate? What is its wider significance in the text?

What is the significance of Harari’s use of personal stories in Nexus? How does he use them to illustrate his key themes and ideas?

Harari examines both democracies and dictatorships in his analysis. How does each governmental system respond to the challenges presented by information control? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each system when dealing with technological developments that affect information systems?

Harari emphasizes the importance of human responsibility and agency in navigating historical changes, yet he also acknowledges that some developments, such as opaque bureaucratic systems or secretive social media algorithms, can be difficult or impossible for the average person to understand. How does Harari navigate the potential and limitations of human agency in his analysis?

Harari uses the “Big History” approach in his writing for a popular audience, including in Nexus (See: Key Figures). How does Nexus reflect some of the techniques and approaches of “Big History”? What are the strengths and weaknesses of “Big History” approaches to specialized topics?