Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone

Abstract

Yuval Noah Harari’s Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks From the Stone Age to AI presents a sweeping historical and philosophical analysis of the role that information networks have played in shaping human societies. Following in the intellectual tradition of his earlier works, such as Sapiens and Homo Deus, Harari offers a broad and interdisciplinary exploration of how human civilizations have built, expanded, and managed information networks from their origins to the present day. In Nexus, Harari traces the evolution of these networks, from ancient mythologies and bureaucracies to modern AI-driven systems, with a critical eye on the tensions between information, truth, and power.

Harari’s overarching thesis in Nexus is clear: human history is, to a significant extent, a history of information networks, and these networks have not only facilitated the coordination and growth of societies but also entrenched delusion and misinformation. Harari argues that information does not simply reflect reality; it also creates it by forging connections between individuals and groups. While this argument is compelling, Harari’s analysis also raises significant questions about the nature of truth, the role of technology, and the future of governance in a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence.