21 Lessons for the 21st Century

Book Summary
By
Wadiah Akbar
500366
MBA-1
21 Lessons for the 21st Century is the book written by Professor Yuval Noah Harari. This book

is one of the bestseller of Professor. This book talks about how the understandings/ or

information of the past and the future together makes us recognize societies problems and current

doings. It also puts light on what is being done, how it is managed, and what are the challenges

and lastly how those challenges are tackled. This book covers up threads/ theme of reality. This

book is composed of five, 5, chapters in which there are selected lessons. These lessons helps

one to think openly and more/ further what else can be done. The author has written some or few

of the chapters on the questions that were asked by the booklovers or public. Some parts of the

book were published earlier that helped the writer in form of the feedback and questions asked.

Some chapters describe wisdom of human and celebrate it, and in other chapters it shows that

how the same human being can be stupid and to what extent.

The book starts with describing the victory of liberalism over communism, and fascism.

It is intended or meant to happen that the whole world will be conquered by capitalism, politics,

and human rights. Moving on, the author has tried to cover all features/ or characteristics and

control of the new emerging technologies and know-hows. There are challenges, hazards, and

pressures associated with new technology that can go off beam for each new formations. Then

comes the part where although there are strong political disparity and there are extraordinary

technological trials, if human beings keep their fears under control or in their control can reach

or go to a certain point. The author discusses what can be done about the threats of worldwide

war and about the fierce violence. The author puts light on what are the things that trigger up the

causes of such things to happen. Then comes the idea of thoughts that appeals to personal belief

and emotion.
 Lastly the author talks generally about the life of human beings in the time of confusion

and bafflement, when there is nothing new happening in world and old tales have shrunken. The

book discusses the inadequacies of the generous world assessment and of the self-ruled system.

The author agrees to this view point because it is the most useful and positive dogmatic model

that human beings have come up with or developed for overcoming the trials of the present

world. Although for every the general public or the country it may not be suitable but the liberal

consensus has showed its value in many societies and circumstances. It is better to understand

the pros and cons of the liberal democracy, and familiarize to it. So with the help of it one can

improve the existing situation. But unluckily this idea is or can be seized by the ones who are not

in favor of it. Because they only think about themselves not about the future of the people. Their

tolerance level is very low because they cannot bear any criticism. The author discusses that in

the 21st century there are emerging stories of super humans and most importantly artificial

intelligence. Although human beings are working perfectly but in the 21st century they can be

replaced by the computers or robots. The author says that the machine data can be transferred

easily and one can keep many copies of the information with them.

Advancement in technology has brought many changes in human beings life.

Communicating with other people abroad has been made possible. The author mentions how

humans were divided into many communities and how these communities merged into other

communities and has become on global evolution. If one society values or pays more importance

to patience and easiness, the communities can be able to manage and combine into smaller

liberal sections. Biotechnology and knowledge/ know- how together are more important when it

approaches to war. Psychologists and social economists have verified that human makes

decisions that are based on their shortcuts and emotional reactions rather than on balanced
investigation. In the Silicon age emotions have no value and is considered to be very inaccurate,

while in Stone Age it has great importance and worth. A story that is made up for one month, it is

believed by the one thousand people then that is a fake news. When more than one thousand

people start believing in it ten that news becomes a religion. People then don’t call it a fake news

but it is considered that calling it fake news can have bad impact on them, they will not be

considered realistic or they will hurt someone’s feelings or emotions. The author says that the

literature is amongst the most operative tools in humankind’s toolbox. When people come

together or brought together at one point, different faiths can make impossible to possible.

Other than beliefs or emotions/ philosophies, todays TV ads or commercials depends on

fake points and fiction. For example, the author has given an example Coca- Cola brand/ soft-

drinks. They make people believe or convince them to believe to what they are showing on TV is

real or reality. Coca- Cola ads show on TV that people are having fun when drinking or having

coke, their life becomes amazing and wonderful when they have it. But this totally fake the

reality is opposite to it. The reality is health issues like diabetes, and weight issues. When people

fail to recognize the simple truths of the Universe, grief and misery starts.
References