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Yuval Noah Harari

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"text": "Yuval Noah Harari is a prominent Israeli historian and public intellectual. He is a professor of history at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Harari is also a popular science writer known for his \"Big History\" books. These books look at the very long timeline of human existence. He explores how biology, technology, and storytelling shape our world. His work often examines complex themes like free will and consciousness. He also studies human happiness and the impact of suffering.\n\nHarari's intellectual journey began with an early interest in learning. He taught himself to read when he was only three years old. At age eight, he attended a school for intellectually gifted children in Haifa. He later began studying history and international relations at age 17. He earned his B.A. from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem between 1993 and 1998. Afterward, he moved to England to study at the University of Oxford. He completed his D.Phil. degree there in 2002 under the supervision of Steven J. Gunn. While at Oxford, the work of author Jared Diamond served as a major academic epiphany for him.\n\nHarari's writing career reached a turning point with his book *Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind*. This work was first published in Hebrew in 2011. It grew out of 20 lectures he gave to undergraduate students. The book explores the \"cognitive revolution\" that occurred roughly 70,000 years ago. This revolution allowed *Homo sapiens* to develop language and structured societies. It also helped humans replace other species, such as the Neanderthals. Harari traces how the First Agricultural Revolution and the Scientific Revolution changed human power. His book has since been translated into approximately 45 different languages.\n\nIn his later works, Harari shifts his focus toward the future of humanity. His 2016 book, *Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow*, examines biological and technological possibilities. He explores how humans might seek immortality or God-like powers. He also introduced the term \"dataism\" to describe a mindset that worships big data. His 2018 book, *21 Lessons for the 21st Century*, addresses immediate modern concerns. Most recently, his 2024 book, *Nexus*, examines the history of information networks and artificial intelligence. He even writes for younger audiences, such as his 2022 book *Unstoppable Us: How Humans Took Over the World*.\n\nHarari's ideas often spark intense debate among experts and the public. Some critics, like neuroscientist Darshana Narayanan, argue his work lacks scientific rigor. They suggest he sometimes prioritizes sensational storytelling over strict scientific accuracy. Others have characterized his work as \"infotainment\" rather than traditional academic history. In 2019, he faced criticism regarding the Russian edition of his book *21 Lessons for the 21st Century*. He chose to soften certain criticisms of Russian authorities to ensure the book could be published there. He argued that reaching a global audience was more important than total political bluntness.\n\nBeyond writing, Harari is involved in social impact work. In 2019, he and his husband, Itzik Yahav, founded a company called Sapienship. The mission of Sapienship is to promote global responsibility and cooperation. The organization uses research, education, and content development to address global challenges. They focus on how technology affects the future world order. They also aim to tell shared stories that build trust between different groups of people. This work connects his historical research to modern social

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