I just finished reading "21 Lessons for the 21st Century" by Yuval Noah Harari. It’s now on my must-read list.

The book indeed covers 21 lessons about understanding our world and surviving in it: #politics, #nationalism, #war, #God, #religion, #economy, #ecology, #terrorism, #technology, #longevity, #algorithms, #AI, #freedom, #self-knowledge, #faith, #truth, and the meaning of life.

Below I’ll outline some conclusions I hadn’t thought about before.

☠️ The Problem of Terrorism.

Terrorists are too weak to confront powerful enemies (like the U.S.) directly, so they rely on fear. By spreading terror, they hope governments will overreact. Widespread publicity amplifies this effect — media outlets benefit from sensational stories, which, in turn, helps terrorists sow panic. Meanwhile, actual casualties from terrorist acts are fewer than those from car accidents or diseases, but fear multiplies their impact. The surest strategy is for governments to respond quietly, without giving terrorists a stage. Without an audience, terror loses its meaning.

🍄 The Ecology Problem.

Climate change is a serious threat. Some nations stand to gain — Russia might discover new trade routes through melting ice — while others turn into deserts or end up underwater. Greenhouse gas emissions keep rising. Humanity must abandon fossil fuels now to preserve our environment and economy. The meat industry also fuels global warming while causing suffering to billions of animals. Fortunately, “clean meat” grown from cells is becoming more affordable. Global warming may be more perilous than nuclear war, because its effects vary by region and don’t unite countries in prevention the way nuclear threats do.

🧐 Key Skills for the 21st Century.

Traditional schooling — memorizing facts and focusing on narrow fields — has lost its former value in today’s info-saturated world. It’s more important to filter knowledge, adapt, and keep calm when facing the unknown. Many educators believe schools should emphasize critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. Above all, we need the ability to learn continuously and reinvent ourselves to stay relevant in a fast-changing future.

😵 No Meaning of Life. No Free Will.

We can direct our actions toward our desires, but we don’t control the underlying desires themselves, which arise from biochemical processes influenced by external factors. If we fail to understand our own minds, algorithms might do it for us — and control us. Because our “self” is part of a broader matrix, letting go of rigid identity may be crucial for survival. Meditation, especially Vipassana, helps us observe our thoughts and bodily reactions, peeling away illusions and reducing suffering.

😵‍💫 Imagined Stories.

Humans create stories — nationalism, religion, corporations — that shape our collective lives. These narratives can unite societies, yet they’ve also led to countless needless deaths. We must distinguish belief in a story from truth, focusing on the suffering such beliefs can inflict. Instead of asking “What is the meaning of life?” perhaps we should ask “How can we reduce suffering?” Human well-being depends on social bonds: if we harm others, we harm ourselves. Observing suffering brings us closer to truth than clinging to invented stories.

Overall, "21 Lessons for the 21st Century" provides profound insights. I’ve only scratched the surface; the book explores each theme in depth, answering many questions and “opening your eyes.”