Yuval Noah Harari, the name needs no introduction for people who are into Non-fiction books. I came across Harari while randomly watching TEDTalks on YouTube in 2017.
The title of the Talk was,
Why Humans run the world?
This 17-minute TEDTalk that Google’s Algorithm wanted me to watch was was enough to force me to further explore Harari’s works. For me, the most revitalizing words from the talk were,
Money, in fact, is the most successful story ever invented and told by Humans because it is the only story everybody believes.
To corroborate his argument, he further explained:-
Not everyone believes in God, Not everyone believes in Human Rights, Not everyone believes in Nationalism but everyone believes in Money.
These words from Harari connected at the visceral level. I was so impressed that for the next few months, he ended up monopolizing my attention.
Here is the TEDTalk for your reference:-
To further give you an impetus to pick up his works, here I’m sharing 25 Yuval Noah Harari Quotes & Ideas that would force you to see the world from a different perspective.
Yuval Noah Harari Quotes & Ideas:-
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind:-
#1:
A good rule of thumb is ‘Biology enables, culture forbids.’ Biology is willing to tolerate a very wide spectrum of possibilities. It’s the culture that obliges people to realize some possibilities while forbidding others.
#2:
Large numbers of strangers can cooperate successfully by believing in common myths. Any large-scale human cooperation – whether a modern state, a medieval church, an ancient city, or an archaic tribe – is rooted in common myths that exist only in people’s collective imagination.
Myths that exist only in people’s collective imagination.
#3:
Imagined orders are not evil conspiracies or useless mirages. Rather, they are the only way large numbers of humans can cooperate effectively.
#4:
Obesity is a double victory for consumerism. Instead of eating little, which will lead to economic contraction, people eat too much and then buy diet products – contributing to economic growth twice over.
#5:
Sapiens can cooperate in extremely flexible ways with countless numbers of strangers. That’s why Sapiens rule the world, whereas ants eat our leftovers and chimps are locked up in zoos and research laboratories.
#6:
Just as when two clashing musical notes played together force a piece of music forward, so discord in our thoughts, ideas, and values compel us to think, re-evaluate and criticize. Consistency is the playground of dull minds.
#7:
As Nietzsche put it, If You Have a Why To Live, You Can Bear Almost Anyhow. A meaningful life can be extremely satisfying even in the midst of hardship, whereas a meaningless life is a terrible ordeal no matter how comfortable it is.
#8:
Ever since the French Revolution, people throughout the world have gradually come to see both equality and individual freedom as fundamental values. Yet the two values contradict each other. Equality can be ensured only by curtailing the freedoms of those who are better off.
Grab Your Copy Here:- Amazon.in | Amazon.com
21 Lessons For The 21st Century:-
#9:
In a world deluged by Irrelevant Information, CLARITY IS POWER.
#10:
Humans should always retain the Freedom To Doubt, To Check Again, To Hear a Second Opinion, To Try a Different Path.
#11:
Silence isn’t neutrality; IT IS SUPPORTING THE STATUS QUO.
#12:
How do you live in an age of bewilderment, when the old stories have collapsed and no new story has yet emerged to replace them?
#13:
Even if you don’t know how to cash in on the data today, it is worth having it because it might hold the key to controlling and shaping life in the future.
#14:
First, if you want reliable information, Pay Good Money For It. If You Get Your News for Free, You Might Well be The Product.
#15:
If you are really in Love with Someone, You Never Worry About The Meaning of Life.
#16:
When a thousand people believe some made-up story for a month – that’s Fake News. When a billion people believe it for a thousand years – that’s Religion, and we are admonished to call it fake news in order, not to hurt the feelings of the faithful.
When a billion people believe some made-up story for a thousand years – that’s Religion
#17:
The danger is that if we invest too much in developing AI and too little in developing Human Consciousness, the very sophisticated Artificial Intelligence of computers might only serve to empower the Natural Stupidity of Humans.
#18:
If you suffer because of your belief in God or in the nation, that does not prove that your beliefs are true. Maybe you are just paying the price of your gullibility.
However, most people don’t like to admit that they are fools. Consequently, the more they sacrifice for a particular belief, the stronger their faith becomes.
Grab Your Copy Here:- Amazon.in | Amazon.com
Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow
#19:
In the past, Censorship worked by blocking the flow of Information. In the twenty-first century, Censorship works by flooding people with Irrelevant Information. In ancient times having power meant having access to data. TODAY HAVING POWER MEANS KNOWING WHAT TO IGNORE.
#20:
Meaning is created when many people weave together a common network of stories.
Why Does a Particular Action – such as getting Married in a Church, Fasting on Ramadan, or Voting on Election Day – seem meaningful to me?
Because my parents also think it is meaningful, as do my brothers, my neighbors, people in nearby cities, and even the residents of far-off countries.
And why do all these people think it is meaningful?
Because their friends and neighbors also share the same view.
#21:
History isn’t a single narrative, but thousands of alternative narratives. Whenever we choose to tell one, we are also choosing to silence others.
#22:
This is the best reason to learn History: not in order to predict the future but to free yourself of the past and IMAGINE ALTERNATIVE DESTINIES. Of course, THIS IS NOT TOTAL FREEDOM – we cannot avoid being shaped by the past. But some freedom is better than none.
#23:
Humans are in danger of losing their economic value because INTELLIGENCE IS DECOUPLING FROM CONSCIOUSNESS.
Grab Your Copy Here:- Amazon.in | Amazon.com
The Best Books:
Recommended Reading Lists
1. Best Books To Help You Develop the HABIT of READING
2. Best Books That Teach the Art of Living a HAPPIER LIFE
3. Best Books on STOCK MARKET & INVESTING
4. Best Books To Help You Find HOPE During Your Darkest of Times
That’s all I have for today. Thanks a lot for tuning in to HappinessDhaba. Do let me know your favorite Yuval Noah Harari Quote in the comment section.
Signing off with my favorite words
Zindagi Zindabad!
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