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21 Lessons for the 21st Century cover art

21 Lessons for the 21st Century

By: Yuval Noah Harari
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
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Publisher's Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

The audiobook edition of 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari, read by Derek Perkins. 

The No.1 best seller.

In 21 bite-sized lessons, Yuval Noah Harari explores what it means to be human in an age of bewilderment.

How can we protect ourselves from nuclear war, ecological cataclysms and technological disruptions? What can we do about the epidemic of fake news or the threat of terrorism? What should we teach our children?

Yuval Noah Harari takes us on a thrilling journey through today’s most urgent issues. The golden thread running through his exhilarating new book is the challenge of maintaining our collective and individual focus in the face of constant and disorienting change.

Are we still capable of understanding the world we have created?

©2018 Yuval Noah Harari (P)2018 Penguin Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic Reviews

"Fascinating...compelling.... [Harari] has teed up a crucial global conversation about how to take on the problems of the 21st century." (Bill Gates, New York Times)

"Truly mind-expanding.... Ultra-topical." (Guardian)

"21 Lessons is, simply put, a crucial book." (Adam Kay)

What listeners say about 21 Lessons for the 21st Century

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Great!

Listened to twice now and will do again in the near future. I am tired of taking a screen shot of the cover and sending to others. I think both Audible and Kindle should think about how one can share such things - yes at a discount. Yuval would surely agree with me - not only for the $ but how that fits in the with world we are now in. Over to you Audible.

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Grateful Christian

Great views from an intelligent sceptic. Noah is very articulate in the expression of his views and as a committed Christian (or committed to the Christian story) I really appreciated his critical views.

The overall flow and transition from chapter to chapter was helpful and the narrator does an excellent job. 👍

I found the overall premise of evolution and determinism challenging because of my Christian worldview, but that is why I decided to read it. But if you're religious or hold strong economic/political positions and ideologies. Be prepared to be offended and made uncomfortable. But I'd encourage you to get through the whole book for context and for your own sakes.
I'm glad I read this and I'm grateful that Noah tackled these issues that need discussion and exploration in today's (or tomorrow's) world.

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He's done it again

A truly insightful, thought-provoking, and meditated tackle at some of life's biggest unknowns.

By far one of the best book series by one of the best authors to date.


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Disappointing

After the truly epic "Sapiens" and the very good "Home Deus" Harari has completely missed the mark with this book. Instead of theorising and philosophising Yuval get's caught up in his own bias' and politics. If it were any other author you'd say it was a break through bit for Harari it is a complete and utter disappointment. 3/5 Stars.

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Brilliant!!!

A brilliant eye opener!!! You won’t see the world the same way after reading this book. I wish I read this book when I was 15 (yes, even before it was written).

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Absolutely brilliant.

I now need to buy and read this excellent insight into humanity. The last chapter came as a complete surprise. Having analysed the 21 lessons I now need to understand my mind, and my motivation for living. Even though scientists know a little how the brain works it knows virtually nothing about the mind. Despite everything that the author has written in the previous chapters make absolute sense. This book should be mandatory reading for all politicians and leaders. Finally, the book is not about dogma or religion. It is just about common sense.

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Ok, but not Harari's Best Book by a long shot

Harari raises some interesting points however his arguments are not as well structured and supported as in his previous works. Feels slightly underresearched and unpolished.

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The weakest of three terrific books

Sapiens and Homo Deus were triumphs. There is clear daylight to the quality of this third installment, largely as it lacks a comprehensive framework as the others did. however, still worth a read, and arguably an easier book to skim or selectively read than the first two. I am much wiser for having read these books, so for that am thankful.

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  • Ian
  • 26-10-2018

Another Great Book from Yuval Noah Harai

I've listened to all 3 books from this author and have been enthralled with each. Perhaps this latest is not as profound as Sapiens or Homo Deus, but nonetheless a great and thought provoking book and well worth purchasing. The last chapter on the difference between the brain and the mind is brilliantly insightful. As always well narrated by Derek Perkins. Excellent and enjoyable.

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A+ must read for everyone

I’ve read all three of Yuval’s books multiple times. Highly thought provoking, easy to read and understand. These books may give you a different perspective on the world. While a DNA test might give people a more open minded perspective on their own bloodlines, other people and cultures, Yuvals books tackles it in a different way - by giving you a global perspective over time. The saying that life is short and make the most of it has even more importance for me now. Thank you Yuval for opening my mind to a new way of thinking. The narrator's voice - Derek Perkins, is sublime. Highly recommend.

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  • knaan
  • 01-09-2018

Zealots beware!

To me, Sapiens was easily the best book I ever came across, and it marked the beginning of my journey through a lot of scientific books. I couldn't finish Homo Deus, I found it to be too speculative.
Now, the 21 Lessons are easily the best book I listened to in years. There's a lot to learn, not just about the 21st century.
Check it out!

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  • Nikks B
  • 09-11-2018

A thought provoking read

Makes you reassess and rethink what you know and why you and others do what they do. Loved it and would highly recommend it to all

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  • MehdiT
  • 30-01-2019

Amazon book

many moments of truth pop up in this book. probably one of the best book every written. If you have read the forst two, Homo sapiens and Homo Deus, you might find the start of this as remake of the first two. but it gets much more interesting afterwards

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  • Anders Askasen
  • 03-02-2020

Progressive rant

Very disappointed by Mr Harari who produced two excellent books in sapiens and homo deus. 21 lessons turned out to be atleast 15 lessons in progressive leftism. Narrated nicely by Perkins but this work was sub.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 25-01-2019

Don't binge listen to Harari's books

I started this book right after finishing Homo Deus and Sapiens, so a lot of the information in this book was repetitive.

But still, jaw dropping information! The whole book is truly eye-opening. Also loved the narrators voice.

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  • Aleksey
  • 15-08-2019

Significantly worse than expected

I had high hopes for this book. It turned out that author has completely exhausted his idea potential for creating the previous two titles. There wasn't much here to read that I hadn't already been provided in detail or hinted in Sapiens or Homo deus. And to add to the overall dissatisfaction, the author decided to put a great deal of personal beliefs and political views in this particular book. I have been enjoying the notorious neutrality of Sapiens and Homo deus, but in 21 Lessons I often had to filter out subjective bits. And the presence of said subjective bits might well be explained by marketing efforts of author's publisher.

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  • Matteo C.
  • 14-03-2021

The Possibilities of the Future by 2050

In 21 Lessons For The 21st Century, professor Yuval Noah Harari presents some the most important issues that mankind is facing in the near future – in particular by 2050. The book spams from the (upcoming) future of work, healthcare, information, immigration, environment and society, describing some of the possibilities that we are going to see in our world. On this manner, Harari specifically says that it is impossible to predict the future even by 2050 because there are so many different variants in how things might take shape. From the technological development, climate change environment, and society anything can change the outcome of the world in 2050.

This book is amazing. It gave me so much insights about our society. It explains to so many whys and pose some good questions about future. I know that this book does not predict the future but it lays some of most likely to happen possibilities. The chapter on work is my favorite but also the other chapters gave me some great ideas that helps me understand what is going on around me right now.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 29-01-2021

Good but biased

At least should’ve been a bit less biased towards religions, especially Islam. Other than that, it’s been wonderful.

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  • VC
  • 25-07-2019

yet another brilliant work by YNH

I have become a big fan of YNH... after the first two excellent books, this continues to educate, enthrall and makes one ponder and reflect deeply. it shakes many deeply held notions.. what an amazing synthesis of whatever is happening and transpiring... a must read for anyone who is Keen to know where the human race is headed. most importantly, this book points to how as an individual, we can get to the path of true Discovery...

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  • Steve
  • 09-07-2019

Everyone should read this after Sapiens

I’ve not read Homo Deus but found this a perfect follow up to Sapiens. This is what we need to be studying and teaching. So much energy wasted on so much nonsense and these books enlighten although also frighten a bit. Now to work out where to from here for my generation but more importantly my children and then..... can I even contemplate their children?? Will I even have grandchildren?

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  • Paul Murphy
  • 07-09-2018

Grow your mind

Yet another master class, after reading all three of his books “Sapiens”,” Homo Deus” and “21 Lessons for the 21st Century” I am left wondering how one man could possibly cover so much. To understand where we are, where we came from, and where we could possibly be heading, A true trilogy for the mind. Seekers you need look no further for enlightenment. For an inquiring mind, you have a feast on your hands here. I have yet to be educated in a more entertaining way. So many ideas to contemplate, you will never look at things in quite the same way. In a word enriching.

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  • LK
  • 17-09-2018

10/10

‘Sapiens’ will stand out in history as a clearly mapped out record of the evolution of human beings from apes to modern day.
Fuelled by passion and intellect,
organised and delivered for any curious human of under average intelligence to genius to absorb and understand.

‘Homo Deus’ is my favourite non fiction book in years, an all time favourite. I have uncountable positive comments I could make about the wisdom it shows and issues it raises. My only critique, was that I sensed a slightly biased hidden agenda from Harari, portrayed as an informative ‘on the fence’ summary of life in the modern age and what may follow.

This considered ‘21 Lessons’ is the perfect follow up, he clearly and honestly opens up to the audience, expressing his personal views amongst the pleather of facts.

I am very fond of the conclusion, where he voices the importance and value of practicing a daily non biased observation of the self without judgement or agenda.
It is amazing to me that clearly right now, human beings main problem is our relationship with our own feelings, a subject rarely considered or discussed.
I love how this man thinks and teaches by example.

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  • Lukasz
  • 06-09-2018

Great book, good as the previous ones.

Recommend to everyone who seeks more true in their lifes. Recommend previous books as well.

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  • Gary Shavit
  • 01-09-2018

This book will make you smarter.

Each 'lesson' makes you think. His purpose isn't to convince you or to enlighten you to his point of view. But to make you consider your point of view and to weigh it's validity.

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  • Tiago Lazaro
  • 11-09-2018

Blown away!

Based on Yuval’s 2 previous books I pre-ordered this audiobook and couldn’t wait to start listening. As I expected it blew me away with the its clarity and Yuval’s outstanding ability to explain in simple language, what in his assessment are the important lessons of history. A must listen.

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  • Doug
  • 15-09-2018

Hard and Necessary

Like homo deus, really tough to hear the well reasoned thoughts about the coming and present world. Not one to pick up when feeling fragile with the world but if you can handle the truth then you are entirely more likely to read it here than in a POTUS tweet ;-)

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  • shania
  • 23-10-2018

Disappointed

I really enjoyed sapiens and found a lot of useful and interesting ideas contained therein (though, towards the end of the book, I disagreed with quite a lot of Mr Harari's analysis of contemporary society). I heard the author interviewed on a podcast and thought he was interesting and intelligent. I saved this audiobook 'til I could give it due consideration. I found the writer's ideas vague and his reasoning unconvincing. He made massive assumptions and generalisations and produced a narrative that felt incompatible with my understanding of history. This was followed by what felt like an inane and poorly researched portrayal of emerging technologies that then turned into the most ridiculous and pointless waffle; i would have laughed had i not paid money for it. It felt like the worst sort of propaganda. Maybe if I had continued to listen I'd have found the golden nugget, but I decided i was just wasting my time. Maybe it's just me; other people seem to like it...

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  • Jason Flaherty
  • 09-09-2018

21 lessons

Another insightful audio book from Yuval. Fantastic narration. A concise and easy tone.
As with all his other audiobooks I will be listening again within a few months.
Highly recommended.
Keep up the fantastic work. Bravo

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  • Alexandru Marius Busuioc
  • 04-02-2019

Speculation and nonsense

A historian should stick to what he knows, as opposed to launching into endless misinformed speculation about subjects ('infotech' and 'biotech', repeated ad nauseam...) that he doesn't really understand.

The book is just a bunch of speculation around today's buzzwords, playing on people's fears and ignorance to sell the book and make money. Ridiculous, really.

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  • Maija Kovari
  • 14-09-2018

An clear look at the big questions of our time

Clearly structured, well written look at many important topics that define our global era. A part of me wishes there was a big solution at the end, but I guess that's the whole point - the solutions are yet to reveal themselves, and to see our challenges clearly and soberly is a the necessary first step.

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