Yuval Noah Harari Thinks Life Is Meaningless and Amazing | People I (Mostly) Admire | Episode 84

Yuval Noah Harari, author of 'Sapiens', discusses the unexpected success of his book, which outlines the history of the human species. Initially an unknown historian, Harari's work became influential after being translated into many languages, despite being initially written in Hebrew. The conversation delves into Harari's motivations for writing, his insecurities with public speaking, and the impact of reading 'Guns, Germs, and Steel' by Jared Diamond during his PhD.

Harari and his interviewer explore the concept of storytelling and its role in shaping human history, particularly focusing on the idea that money is a social construct based on trust. They discuss the importance of brevity in storytelling, the surprising elements in 'Sapiens', and the challenges of writing history without personal anecdotes or a central character.

The narrative recounts a personal anecdote of Harari's experience with an Icelandic bank prior to the financial crisis. It illustrates the concept of trust in financial systems and the rapid collapse that can occur when that trust is broken on a large scale, as seen with the Icelandic bank's sudden disappearance.

Harari explains his choice to not include himself as a character in 'Sapiens', drawing from his research background. The discussion moves to the importance of animals in human history, the impact of the Agricultural Revolution, and the author's personal views on the modern meat industry.

The conversation takes a philosophical turn as Harari discusses the meaninglessness of human life from a scientific perspective, contrasting it with the human tendency to seek narratives and meaning. He shares how understanding his own insignificance helped him overcome the fear of death and the importance of focusing on suffering and liberation from it.

Harari contrasts his Jewish upbringing with the teachings of Buddhism, which he finds more aligned with his personal beliefs. He details the practice of meditation, its profound effects on his life, and how it has shaped his ability to distinguish between reality and the stories the mind creates.

Harari challenges the conventional view of the Agricultural Revolution as a wholly positive development. He argues that while it benefited the elite, the average peasant's quality of life declined, with increased workload, poorer diets, and heightened vulnerability to famine and disease.

The discussion addresses the COVID-19 pandemic, contrasting the scientific triumph in understanding and responding to the virus with political failures in managing its spread globally. Harari reflects on the temporary nature of progress and the potential for catastrophe if institutions designed to prevent famine, plague, and war are not maintained.

Harari expresses his concerns for the future, suggesting that rapid scientific advancement could lead to the end of Homo sapiens as we know it. He outlines potential dystopian scenarios where technology could be misused to create superior but morally bankrupt human beings, and emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations in scientific progress.

The conversation concludes with Harari's thoughts on the complexity of ethical dilemmas and the need for nuance in public discourse. He advocates for the importance of private thought and the right to express unfiltered personal opinions without fear of public scrutiny, stressing the distinction between private and public behavior of leaders.