The opening chapter of 21 Lessons for the 21st Century tells the story of the origin of the book. This project is a collection of essays, many of which are a direct response to questions the public asked Harari. The overarching question Harari seeks to address through these essays is: What is happening right now in our global community, what is the meaning of these events, and how might these events shape humanity’s immediate and long-term future. To Harari, these questions have never been more important because the current political and technological predicaments humans are facing are upending our global community as we know it.

Specifically, liberal democracy—the most successful and versatile of the political models created by humans, according to Harari—is losing credibility as it struggles to adapt to the challenges of our modern, global society. Yet, despite the urgency of this issue, humans have never been more distracted. We are flooded with information, the majority of which is irrelevant. This irrelevant information causes major distractions, preventing us from clearly thinking about the future of Homo sapiens. As a historian, Harari believes that he can help offer the reader clarity. In so doing, Harari hopes that more people will join the debate over humanity’s future.