21 Lessons for the 21st Century21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Score Modern
What it's about
In a world flooded with information, clarity is power. Yuval Noah Harari takes on the most urgent questions of today: technology and jobs, fake news, nationalism, religion, terrorism, war, and how to stay focused and resilient amid constant change.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 29 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's the present-day companion to Sapiens and Homo Deus.
You'll love it if you liked
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow
NexusGood to know
Each chapter stands alone. It's broader and more opinionated than Sapiens.
By the numbers
- Readers50 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller64 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #154 of the 198 history books we rank
- #666 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1260 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Thought-provoking
More by Yuval Noah Harari
Sapiens: A Brief History of HumankindNexusHomo Deus: A Brief History of TomorrowIf you like this, read next
Between the World and Me
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer
Educated: A Memoir
All the Light We Cannot See
The Book Thief
AmericanahExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is 21 Lessons for the 21st Century worth reading?
Yes. It spent 29 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #1,260 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 70.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is 21 Lessons for the 21st Century about?
In a world flooded with information, clarity is power. Yuval Noah Harari takes on the most urgent questions of today: technology and jobs, fake news, nationalism, religion, terrorism, war, and how to stay focused and resilient amid constant change.
How long does it take to read 21 Lessons for the 21st Century?
About 9 hours (352 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after 21 Lessons for the 21st Century?
If you liked it, try Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari or Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari.