Yuval Noah Harari

Yuval Noah Harari is an Israeli historian, philosopher, and author of the immensely popular books "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind," "Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow," and "21 Lessons for the 21st Century." He’s basically the go-to guy if you want to feel simultaneously smarter and more existentially terrified about the future of humanity. His work, translated into dozens of languages, has been praised by everyone from Barack Obama to Mark Zuckerberg, proving that even billionaires enjoy a good intellectual panic attack.

Born and raised in Kiryat Ata, Israel, Harari earned his PhD at the University of Oxford. He is currently a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He also happens to be gay and married to his husband, Itzik Yahav, which, in some parts of the world, is still considered more shocking than the eventual triumph of AI over humanity.

Harari is a vegan and a dedicated Vipassana meditator, clocking in two hours a day and a month-long retreat annually. He even credits his meditation practice with helping him write his books and understand the human mind. So, if you’re struggling with writer’s block, maybe lay off the Netflix and try some silent contemplation instead of doomscrolling.

His meteoric rise to fame, coupled with his distinctly non-academic writing style, has made him a controversial figure in some academic circles. Apparently, some people prefer their history lessons delivered with a side of obscure footnotes and impenetrable jargon, rather than, you know, actually being enjoyed by a global audience. Go figure.