Trappistmonk’s Reviews > 21 Lessons for the 21st Century > Status Update

Fascism is what happens when nationalism makes life to easy for itself by denying all other identities and obligations: "does this further national interests?"

All stories are incomplete.
The meaning of life is like a live hand grenade. When you pass it on to someone else you are safe. (Eg genes or legacy.)
Most stories are held together by the weight of the roof rather than the strength of their foundations.
Sacrifice strengthens stories.
People identify with stories. When convenient, stories are mixed and matched.

Authenticity is a lie and Huxley was right.
Change is the only constant, be prepared to start your life from scratch at every moment. Flexibility and resilience are the key, but the system isn't teaching us.
If you don't know what you want, you'll be led by tech. Know thyself. Travel light, illusions are heavy.

People are irrational while thinking they are rational.
You know less than you think.
We treat knowledge of others as if where our own.
Power distorts vision.
Human Morality is ill equipped for global community.
Denial of the true complexity is inevitable, dogmatize otherwise.
Post-truth is the only way humans know, fake news is of all ages, eg religion.
Pay for information, otherwise you are the product.

Nice explanation of terrorism as a mode of warfare and how nations typically fail to respond in a way that doesn't further the terrorist interest. Next chapters address religion and secularism and the value of having a worldview that allows you to question everything.

So far touches on some quite interesting point about our current society and political discourse. Though some ideas about the near limitless abilities of future AI tech seem a bit far fetches. Some chapters also feel hastily finished. Maybe 10 lessons in 372 pages would have been better?