In this newsletter, I want to share three interesting ideas from Harari that impressed me.
① Information connects people
Information is not just about telling the truth. Information connects people. When people share information, they form groups. We call these groups “clubs” or “companies” or “nations.” The group itself is more important than whether the information is true or not.
My comment: I am happy to understand this idea. I always wondered: why do people post photos of their trips or their meals at new restaurants? I thought they were lonely. But I was wrong. Information naturally wants to be shared. Information must be shared.
② Be careful of recommendations
Recommendations have great power. We often don’t notice this power.
Harari gives an interesting example from Christian history. In the late 4th century (around 1,600 years ago), church leaders held two big meetings.
They decided which religious books to recommend to Christians. There were many, many religious books at that time.
Some books were not chosen. For example, there was a book called “The Acts of Paul and Thecla.” This book showed women as preachers and leaders. But the church did not recommend it.
The books they chose became the New Testament. It has stayed exactly the same for more than 1,600 years. This shows us: recommendations have very long and powerful effects.
My comment: We follow recommendations every day. But we don’t know how to be careful about them. This is scary. The most scary thing is something you don’t know how to protect yourself from.
③ Don’t get over-excited: The danger of AI
When you use AI, it works very fast and never gets tired. It works 24 hours. It doesn’t need food, sleep, or rest. It never complains.
This creates a problem. You might try to work like AI. But you cannot. You are human. You are organic. You need to rest, eat, and sleep. If you try to be like AI, you will get too tired.
Harari makes a joke. People often say “I’m excited to see you!” But maybe we should say “I’m relaxed to see you” or “I’m bored to see you” instead.
My comment: “I’m relaxed to see you” or “I’m bored to see you” is so funny. I like it!
Did you like my article? If so, I recommend this interview to you from the bottom of my heart… unless my recommendation has power to influence you!
私立学校に英語教師として勤務中、40代半ばに差し掛かったころ、荒れたクラスを立て直す策として、生徒に公言して英検1級に挑戦することを思い立つ。同様の挑戦を繰り返し、退職までに英検一級（検定連合会長賞）、TOEIC満点、国連英検SA級、フランス語一級、スペイン語一級（文科大臣賞）、ドイツ語一級、放送大学大学院修士号などの成果を得る。
アメリカで生徒への対応法を学ぶ為に研修（地銀の助成金）。最新の心理学に触れた。4都県での全発表、勤務校での教員への研修を英語で行う。現在も特別選抜クラスの授業を全て英語で行っている。「どうやって単語を覚えればいいですか？」という良くある質問に答える為、印欧祖語からの派生に基づく「生徒には見せたくない語源英単語集」を執筆中。完成間近。常日頃洋書の読破で様々な思考にふれているが、そうして得た発想の一つを生かして書いた論文がコロナ対策論文として最近入賞。賞品の牛肉に舌鼓をうっている。元英検面接委員