Mama always said life is like a Rubin vase. If you focus on this part of it, you see the Ploosa Shawnje. But if you focus on the other part, you see the Ploosa La Memshows.
John Gray offers a positive review of Harari’s book, though, as is frustratingly often the case with him, the book being reviewed seems to be judged primarily on its proximity and sympathy to Gray’s own “godless mysticism” worldview which has featured so prominently in his writings over the past decade or so (one might say he’s become quite a hedgehog about it). Perhaps he only chooses to review books which address similar themes, I don’t know; it just makes me a wee bit leery when so many of his reviews seem to hinge upon whether the author has wisely echoed or foolishly disagreed with Gray’s well-known thoughts about the subject. And I say this as someone who is largely in agreement with that worldview. I fear the temptation of Procrusteanism may get the better of him at times, that’s all.