Tom Hanks has urged his followers to read what he calls an “outstanding” new non-fiction book from one of the world’s most widely read historians.
The actor posted a photo of Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari on Instagram, writing: “If you read only one non-fiction book this year, consider this one, to know more of our history and be aware of our choices to come. -THanks.”
The book, published in 2024, is a #1 Sunday Times bestseller and currently holds the top spot in Amazon’s Computer Information Systems category. It has a customer rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 6,500 reviews.
Nexus traces the evolution of information networks – from oral storytelling and the written word to the digital age – and examines how these systems have shaped societies and power structures throughout history.
Harari, best known for Sapiens and Homo Deus, explores the role of books, the internet, algorithms and artificial intelligence in influencing how we share knowledge, form beliefs and make decisions. He also considers the long-term consequences of those shifts.
The book has received endorsements from a range of public figures. Stephen Fry called it “tremendous, thought-provoking and so very well-reasoned,” while Rory Stewart described Harari as “one of the most remarkable intellects of our generation.”
Chef and author Yotam Ottolenghi said the book served as “a wake-up call in the gentlest, most urgent way.”
Harari’s previous works have been translated into over 65 languages and have sold over 40 million copies worldwide. His writing often blends history, science and philosophy to explore the forces shaping modern civilisation, with a particular focus on technology and human behaviour.
This isn’t the first time Tom Hanks has spoken publicly about his reading habits.
A longtime advocate for literature and historical awareness, he published his own novel, The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, in 2023 and regularly recommends books on his social media platforms to his millions of followers.
Nexus is available now in hardback, ebook and audiobook formats.