Welcome to And Now What?
Humanity finds itself at a pivotal crossroads, again. Looking back, we
badly fumbled one major historical pivot and did better with another
one for a while. What happened then and how will we fare this time?
We explore these questions by weaving together recent research in
science and the humanities to take a fresh look at human history and
seek to gain insights into what's ahead. Join me as we navigate this
critical moment in history and attempt to answer the perennial question: And now what?
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A little about me
Although I have a passion for history, I am not a historian. My credentials are more silicon than parchment - I am a tech entrepreneur, steeped in a heady brew of technology, business, and innovation. I loved my work - creating disruptive products, conquering new markets (peacefully, I assure you), working alongside talented people, and going through exhilarating highs and humbling lows. This was my first mountain to climb, so to speak - though it often felt more like a roller coaster designed by an overzealous engineer.
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Why am I doing this?
A few years ago, I felt the urge to climb new mountains. I took up art, finding joy in the creative process. (1) Simultaneously, I embarked on a reading journey, devouring countless books and articles on history, sciences, and philosophy. My goal? To better comprehend the changes we're facing and how we arrived at our current predicament. I discovered that while recent decades have amassed vast troves of information in individual disciplines (such as neuroscience, the theory of complex systems, anthropology, evolutionary biology, and the studies of innovation and technology-driven transformations), we have yet to weave these threads into a coherent, updated "human story".​ Academics, bound by exacting scholarly standards and the need to maintain reputations within their specialties, often find it difficult to venture beyond their niches. Yet, the runaway success of books like Yuval Harari's "Sapiens" and "Homo Deus" reveals an immense thirst for understanding our emerging new narrative. This craving is not surprising; our previous versions of the human story have lost their moorings, leaving us adrift in a sea of uncertainty and angst around the world. We very much need a new story to rally around.
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Given academic specialization, attempts at sketching this
new story are likely to come from unexpected quarters.
Harari is a case in point - he is a professor specialized in
medieval military history, a highly specialized niche to say the
least (his books carry esoteric titles such as "Special
Operations in the Age of Chivalry 1100-1550 "). He is also a
gifted storyteller who decided to venture onto the biggest
story there is, that of humanity. It was a bold leap beyond his
expertise - and sure enough many academics pooh-poohed his work ("what is correct is not new, and what is new is incorrect", "careless and sensationalist", "deceptive hodgepodge"). But no matter - his books provided much useful food for thought for a public starving for such insights.​
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I am as far from academia as I am from being an Olympic athlete - which is to say, very. On this new mountain I have no reputation to protect. What I bring to the table is deep expertise in innovation, a solid grasp of technology, and an insatiable curiosity in things I take a keen interest in. My forte lies in examining complex areas, connecting dots to gain new insights, and crafting innovative narratives that resonate with people. I have done this repeatedly in high tech, and now I attempt to apply these skills to this new frontier. I hope you'll find some value in my efforts. If you've read this far, you have my sincere thanks... and possibly too much free time :)​
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As Anthony de Mello wrote about the author's role, "His task has been that of the weaver and the dyer. He takes no credit at all for the cotton and the thread."(2) I echo this sentiment, as I attempt to weave the threads into helpful patterns. Much credit goes to the many authors and researchers I quote, borrow from, or refer to in my writing, for their original discoveries and insights. ​
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(1) In the (unlikely) event you are curious to see some of my work as a newly minted artist, you can go here
(2) I recently read this quote in a new reprint of "Maktub", a collection of essays by Paulo Coelho.
