Part 2/7:
Throughout history, even sophisticated societies have fallen victim to mass delusions and the rise of destructive ideologies like Stalinism or Nazism. Harari contends that this is not due to some inherent flaw in human nature, but rather a result of being given bad information. When good people are presented with misinformation, they make poor decisions that can have catastrophic consequences.
The power of information lies in its ability to connect people, but unfortunately, the easiest way to connect large numbers of people is often through fictions, fantasies, and delusions, rather than truth. Harari argues that the most influential individuals are not those who know the facts, but rather those who can weave compelling narratives that motivate people to action.