What happens when we stop believing in shared truth? When outrage trumps understanding? When power flows not from knowledge, but from curation?
Nexus is not a book about energy. But it has everything to do with the way we make collective decisions—about energy, climate, democracy, and survival. Harari’s central insight is that humans thrive not by uncovering objective truth, but by crafting shared fictions that allow cooperation at scale. This applies as much to religion and politics as to money, nations—and yes, energy transitions.
In the energy sector, we often assume that facts will guide action. We quantify emissions, model system scenarios, and publish expert roadmaps. But Harari reminds us that truth alone rarely moves societies. The real levers are stories, institutions, and desires.
Take climate change: Harari critiques the idea of “doing your own research” as a path to truth. He’s right. No one can independently verify climate science, power grid dynamics, or lifecycle emissions. We rely on institutional curation—by universities, media, regulators, even utilities. If these institutions lose trust, our ability to act collectively collapses.
He also draws a parallel with AI: as nonhuman intelligences shape narratives and exploit our biases, the power to curate—to decide what counts as truth, and what stories are told—becomes even more crucial. Just as the Bible was shaped more by those who chose the canon than by its authors, energy futures may be shaped more by those who train the algorithms and structure the debate than by the engineers designing the technology.
What does this mean for energy?
- Democracy and curation: Energy institutions must become more transparent, plural, and accountable. If energy planning is seen as technocratic or self-serving, it will be rejected—even if it’s factually correct. Legitimacy matters as much as accuracy.
- Desire vs. truth: Choosing between climate action and economic convenience is not a technical decision, but a societal one—driven by collective desire. Energy policy must speak to values, not just cost curves.
- Global divergence: Harari warns of a split into incompatible digital spheres. A similar divergence could emerge in energy—between open, interoperable systems and authoritarian techno-enclaves. Canada must choose wisely which infrastructure, values, and alliances it supports.
- Fiction as a tool: Harari doesn’t dismiss fiction—he sees it as essential. The energy sector needs better fictions: credible, compelling, collective visions of what a post-carbon world can look like. Not utopias, but stories strong enough to guide action.
In short, Nexus is a sobering call to take seriously the narrative infrastructure of our civilization. For the energy transition to succeed, we will need more than innovation and investment. We will need institutions that curate wisely, publics that desire justly, and stories that hold us together.
