Even in the age of AI, humans still write and publish books at a medieval pace. I began working on this book in 2018, and the bulk of the manuscript was written in 2021 and 2022. Given the speed at which technological and political events are unfolding, the meaning of many sections has already changed, acquiring greater urgency and carrying unanticipated messages. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is the vital importance of connections. While this book has been written amid rising international tensions, it has also been the product of dialogue, cooperation, and friendship, and it represents a collective effort on the part of numerous people, near and far.
Nexus would never have seen the light of day without the huge efforts of Michal Shavit, my publisher at Fern Press, and David Milner, my editor. There were many times when I thought the project could not be completed, but they persuaded me to carry on. There were many other times when I took a wrong turn, and they worked patiently and persistently to set me on the right path. I wholeheartedly thank them for their commitment, and for getting rid of all the various bananas (they know what I mean).
I would also like to thank many others who have helped write and publish this book.
To Andy Ward at Penguin Random House USA, who gave the book its final shape and made very valuable contributions to the editing process, like single-handedly putting an end to the Protestant Reformation.
To Suzanne Dean, the creative director at Vintage, and to Lily Richards, the picture editor, for designing the cover and bringing the pigeon on board.
To my publishers and translators throughout the world, for additional feedback and ideas, and for their trust and dedication.
To Jason Parry, the brilliant head of the in-house research team at Sapienship, and to all members of that team—Ray Brandon, Guangyu Chen, Jim Clarke, Corinne de Lacroix, Dor Shilton, and Zichan Wang—for researching countless subjects from Stone Age religions to present-day social media algorithms, for tirelessly checking thousands of facts, for standardizing hundreds of endnotes, and for correcting innumerable mistakes and misconceptions.
To all members of the marvelous Sapienship team, for being an integral part of this journey: Shay Abel, Daniel Taylor, Michael Zur, Nadav Neuman, Ariel Retik, Hanna Shapiro, Galiete Katzir, and several other team members who have joined more recently. Thank you for participating in the processes behind this book and for your ongoing dedication to all our projects, driven by Sapienship’s missions—to sow seeds of knowledge and compassion, and to focus the global conversation on the most important challenges facing humanity.
To Naama Wartenburg, Sapienship’s chief marketing officer and director of content, for her steadfast ardor and acumen, and for branding the book and leading its PR campaign.
To our CEO, Naama Avital, for sagely steering the Sapien-ship through many storms and minefields, combining competence with compassion, and shaping both our philosophy and our strategy.
To all my friends and family members, for their patience and love through the years.
To my mother, Pnina, and my mother-in-law, Hannah, for generously giving their time and experience.
To my grandmother Fanny, who passed away at age one hundred while I was working on the manuscript’s first draft.
To my spouse and partner, Itzik, who founded Sapienship and is the real genius behind our worldwide activities and successes.
And finally to my readers, who make all these efforts worthwhile. A book is a nexus between author and readers. It is a link connecting many minds together, which exists only when it is read.