Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari

Merits: Yuval Noah Harari has a PhD in history from the University of Oxford. He also lectures at the department of history at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, specializing in world history.

Material: This book explores the paths our species is on and where some of those avenues might lead. From A.I. to the seemingly inevitable fusion of biology and technology, Harari considers several scenarios mainly focused around our perpetual quest to upgrade humans beyond the limits of our mortal shells.

Grade: Oppenheimer. These predictions are provocative and not as farfetched as one might hope. Is authority shifting away from humans into the hands of algorithms? What happens to those left in the dust professionally if A.I. begins swallowing whole industries? Will we ever get flying cars (not addressed in this book, but still)?