Sapiens

A Brief History of Humankind

By: Yuval Noah Harari

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

#1 New York Times Bestseller • New York Times Readers’ Pick: Top 100 Books of the 21st Century • The Summer Reading Pick for President Barack Obama and Bill Gates

Official U.S. edition

From renowned historian Yuval Noah Harari comes a groundbreaking narrative of humanity’s creation and evolution—a #1 international bestseller—that explores the ways in which biology and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be “human.”

One hundred thousand years ago, at least six different species of humans inhabited Earth. Yet today there is only one—homo sapiens. What happened to the others? And what may happen to us?

Most books about the history of humanity pursue either a historical or a biological approach, but Dr. Yuval Noah Harari breaks the mold with this highly original book that begins about 70,000 years ago with the appearance of modern cognition. From examining the role evolving humans have played in the global ecosystem to charting the rise of empires, Sapiens integrates history and science to reconsider accepted narratives, connect past developments with contemporary concerns, and examine specific events within the context of larger ideas.

Dr. Harari also compels us to look ahead, because over the last few decades humans have begun to bend laws of natural selection that have governed life for the past four billion years. We are acquiring the ability to design not only the world around us, but also ourselves. Where is this leading us, and what do we want to become?

Featuring 27 photographs, 6 maps, and 25 illustrations/diagrams, this provocative and insightful work is sure to spark debate and is essential reading for aficionados of Jared Diamond, James Gleick, Matt Ridley, Robert Wright, and Sharon Moalem.

Information about our species like never before

The book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind is brimming with information regarding our storied pre-history. Although at some points, it feels as though the author is loosely basing the assumptions made in reality, the overall story is brimming with more information than any other source that I've read. Prepare to view your species differently.

How is it possible to politicize evolution?

Such an eloquent voice, but too much emphasis by intonations that some how human beings are responsible for the world being harsh. As if it was all mindful and self will. My perspective just might be, all wet. Likely being hypervigilant to how facts can be skillfully manipulated in the Group Think attitudes of judgement and opinion seen in modern press. I couldn't finish it. So disappointingly sad.

A very interesting perspective of history.

I read many reviews about the second part of the book criticizing the second half of it. Nonetheless the book provides an objective perspective of our economical, social and political evolution throughout history. Evidently there are plenty controversial things in our history we may not want to talk about. We as humans are full of contradictions; as our history has shown. Hope you enjoy it too!

Excellent Beginning, Good Middle, Boring End

Overall a good book about the history of mankind told from a very different perspective. The first portion covers prehistoric times and this portion was the most captivating. The next sections covered recorded history which were laid out in broad themes and very different than more traditional looks at history. For example the agriculture revolution is viewed as an evolutionary victory for wheat as it enslaved humans to its cultivation. Some of these sections were quite thought provoking, while others became a bit long. The final quarter of the book covers more modern times with a glimpse of the future. At this point the book was a bit tedious and found myself skipping and skimming the final chapters as there are better texts on the subject matter. Narration is excellent and easy to listen and understand.

Would recommend it for someone looking for an unusual take on human history. While many of the views and interpretations are subjective, overly general, and could be controversial in the views of more purist historians, nonetheless the book does help challenge our traditional rationalizations when it comes to the past and therefore is a worthwhile read.

Superb Breadth

Wow!!!! Imagine if we took the natural curiosity creativity and abstract ness of a child’s mind and nurtured and fed them with same rather than destroyed those things in most of them? Our salvation lies in the diversity of our minds not the zip code and access barriers that bred monogamy of thought....