• Sapiens

  • A Brief History of Humankind
  • By: Yuval Noah Harari
  • Narrated by: Derek Perkins
  • Length: 15 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (55,009 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Sapiens  By  cover art

Sapiens

By: Yuval Noah Harari
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $28.79

Buy for $28.79

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

From a renowned historian comes a groundbreaking narrative of humanity's creation and evolution - a number one international best seller - 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?

This provocative and insightful work is sure to spark debate and is essential for aficionados of Jared Diamond, James Gleick, Matt Ridley, Robert Wright, and Sharon Moalem.

©2015 Yuval Noah Harari (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Featured Article: The Best Nonfiction Audiobooks to Jump into Right Now


The best nonfiction audiobooks take involved, often intimidating subjects and reinvigorate them with sharp narration so you can stay focused and on track. In this list, we’ll share our picks for some of the best nonfiction audio out there, encompassing a wide array of topics—from the entire history of humanity to astrophysics to the American prison system. Engage with some of the most fascinating, deeply human real-life stories our catalog has to offer.

What listeners say about Sapiens

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    44,253
  • 4 Stars
    7,702
  • 3 Stars
    1,942
  • 2 Stars
    607
  • 1 Stars
    505
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    39,148
  • 4 Stars
    6,111
  • 3 Stars
    1,271
  • 2 Stars
    252
  • 1 Stars
    215
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    37,140
  • 4 Stars
    6,715
  • 3 Stars
    1,788
  • 2 Stars
    519
  • 1 Stars
    514

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

award winning for a reason

One of the most interesting books of this time. this book takes you through a whole series of events and happenings that the common everyday person only knows the surface of. it goes in detail about the creation of thought, humanities beginning, middle and future. definitely worth the read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Another big history with little analysis

I listen to alot of big histories on audible because they don't have much in the way of critical scholarship. The analysis in this one is only slightly better than Guns, Germs and Steel, but basically it's the same sort of thing: lots of history, archaeology and anthropology, but virtually devoid of critical analysis. The analysis really falls apart when you get to the chapter on capitalism and modernity. If you have a critical mind, you can pick through the myopia of the author's perspective and form your own analysis from the vast array of research that the book cites along the way.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I have to say, this is my new favorite book.

Everything about this book is great. Entertaining, informative. Itt approaches human history and psychology from a pure scientific viewpoint, ignoring that the resulting conclusions are not politically correct. So refreshing. Read this.!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best books ever written

Read it when it came out and I finally got to listen to the audiobook and I’m blown away who’s great this book is. Perhaps one of the most educational, informative and eye opening books out there and it’s a must for anyone regardless of what you read. Yuval Harari is a genius. Now to start Deus. WOW. That was such a great listen...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

You will think of humans differently...

Thought-provoking and well-written account of human history. Spotlights the biggest questions- what do we want to become and what do we want to want?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun and informative

Very fun and informative

Very fun to read/listen. Kinda exciting enough to keep you on the book. I think it's pretty informative as well.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

incredibly intelligent listen

this book is the first thing in a long time that I am sure made me smarter. it challenged, enlightened, and entertained my brain.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Entertaining

This was a very leading story, well written and insightful. I'd like to know the author's motives.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enlightenment

I enjoyed the book overall. different point of view from normal thinking. I would reccomend

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

30,000 foot view of the human race

Interesting perspective on human history, but repackaging common knowledge can only go so far. At times tedious.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful