New York Times BestsellerA Summer Reading Pick for President Barack Obama, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg From a renowned historian 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 … 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.
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OK, but if you have a subscritpion to the Smithsonian–there’s nothing new here. Curious, too, that the book was totally within the current conventional wisdom–nothing new or out-of-the-box about author’s understanding of homo sapiens.
Very important book!
Incredibly detailed and well researched. An interesting look at the human condition and the impact homo sapiens have had and will have on Earth. I was especially fascinated by the authors take on the evolution of our culture and how we have come to the way our world operates.
We held a very detailed – and international – book club. One of our members participated by whatssapp!! Our discussion of Sapiens : A Brief History of Humankind by Prof. Yuval N. Harari was intense, pretty comprehensive and integrated positive and negative reactions to the theories proposed by the author. We had divided up the books into chapters – some of us chose several to evaluate. Our international member joined in by facebook/whatssup transmission and discussed her reactions to her chapter. I was too busy listening to the ideas being discussed to be able to provide an overall interpretation / synopsis of our thoughts – many of you expressed yourselves very eloquently. I think most felt that the 2nd half of the book was more pertinent than the 1st with its hazy reference to the hunter-gatherers being more satisfied than the peasants tilling their fields.
One of the most mind-provoking books I’ve ever read.
It starts off with evolution but goes on to why and how mankind behaves the way it does. You want to know how we are different than other animals, read this. Jerry Weber
A conversation starter. I recommended it to many of my friends as a book to challenge one’s thinking.
Harari is factually persuasive. I look forward to all his intellectual musings.
Excellent research presented well
This is a sweeping account of humanity … a must read for anyone wanting to understand humans, our origins and our place on the earth.
One of the most informational books I’ve ever read. Looking forward to reading more from him.
Well written. Generally informative.
Very thought provoking and full of information we need to think about
You need to read to become more aware of what we are and not we are
One of the most mind-blowing books on human history I’ve ever read.
very interesting read with amazing insights from a very clever author. A masterpiece that everyone should read and keep
It was’t always easy reading but very worthwhile. It gave me a better understanding of how mankind developed and evolved.
I’v recommended this book to many friends. I’m not a specialist and can not evaluate the originality of his ideas, but the combination of intellectual range and vivid presentation make it an unusually interesting book. Despite my having a couple of non-professional reservations – especially about “the discovery of ignorance – I still think it’s a great read.
Enjoyed, informative and enlightening.
Wonderful historian writing about the development of man.