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Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
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 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.
Editorial Reviews
"Sapiens tackles the biggest questions of history and of the modern world, and it is written in unforgettably vivid language." -- Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel, Collapse, and The World until Yesterday
"Sapiens is learned, thought-provoking and crisply written…. Fascinating." -- Wall Street Journal
"In Sapiens, Harari delves deep into our history as a species to help us understand who we are and what made us this way. An engrossing read." -- Dan Ariely, New York Times Bestselling author of Predictably Irrational, The Upside of Irrationality, and The Honest Truth About Dishonesty
"Yuval Noah Harari's celebrated Sapiens does for human evolution what Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time did for physics.… He does a superb job of outlining our slow emergence and eventual domination of the planet." -- Forbes
"Ambitious and illuminating …the wonderful and terrifying saga of the human species on earth." -- Christian Science Monitor
"[I]nteresting and provocative…It gives you a sense of perspective on how briefly we've been on this earth, how short things like agriculture and science have been around, and why it makes sense for us to not take them for granted." -- President Barack Obama
"I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a fun, engaging look at early human history…you'll have a hard time putting it down." -- Bill Gates
"Thank God someone finally wrote [this] exact book." -- Sebastian Junger
"Yuval Noah Harari is an emerging rock-star lecturer at the nexus of history and science…. Sapiens takes readers on a sweeping tour of the history of our species…. Harari's formidable intellect sheds light on the biggest breakthroughs in the human story…important reading for serious-minded, self-reflective sapiens." -- Washington Post
"It is one of the best accounts by a Homo sapiens of the unlikely story of our violent, accomplished species.…It is one hell of a story. And it has seldom been told better…. Compulsively readable and impossibly learned." -- Michael Gerson, Washington Post
"This was the most surprising and thought-provoking book I read this year." -- Atlantic.com
"Yuval Noah Harari's full-throated review of our species may have been blurbed by Jared Diamond, but Harari's conclusions are at once balder and less tendentious than that of his famous colleague." -- New York magazine
"This title is one of the exceptional works of nonfiction tha...
"Sapiens is learned, thought-provoking and crisply written…. Fascinating." -- Wall Street Journal
"In Sapiens, Harari delves deep into our history as a species to help us understand who we are and what made us this way. An engrossing read." -- Dan Ariely, New York Times Bestselling author of Predictably Irrational, The Upside of Irrationality, and The Honest Truth About Dishonesty
"Yuval Noah Harari's celebrated Sapiens does for human evolution what Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time did for physics.… He does a superb job of outlining our slow emergence and eventual domination of the planet." -- Forbes
"Ambitious and illuminating …the wonderful and terrifying saga of the human species on earth." -- Christian Science Monitor
"[I]nteresting and provocative…It gives you a sense of perspective on how briefly we've been on this earth, how short things like agriculture and science have been around, and why it makes sense for us to not take them for granted." -- President Barack Obama
"I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a fun, engaging look at early human history…you'll have a hard time putting it down." -- Bill Gates
"Thank God someone finally wrote [this] exact book." -- Sebastian Junger
"Yuval Noah Harari is an emerging rock-star lecturer at the nexus of history and science…. Sapiens takes readers on a sweeping tour of the history of our species…. Harari's formidable intellect sheds light on the biggest breakthroughs in the human story…important reading for serious-minded, self-reflective sapiens." -- Washington Post
"It is one of the best accounts by a Homo sapiens of the unlikely story of our violent, accomplished species.…It is one hell of a story. And it has seldom been told better…. Compulsively readable and impossibly learned." -- Michael Gerson, Washington Post
"This was the most surprising and thought-provoking book I read this year." -- Atlantic.com
"Yuval Noah Harari's full-throated review of our species may have been blurbed by Jared Diamond, but Harari's conclusions are at once balder and less tendentious than that of his famous colleague." -- New York magazine
"This title is one of the exceptional works of nonfiction tha...
Readers Top Reviews
ConnorJD
Harari has a knack of weaving complex and interesting concepts into stories, which allows the reader to feel smarter for having understood him. The book is very interesting and despite its length, can be zipped through due to its easy reading style. Unfortunately, I also have to agree with many of the one star reviewers, that the books downfall is the almost constant speculation he engages in, without providing further evidence. As an example, he states 'the creators of the cave paintings at Chauvet, Lascaux and Altmira almost certainly intended them to last for generations.' This kind of statement is endemic of the sloppy thinking he engages in, where he will assume something for the sake of the narrative. This wouldn't be a problem if it were in isolation, but it is a pattern repeated throughout the book, where he will base a conclusion off an assumption, then proceed to build a whole story off it. This relegates the book to a speculation rather than a historical account. I would also advice Christians that he is rather condescending about religion in general and Christianity in particular. He describes Christianity as a 'myth' to be put in the same category as belief in Odin or in Wood Spirits. AS a Non-Christian I was annoyed over his presumptive anti-theism so I have no doubt that many believers will find him infuriating. To sum up, this is an interesting and infuriating speculation of the humankind. Take it all with a shaker of salt.
