Sapiens
By Yuval Noah Harari
- Release Date: 2015-02-10
- Genre: Life Sciences
Description
New York Times Bestseller
A 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 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.
Reviews
This book is a must read, should be in every classroom
5By RodneyHostosIt’s mind changing, is the kind of book that you should read several times in a lifetimeFiller filler filler
2By ishouldgetalibrarycardThis book has so much filler, where the author dribbles on with anecdotal examples of how a Sapiens thinks. Lazy writing - as if he was paid a penny per word.Good book overall
4By MrProteinshakeA good book that was written to be too long. I believe a way shorter book could’ve contained the same amount of knowledge and information in a book 1/4 the size of this one.Sapiens
4By efrustratedThe is a well written expose on the the past, present and future of mankind. Harari’s ending chapters have my brain percolating. The future he paints had me asking questions that I just have not wanted to pose but now I must. Coming to a full boil.Perfect!
5By MascariniAn absolute must!!!The book that made history interesting.
5By Kiahmc94My new favorite book. Large conceptual concepts such as biology and history and easily understood in this book. Years of education comes up short against the knowledge bestowed in these pages. A must read!Great read
5By FAMOUSmisfitMind blowing and thought provoking.Woof.
1By r10eThis book is Jordan Peterson levels of bad.Disappointing
1By DRA2424Fights against the case for belief in God without making any fundamentally sound arguments. Fancy-words, but a philosophical waste of time.Reading it now!!! 🤯🤯🤯
5By Gburgos_91Amazing book and authors perspective is amazingly objective.