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.

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.

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

Significant Content, tainted by Unhidden Bias

I gained several great insights, but found it hard to avoid being distracted by blatant liberal bias.
for example, people associated with finance were arbitrarily named 'greedy' while other professionals were given names descriptive of their profession such as donut baking.

Missing an Important Puzzle Piece

We are moving towards a collective spiritual awakening, and indeed the role of science and technology in its current trajectory conjures all kinds of biologically engineered oddities, as Harari discusses at the end of the Sapiens. And yet, the intimations of change happening now appear to involve the emergence of ancient and modern technologies of inner emotional/spiritual transformation and healing. I am disappointed that a large body of study, including the work of Stan Grof, new studies showing the promise of psilocybin and MDMA, an awareness of traditional medicines such as ayahuasca which have the potential to help cure the ills of industrial society, an awareness of the values and perspectives and ceremonial processes still kept safe in traditional or indigenous cultures, and so on—not to romanticize, but to recognize tools which help individuals find meaning and course-correct towards deeper and larger feelings of connectedness and purpose—are not mentioned in this work. Other than that, I appreciate having a clearer picture of our species’ evolution through an anthropocentric/modern lens.

A Fresh view of humankind

Harari takes all the varnish off the human experience and exposes our "biology" without the gloss of cultural bias.

Very impressive work.