Sapiens - Yuval Noah Harari

Sapiens

By Yuval Noah Harari

  • Release Date: 2015-02-10
  • Genre: Life Sciences
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 3,560 Ratings
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Description

#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 with full color illustrations throughout.

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.

Reviews

  • Ambivalence

    3
    By Deni6'4"
    I am not exactly sure how to feel about this book. I read it for my book club and did finish it, despite not really wanting to. On the one hand, it was interesting and an easy read, in that it provided a concise and easily understood historical progression of our species. But on the other hand, it at times seemed almost intentionally offensive to anyone with religious practice or belief in a higher power. As someone who absolutely respects science but also believes in God, I found certain rigid assertions by the author to be both dismissive and condescending. I can accept that the author is apparently an atheist, but it’s difficult to understand the certainty with which he asserts his inflexible view of virtually any and all religious beliefs. To me, the universe seems so complex (as evidenced by the fact that the more we know, the more we realize we don’t know), that I can’t relate to statements of absolute certainty on things that can’t be either proved or disproved. I’m glad I read the book and look forward to some interesting conversations with my book club friends, but for me, this book was less that it could have been if the tone had been less polarizing about religious beliefs and faith. In the end, matters of faith are just that — so any attempt to outright dismiss them as mere “myths” seems simplistic. To paraphrase Einstein: No matter how much science can explain, there will always be a lot more that it can’t explain.

  • Interesting

    4
    By BigAppleGreg
    Equal parts intuitive and then also completely fascinating, strangely thought provoking. Aiming to tackle another read covering AI.

  • Drivel

    2
    By Jaroslov
    Just lays it on top thick in the first two sections and never really recovers any sort of point. Not materially factually incorrect like, say, von Daniken; but, also, not usefully insightful or meaningful to read.

  • More of a story teller book than a scientific approach to the matters.

    1
    By FSormani
    I was dissatisfied with the immense amount of speculation and preconceptions in the book. If you want to blindly believe the author it's fine. But if you want to learn about the evolution of mankind based on facts or proven scientific conclusions this book is not the best source.

  • Interesting read

    5
    By lusanzb
    I really enjoyed learning about sapiens history and what the future might hold. It took me awhile to get the rhythm of the book but once I got it I was hooked.

  • Must Read

    5
    By Apple 895
    Thought-provoking read, that really made me reevaluate my perspective on history.

  • This book is a must read, should be in every classroom

    5
    By RodneyHostos
    It’s mind changing, is the kind of book that you should read several times in a lifetime

  • Filler filler filler

    2
    By ishouldgetalibrarycard
    This 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

    4
    By MrProteinshake
    A 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

    4
    By efrustrated
    The 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.

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