Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Back of the Book
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
We Love It Because
Yuval Noah Harrari’s fascinating look at the evolution - social, psychological, and biological - of humankind reads as distinctly literary, alluding to the ancient practices of narrativizing our origins - he tells the story that is the origin of all stories, in a lucid and intriguing voice. Sapiens illuminates the processes of change that decide the direction of humanity and how predictable they can sometimes be, how surprising at others.
Memorable Passage
Culture tends to argue that it forbids only that which is unnatural. But from a biological perspective, nothing is unnatural. Whatever is possible is by definition also natural. A truly unnatural behaviour, one that goes against the laws of nature, simply cannot exist, so it would need no prohibition.
About the Author
Yuval Noah Harari, born in 1976, is an Israeli historian, professor, and bestselling author whose insightful examinations of history and human evolution have propelled him to international acclaim. Harari's influential book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind delves into the cultural, social, and cognitive evolution of Homo sapiens, offering a sweeping and accessible narrative that spans from ancient times to the present. His ability to distill complex ideas and present them in a compelling and thought-provoking manner has made his work widely accessible to a diverse audience. Harari's subsequent books, including Homo Deus and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, continue to explore the challenges and possibilities facing humanity in the modern era. As a public intellectual, Harari is worth knowing for his ability to bridge the gap between academic scholarship and popular discourse, providing readers with profound insights into the past, present, and potential future of our species.
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