ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yuval Noah Harari is an Israeli historian, professor, and bestselling author. Born in 1976 in Kiryat Atta, Israel, Harari is known for his captivating insights into the history and future of humanity.
Harari completed his undergraduate studies in history at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and would later earn his PhD in history from the University of Oxford.
His breakthrough came with the publication of his book, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, in 2014. It became an international bestseller and has been translated into numerous languages. Following the success of Sapiens, Harari would publish Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow (2016) and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century (2018).
Harari’s books have garnered critical acclaim and drawn wide readership, establishing him as one of the most influential intellectuals worldwide. His works involve rigorous research and insightful analysis.
Harari is also a professor of history at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He gives lectures around the world, engaging audiences with his captivating storytelling and thought-provoking ideas. He presently lives in Tel Aviv.
SYNOPSIS
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari is a captivating exploration of the history of Homo sapiens, from our emergence as a species to the present day. In this thought-provoking book, the author takes readers on a journey through time, uncovering the major milestones and forces that have shaped human societies.
The book begins with the Cognitive Revolution, which occurred around 70,000 years ago and marked the emergence of Homo sapiens as the Earth’s dominant species.
The author then delves into the Agricultural Revolution, which took place some 12,000 years ago and transformed human societies from small-scale hunter-gatherer communities into settled agricultural civilizations. He explores the far-reaching consequences of this revolution.
The book also examines the impact of scientific and industrial revolutions, which ushered in unprecedented advancements in technology, medicine, and our understanding of the natural world.
WHAT WE LIKED ABOUT SAPIENS
Throughout Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari challenges conventional wisdom and encourages readers to critically study the stories and narratives that have shaped our collective beliefs. He explores vast topics such as the origins of money, the rise of religions, the spread of empires, and the concept of individualism, providing a fresh, thought-provoking perspective on these familiar aspects of human history.
The book’s major strength lies in its ability to distill complex concepts into accessible narratives, making it engaging for a wide readership. Harari has skillfully interwoven various disciplines, including history, anthropology and biology to aid readers’ understanding of our species’ development.
That said, the best thing about Sapiens is that it encourages readers to ask questions about their lives and societies, urging them to set aside conventional wisdom and think critically.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER ABOUT SAPIENS
The book covers an extremely broad subject spanning thousands of years. Therefore, it feels oversimplified and even rushed at times.
QUOTES
The Agricultural Revolution was history’s biggest fraud. Who was responsible? Neither kings, nor priests, nor merchants. The culprits were a handful of plant species, including wheat, rice and potatoes. These plants domesticated Homo Sapiens, rather than vice versa.
There is no way out of the imagined order. When we break down our prison walls and run towards freedom, we are in fact running into the more spacious exercise yard of a bigger prison.
CONCLUSION
Ameya will recommend Sapiens to its readers in a heartbeat. The book encourages objective thinking and provides a fresh outlook on man’s evolutionary history.
A proverbial bookworm, Anusuya is always hungry for new stories and adventures.