Sapiens

A Brief History of Humankind

Yuval Noah Harari

Genre

Book Reviews

Karlie Kloss: "It’s an amazing book on the beginning of humanity. It’s scientific but also philosophical."

Joe Rogan: "Great book... Fucking fascinating... Very enlightening."

Patrick O'Shaughnessy: "This book was so entertaining and useful.

It provides a concise history of humankind and outlines why we have the psychology we do today (this part is great for thinking about investor behavior)."

Changpeng Zhao: "[This book] gives me a greater perspective about how humans emerged and why we behave the way we do."

Daniel Ek: "One of the most-talked-about books of the last couple of years, and for good reason.

Both sobering and conservatively optimistic in equal measure, it seems even more relevant for us at the moment to learn from our socio-anthropological history."

Anthony Pompliano: "One of the best books I read in 2017"

Naval Ravikant: "An orthogonal and clinical examination of the human animal, from the beginning to now.

Humans are story-telling alpha predators that killed the competition and domesticated the survivors. This is our story, and it's not all pretty."

David Sacks: "Yuval Harari’s Sapiens had a big impact on how I approach VC. The theme of the book is that humans obsess over narratives.

So I try to focus on product and metrics as a way to get to ground truth, as opposed to over-indexing on the pitch, which is mostly a story-telling event."

Melinda Gates mentioned this book as one of her 11 favorite books.

Reid Hoffman: "Sapiens has had me thinking a lot about the evolution of humanity and what our future looks like."

Mark Zuckerberg: "I found the chapter on the evolution of the role of religion in human life most interesting and something I wanted to go deeper on."

Raoul Pal enjoyed reading 'Sapiens'.

One of the books Keith Rabois recommends for entrepreneurs.

Bill Gurley: "I really enjoyed [Sapiens]"

Bill Gates: "Melinda and I spent weeks talking about this history of the human race."

Book Synopsis

"Sapiens" by Yuval Noah Harari is an insightful exploration of the history of humankind.

In this thought-provoking book, Harari takes readers on a journey through time, examining the key moments and developments that have shaped the trajectory of our species. From the emergence of Homo sapiens in Africa to our dominance as the most intelligent and powerful beings on the planet, he seamlessly weaves together biology, anthropology, and history to provide a comprehensive understanding of our shared past.

Harari delves into topics ranging from the agricultural revolution, which transformed nomadic societies into settled communities, to the scientific and industrial revolutions that have driven unprecedented progress. He analyzes the impact of religion, capitalism, and imperialism on our social structures and ideologies, showing how these constructs have shaped our beliefs, values, and interactions.

Throughout the book, Harari challenges conventional wisdom, encouraging readers to question long-held assumptions about human nature and progress. He argues that our ability to create imagined realities, such as religions and economic systems, has been instrumental in our success as a species, but also warns of the potential dangers and ethical implications that come with these constructs.

"Sapiens" offers not only a deep understanding of our past but also provokes contemplation on our future. Harari challenges readers to consider the long-term effects of our actions on the environment, our fellow creatures, and future generations. He urges us to critically evaluate the myths and stories that shape our worldviews and to actively engage in shaping a better future for all sentient beings.

In clear and accessible prose, Yuval Noah Harari presents a captivating narrative that sheds light on the collective journey of humankind. "Sapiens" is a must-read for anyone seeking to gain a broader perspective on our history and the forces that have shaped our modern world.

Explore More Books

See All
Confessions of a Pricing Man
Kingpin
River Out of Eden
My American Journey
Behave
Take On The Street
Life 3.0
The Republic
Beyond Good and Evil
Kill Switch
King of Capital
Mindware
The Bitcoin Standard
The Rise And Fall Of American Growth
Systems Medicine
Saving Capitalism from Short Termism
Start With Why
Representing Talent
House On Fire
Made to Stick
Meaningful Work
Don't Make Me Think
The Power of Positive Thinking
The Unsettling of America
The Madness of Crowds
The Master and Margarita
The Body Keeps The Score
The Kill Chain
A History of the Mind
Getting Things Done
Wild Swans
Startup Playbook
Uncommon Measure
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Why Minsky Matters
Bad Therapy
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Trade Is Not A Four Letter Word
The Gift of Good Land
Leadership
The Copernican Revolution
Night Sky with Exit Wounds
Start-up Nation
It's Earnings That Count
Jurassic Park
That Will Never Work
Bravey
Electrify
A Man for All Markets
The Great Revolt
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
The Real Crash
Atomic Habits
The Truth about Carbs
Striking Thoughts
Calm Your Mind with Food
Master Of The Game
Let Your Life Speak
How The Internet Happened
Acts of Love
The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive
Just Mercy
Dynasty
Radical Uncertainty
Mint Condition
Norwegian Wood
Beyond Religion
The Accidental Universe
The Psychology of Intelligence Analysis
Welcome to Your Brain
Andy Grove
Maisy Mouse Collection
How To Win Friends and Influence People
Quality Investing
A Shot To Save The World
The Great Book of Amber
The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem
Bloodlands
Apollo's Arrow
Conflicted
Deiter Rams
Being Nixon
The Book of Awakening
Future Babble
Charlie Munger
Zorba the Greek
Entangled Life
Marc's Mission
Intellectuals and Society
Lost Ocean
Leaving Microsoft to Change the World
Black Elk
The Botany of Desire
The Creature from Jekyll Island
Genome
A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things
Political Tribes
How Trump Is Making Black America Great Again
The Fiat Standard
Sex at Dawn