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
The Mind of Napoleon
A Guide To Econometrics
History Has Begun
Slugfest
Fertility Pastures
The Soul of A New Machine
The Meaning of It All
The Autobiography of Gucci Mane
Modern Times
Subliminal
Things Never To Tell Children
Dead Wake
Hyperbole and a Half
What Do You Care What Other People Think?
Startups
Olives
Anti Americanism
The Mind Doesn't Work That Way
The Gift of Good Land
Ultralight Backpackin' Tips
The Method Method
The Precariat
Mother of God
When To Jump
Anything You Want
Parasite Rex
The Beak of the Finch
Under Saturn's Shadow
Fingerprints of the Gods
The End of Power
Go To
Tragedy and Hope
Healthy Buildings
The Stopwatch Gang
Quality of Earnings
Lights Out
Dataclysm
Tools of Titans
The Therapeutic Turn
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism
Understanding Michael Porter
My Inventions
Lucky Me
The Harmless People
The Remains Of The Day
The Sixth Extinction
Winning
Same As Ever
Blue Ocean Strategy
Why We Believe in God(s)
The Fever
Startup Playbook
Lessons
The Deficit Myth
History and Geography of Human Genes
House of Morgan
Dare To Fly
What School Could Be
The 4 Hour Work Week
Everything All At Once
Kant and the Platypus
The Slow Midnight on Cypress Avenue
Walt Disney
The Tiger
Maverick
Behind the Beautiful Forevers
The Creature from Jekyll Island
The Ethics of Money Production
Hit Men
The House of Rothschild
Poor Charlie's Almanack
The Knowledge
Don't Make Me Think
On Intelligence
Off The Record
Pride and Prejudice
100 Plus
To Sell is Human
King of Capital
The Complete Guide to Sales Force Incentive Compensation
The Aeneid
Sperm Wars
The Moth Presents All These Wonders
How To Win Friends and Influence People
Leading
A Timeless Way of Building
The Little Prince
The Yellow Pad
Food of the Gods
The Rape of Nanking
America's Cultural Revolution
Profile of a Nation
Liberal Privelege
On Power
Montaigne's Essays
Algorithms to Live By
The Water Dancer
Trump: America First
Hatching Twitter
In the Heart of the Sea