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 Wright Brothers
Technically Food
Startup
Deep Survival
The Etymologicon
The Complete Novels of Jane Austen
The Coaching Habit
The Innovator’s Solution
Beyond Good and Evil
Walter Benjamin
The Romance of American Communism
The Activist's Media Handbook
Calm Your Mind with Food
The Upside of Stress
The Evolution of Beauty
The Art of Computer Programming
The Four Agreements
A World-Class Education
The Extension of Man
In The Plex
Mr. Putin
Becoming Steve Jobs
A Cultural History of Physics
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
The Essential Scratch and Sniff Guide to Becoming a Wine Expert
The Jungle Grows Back
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
Zorba the Greek
Creation
The Ride of a Lifetime
Mean Genes
The Network State
The Utopia of Rules
Founders' Son
Dancing In The Glory Of Monsters
Art of the Living Dead
Brute
The Terminal List
No Bullshit Guide to Math and Physics
Three Blind Mice
The Right Stuff
The Warrior Ethos
The Fry Chronicles
Fallout
Powerful
Big World, Small Planet
The Omnivore's Dilemma
Tipping Points
Inversions
No Applause - Just Throw Money
How The Scots Invented The Modern World
Lessons for the Living
Bitcoin Billionaires
The Cult of LEGO
Beating The Street
Exhalation
Flu
Dune Messiah
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
The Formula
Not Zero
George's Marvellous Medicine
Going Infinite
Eisenhower in War and Peace
A Technique for Producing Ideas
Natural Capitalism
Civilisation
Money: Master The Game
The Score Takes Care of Itself
The Ones We Have Been Waiting For
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Live Free or Die
The Economic Consequences of the Peace
Artemis
On Bullshit
The 80/20 Principle
Einstein's Mistakes
A History of Rome
Epic Measures
The Energy World Is Flat
Pre-Suasion
Civilian Warriors
Built To Last
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Oh, The Place You’ll Go
Grit
The Butterfly Defect
The Surrender Experiment
Kill Switch
The Messy Middle
The Happiness Hypothesis
Saving Capitalism from Short Termism
American Buffalo
The Rise of Superman
Bull by the Horns
The Sympathizer
Good Night, Little Bear
The Belly Art Project
The Curse of the Mogul
Aware