Why it endured
A brief history of humankind — from the cognitive revolution 70,000 years ago to the present. Harari's central argument: Homo sapiens conquered the world because we can believe in fictions — money, nations, corporations, and religions. The most popular history book of the 21st century.
What they're saying
10 people recommend this book
“I recommended Sapiens to my father and he loved it. It's a sweeping account of human history that will change how you see the present.”
GatesNotes
“Sapiens is worth reading. Harari asks the right questions about where we came from and where we're going.”
“Essential reading for anyone thinking about the long arc of human health and civilization.”
The Drive Podcast
“Sapiens is one of the best books I've read — it gives a sweeping account of human history and asks profound questions about our future.”
A Year of Books
“Harari's Sapiens fundamentally changed how I see business, society, and our species' future.”
“Sapiens is the book I recommend more than any other. It reframes everything about how you see human civilization.”
Interview
“I love that book so much.”
“It seems that the author has his own ideas about certain things like capitalism and socialism and these. I guess they're complex things to describe anyway. The bias of the author to me is clear in there, at least. And that sort of mudded the waters. But regardless, I really really enjoyed this book.”
“A beautifully written narrative history of human civilization that reads more like a story than a textbook, offering vivid accounts of how our species developed and evolved in ways that subtly reshape how you see the world.”
Modern Wisdom Reading List
“An awesome overview. Really puts human behavior in perspective.”
The Joe Rogan Experience