Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (Hebrew: קיצור תולדות האנושות, [Ḳitsur toldot ha-enoshut]) is a book by Yuval Noah Harari, first published in Hebrew in Israel in 2011 based on a series of lectures Harari taught at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and in English in 2014. The book surveys the history of humankind from the evolution of archaic human species in the Stone Age up to the twenty-first century, focusing on Homo sapiens. The account is situated within a framework that intersects the natural sciences with the social sciences. The book has gathered mixed reviews. While it was positively received by the general public, scholars with relevant subject matter expertise have been very critical of its scientific claims.
Sapiens (2011, Harper) 4 stars
(Audiobook) I already knew a lot of the content but I enjoy having it from a new perspective with a variety of new anecdotes. At some points I distinctly felt like the author's biases were coming through--in fact at some points I really questioned his ideas--but otherwise an enjoyable and informative book.
Loved the author's perspective, the way he built history with a refreshing detachment, as if seen from an alien. Some chapters were particularly fertile in making me think, such as the social constructs that drive us, the way we have instrumented dairy animals... Politics weren't deeply discussed but I guess that's fair, all things considered. I must point out I am not a regular history books reader either. It's more of a 4.5 rating.
