Sapiens

From a renowned historian comes a groundbreaking narrative of humanity’s creation and evolution—a #1 international bestseller—that explores the ways in which biology and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be “human.” One hundred thousand years ago, at least six different species of humans inhabited Earth. Yet today there is only one—homo sapiens. What happened to the others? And what may happen to us? Most books about the history of humanity pursue either a historical or a biological approach, but Dr. Yuval Noah Harari breaks the mold with this highly original book that begins about 70,000 years ago with the appearance of modern cognition. From examining the role evolving humans have played in the global ecosystem to charting the rise of empires, Sapiens integrates history and science to reconsider accepted narratives, connect past developments with contemporary concerns, and examine specific events within the context of larger ideas. Dr. Harari also compels us to look ahead, because over the last few decades humans have begun to bend laws of natural selection that have governed life for the past four billion years. We are acquiring the ability to design not only the world around us, but also ourselves. Where is this leading us, and what do we want to become? Featuring 27 photographs, 6 maps, and 25 illustrations/diagrams, this provocative and insightful work is sure to spark debate and is essential reading for aficionados of Jared Diamond, James Gleick, Matt Ridley, Robert Wright, and Sharon Moalem

Dr. Yuval Noah Harari lectures at the Department of History, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He originally specialized in medieval history and military history, completing his D.Phil. at the University of Oxford (Jesus College) in 2002, and publishing numerous books and articles, including Special Operations in the Age of Chivalry, 1100-1550; The Ultimate Experience: Battlefield Revelations and the Making of Modern War Culture, 1450-2000; “The Concept of ‘Decisive Battles’ in World History”; and “Armchairs, Coffee and Authority: Eye-witnesses and Flesh-witnesses Speak about War, 1100-2000”. He now specializes in World History and macro-historical processes. His most recent book is titled From Animals into Gods: A Brief History of Humankind (originally published in Hebrew under the title A Brief History of Mankind, and now being translated into English and German). The book surveys the entire length of human history, from the evolution of Homo sapiens in Pleistocene East Africa up to the political and technological revolutions of the 21st-century. The Hebrew edition has become a bestseller in Israel. It has generated much interest both in the academic community and among the general public, and has turned Harari into an instant celebrity. YouTube Video clips of Harari’s lectures on the history of the world have been viewed by tens of thousands of Israelis; and he is currently writing a two-weekly column for Ha’aretz magazine. He is also currently giving an online free course with the same title.