Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (PDF/ePUB) By Yuval Noah Harari for free.
A Brief History of Humankind Information
| Book Name: | Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind |
| Author: | Yuval Noah Harari |
| Pages | 439 |
| Language: | English |
| File Type: | PDF/ePub (Downloadable) |
| PDF Size: | 7.05MB |
| ePub Size | 5MB |
| Also Read | the-silent-patient |
This international bestseller by a famous historian delves at how our biological make-up and our historical development have helped define and expand our concept of what it means to be “human.” There were at least six distinct human populations on Earth 100,000 years ago. Still, in the present, Homo sapiens is alone. Where did the others go? But what are the risks to us? Dr. Yuval Noah Harris extremely original work begins around 70,000 years ago, with the advent of modern intellect, when most books about the history of humanity adopt either a historical or a biological approach. Sapiens combines historical analysis with scientific inquiry to rethink canonical tales, make connections between the past and the present, and put modern issues in historical perspective, all while exploring the impact of human evolution on the global ecology and the emergence of empires.
Dr. Harari also urges us to consider the future, as it has become clear that people are altering the natural selection laws that have governed life for the previous four billion years. Our capacity to shape not only our environment but also ourselves is expanding. What do we hope to become, and where exactly is this path taking us? This controversial and informative work is required reading for fans of Jared Diamond, James Gleick, Matt Ridley, Robert Wright, and Sharon Moalem, and features 27 images, 6 maps, and 25 illustrations/diagrams.
About The Author Yuval Noah Harari
Professor Harari is the son of Lebanese immigrants who settled in Haifa, Israel. He completed his doctoral studies at Oxford in 2002 and is currently teaching at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Department of History.
He was an expert in the fields of global, mediaeval, and military history. Questions of broad historical scope dominate his present work. How do biological processes and historical events connect? Is there really anything that separates Homo sapiens from other animals? And Is there karma in the past? Is there a pattern to history, if any? Were people generally content as time went on?
In addition to his regular courses, Prof. Harari also leads a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) with the same name.
The Polonsky Prize for Creativity and Originality was given to Professor Harari in 2009 and again in 2012. A member of the Society for Military History, he was awarded that organization’s Moncado Award for Distinguished Articles in Military History in 2011.
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind Book Summary
By Yuval Noah, Sapiens is a concise account of human history. Harari is precisely what was advertised. Harari done a remarkable job of condensing crucial (and massive) events in our history into a single volume. Despite all the praise I’ve heard, I’ve put off reading it because I assumed it would be dull; to my surprise, though, I found it to be far more informative and interesting than I’d anticipated. Harari touched on how humans became the most powerful race, the incredible power in collective belief, money, war, advances in technology, religions, and many more essential issues; I couldn’t possibly unravel all of them in a single review.
Money is the most widespread and effective medium of exchange based on mutual trust.
Yuval Noah Harari’s Opinions
Harari included a wealth of information and carefully documented references, but his own views and opinions are evident throughout. I enjoyed learning about his unique take on human history and culture. Harris justifications for his actions and beliefs were interesting to me because I am often curious about the motivations of others. Obviously, I agree with some of his points of view and disagree with others. His blend of information and perspective made me reflect on the state of our modern society, yet I never felt like he was preaching. Furthermore, I doubt that I would have been interested in reading this book if it were composed entirely of dry statistics.
“How many freshmen have taken on demanding jobs at prestigious corporations, promising themselves that they will work hard until they have earned enough money to retire at 35 and do what they want with their lives? But by that time, they have large mortgages, children in school, suburban homes that demand two automobiles per family, and the firm belief that life isn’t worth living unless one can afford expensive bottles of wine and exotic holidays. They certainly can’t return to their previous occupations of tree-planting and hole-digging. As an alternative, they “work harder and longer.”
Conclusion
To conclude, I’ll remark that Harris style was quite simple to understand, in case you’re worried about diving into this book. Although there were a few sections that dragged on too long (capitalism, for example), I learned a lot and had a great time reading this book overall. Personally, I think this book should be required reading for all students taking history courses. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind was an enjoyable read that taught me a lot. I’m looking forward to reading Harris next book, Homo Deus, which I presume will be about the future of humanity and which I caught glimpses of in the book’s final chapters.