Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
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Written By: Yuval Noah Harari
Narrated By: Derek Perkins
Date: April 30, 2015
Duration: 15 hours and 18 minutes
Genres: History, World
Summary
Harari clearly segregates the history of homo sapiens into four categories:
The cognitive revolution which occurred about 70,000 years ago when the genetic mutations changed the process of human thinking. It opened new ways of communication and the entire thought process of humans.
The agricultural revolution which occurred about 10,000 years ago. It brought more food to the humans but did not improve the situation or the diet of everyone. It only benefited few elites and also brought about the population explosion.
Harari discusses the unification of humankind is based on common principles and myths. The homo sapiens always aimed towards political and economic interdependence and building of empires. Humans were united as they believed in the same principles and abstract concepts like god, money, trade, and business etc.
The scientific revolution which started around 500 years ago. He says that the scientific revolution has its roots in European society. Harari believes that people today are not much happier than they were in the past. He adds that the modern-day science also possesses the threat of eliminating the homo sapiens.
Overview
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind Audiobook by Yuval Noah Harari is a book about how the species of homo sapiens has evolved and conquered the planet over time. The book was first published in Hebrew in 2011 and later in 2014 in English. About 1,00,000 years ago there were six species of humans lived on the earth. However, with gradual passage of time, homo sapiens became the dominant species and expanded and conquered the earth. The book portrays this journey of the homo sapiens over time and the way they became so dominant. It looks into facets like how the homo succeeded in this battle of species, why they came together to form cities and habitations, how they came to share the common beliefs on god, money, trade, business, nations etc.
Review
The Sapiens Audiobook is bold and thought-provoking. The book has been translated into 45 different languages until June 2017. It made the list of New York Times Bestsellers. It has also won the Wenjin Book Award for the best book published in the year 2014