Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind#

Yuval Noah Harari (2014)
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Sapiens gave me the sweeping exploration of human history I had hoped for when reading Bryson’s A Short History of Nearly Everything. Harari weaves together anthropology, sociology, and evolutionary history into a single narrative that reexamines how humanity developed the systems — law, gender roles, corporations, currencies, myths — that define our world.

I think that as a standalone Anthropology book, it can leave a lot to be desired. Some areas are certainly no very “progressive” in that arena of thought. Seasoned readers in this genre will not have a hard time picking apart some of Harari’s details here. That being said, as an entry-level point I think it’s more of a door opener.

It’s highly accessible and engaging throughout. I often found myself stopping just to think about the implications of the ideas presented. It’s the kind of book that invites you to reconsider things you’ve always taken for granted.

A fascinating read, and one I can easily see myself returning to.