Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
ISBN 13: 9781846558238
Here is a profoundly fascinating tale of how our small species won out in the gene lottery and, perhaps more amazingly, how ancient and modern has driven our history forward.
Harari lectures in history and Sapiens, which has been translated into almost 30 languages, surveys the entire length of human history, from the evolution of Homo Sapiens in the Stone age, to the various revolutions of the 21st century.
He arranges the narrative around three major revolutions which he has identified as the Cognitive Revolution (the development of articulate language), the Agricultural Revolution of around 10 000 years ago and the Scientific Revolution of about 500 years ago.
The book is enjoyable, worthwhile and immensely satisfying, written in an approachable manner for curious minds. He tackles big ideas and reveals, seemingly on every page, a truly enchanting kernel of knowledge. – Bruce Gourley
- This review first appeared in the Cape Times in November 2014.
