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Sapiens

A Brief History of Humankind

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Sapiens

Written by: Yuval Noah Harari
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
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About this listen

NATIONAL BESTSELLER
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Destined to become a modern classic in the vein of
Guns, Germs, and Steel, Sapiens is a lively, groundbreaking history of humankind told from a unique perspective.

100,000 years ago, at least six species of human inhabited the earth. Today there is just one.

Us.

Homo Sapiens.

How did our species succeed in the battle for dominance? Why did our foraging ancestors come together to create cities and kingdoms? How did we come to believe in gods, nations, and human rights; to trust money, books, and laws; and to be enslaved by bureaucracy, timetables, and consumerism? And what will our world be like in the millennia to come?

In Sapiens, Dr. Yuval Noah Harari spans the whole of human history, from the very first humans to walk the earth to the radical — and sometimes devastating — breakthroughs of the Cognitive, Agricultural, and Scientific Revolutions. Drawing on insights from biology, anthropology, palaeontology, and economics, he explores how the currents of history have shaped our human societies, the animals and plants around us, and even our personalities. Have we become happier as history has unfolded? Can we ever free our behaviour from the heritage of our ancestors? And what, if anything, can we do to influence the course of the centuries to come?

Bold, wide-ranging and provocative, Sapiens challenges everything we thought we knew about being human: our thoughts, our actions, our power...and our future.

©2017 Yuval Noah Harari (P)2017 Penguin Random House Canada
Anthropology Biological Sciences World Thought-Provoking Inspiring Funny Imperialism Ancient History Genetics Western Europe
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What the critics say

"Here is a simple reason why Sapiens has risen explosively to the ranks of an international best seller. It tackles the biggest questions of history and of the modern world, and it is written in unforgettably vivid language. You will love it!" (Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel, Collapse, and The World Until Yesterday)

"Sapiens is the sort of book that sweeps the cobwebs out of your brain. Its author, Yuval Noah Harari, is a young Israeli academic and an intellectual acrobat whose logical leaps have you gasping with admiration...Harari's writing radiates power and clarity." (The Sunday Times)

"Not only is Harari eloquent and humane, he is often wonderfully, mordantly funny. . . . Sapiens is a brave and bracing look at a species that is mostly in denial about . . . the crossroads it is rapidly approaching." (The Independent)

Editorial Review

Why do we do what we do? How did we get here? Where will we go? All these thought-provoking questions and so much more are the cornerstone of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind.

This absorbing recount of the history of humanity has captivated critics and listeners alike and garnered rave reviews. Touted as a must-listen by the likes of Barack Obama and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Jared Diamond, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind has been making waves since its 2017 release for its distinctive dissection of world history and evolution of the human species. And according to Bill Gates, it is one of the few books that has kept him up at night.

Life in the 21st century has made it difficult to remember that at one time, earth and human life as we know it was being moulded by cognitive, agricultural, and scientific revolutions. Sapiens is a distinct reminder that nothing we do today is a coincidence but a result of an intricately constructed web of evolution.

Contrary to its title, Sapiens is anything but brief. This New York Times bestseller is an expertly crafted breakdown of research blowing the top off of what we have come to know as our story of evolution. Dr. Yuval Noah Harari and narrator Derek Perkins take listeners on a wild ride of dizzying discovery that will leave you stunned and wanting more. Leave everything you’ve learned about our evolution as homo sapiens at the door when you press play on this audiobook, and prepare to have your mind blown.

What listeners say about Sapiens

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A book that covers different aspects about sapiens

This book is so awesome! the narrator is really good. I recommend it to everyone!!

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Mind altering

Never have I been provoked to question so much of human existence, and enjoy every second of it.

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Incredibly Insightful

I really enjoyed this book. From start to finish it kept my attention. With gentle humour to deep cutting facts it was potentially one of the best books I've read thus far this year. I'd recommend this book to anyone with the attention span to enjoy it.

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Incredible true story of the history of mankind

Amazing viewpoint of how mankind used to be and where we potentially are going... if only he wrote a book about the future.

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Chargé, mais intéressant et divertissant

L'auteur nous explique d'où nous venons et fait une ouverture philosophique sur l'avenir. Faites votre propre morale dans ce flux soutenu d'informations. J'ai terminé et me questionne encore à savoir la morale que je dois en tirer, s'il en ait une.

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Darker than I thought

I really enjoyed this book and it turned out to be quite dark. It definitely deserves a second listen. I look forward to reading more of the authors work.

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Best and most interesting book I've ever read

This book touches on things the average person would not think about in their day to day lives, and transcends most basic human understanding in such an easy to grasp manner. Best book ever!

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This one really got me thinking

This book made me think in the way that Life of Pi promised it would, but didn't.

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Keeps you thinking

Insightful, provides a perspective not common in everyday conversation. Would highly recommend reading. Loved it.

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Recommend this book to everyone

Everyone should read this book. Really changes your perspective on humans, our societies and our ancestry.

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