The Origins of Humankind

Sapiens

Sapiens Full Book Introduction

Homo sapiens were once an inconspicuous group in the corner of Africa. How did they eventually make it to the top of the biological chain and take over the planet? Where did money and religions originate from? Why did the empires created by humankind rise and fall one after another? How did science and capitalism become the most crucial tenets of modern society? This book will help you sort out the journey of humankind from ancient times. By uncovering the origins of cultures, religions, laws, nations, and credit, humankind can reexamine itself.

Author : Yuval Harari

Born in Israel, Yuval Harari is a history professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is a world-renowned historian and a rising star in the field of history. His focus areas incorporate history, anthropology, ecology, genetics, and other academic disciplines. From a macroscopic point of view in his research, he frequently yields perspectives that are innovative and can afford much food for thought. Hence, his works are highly sought after by readers from all walks of life. Once published, his Sapiens became an international hit and gained popularity in dozens of countries.

Overview | Chapter 1

Hi, welcome to Bookey. Today we will unlock the book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind.

East Africa, 2 million BC. It was a stretch of lush grassland, covered by a sea of bright greenness after the rainy season. Above the distant horizon were a few pale cumulus clouds scattered across the azure sky. A gutted giraffe lied underneath a tall Acacia tree, while a pride of lions gnawed on it. In a secluded spot in the grass next to the tree, hounds and jackals waited quietly. By the time the lions had left the area, hounds and jackals swarmed and feasted on the giraffe until all that's left was a skeleton, then they departed contentedly. At this moment, another group of creatures, very humanlike and somewhat chimpanzee-like, walked out of the bushes a little further. The group of creatures had arms and legs but walked upright. After carefully gathering around the giraffe skeleton and vigilantly surveying their surroundings, the creatures chiseled the giraffe's bones with several sharp stones. They dug out the only edible tissue that remained: marrow.

The surface of the moon, 1969. The plains and plateaus composed of Plagioclase and basalt were dotted with meteor craters of breccia. Since the atmosphere was thin and almost nonexistent, the sunlight shining onto the grayish-white pitted ground was directly reflected into space. It not only resulted in considerable land surface temperature difference but also turned the sky pitch black. For billions of years since its birth, this place had been dead and quiet. Until this day, there had been no sign of life except for occasional visits by meteorites. A strange metallic device appeared in the distant sky and landed after quickly approaching. Two creatures in white but outlandish attire descended from the machine above. They bounced clumsily on the ground, inserted flags, and erected a metal tablet on this patch of land. Then one of them made a footprint in the ground and said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

At this point, it should be clear to everyone that both stories are about ourselves as humans. Not so long ago, we were just weaklings on the prairie. We lived a life of fear and anxiety, feeding on raw, bloody meats. But in a short amount of time, we created a colossal global civilization.

By what force did we as a species rise to power? Where did humankind originate? And how was civilizations born? How did we stick out from many other species and jump to the top of this planet's food chain? How many more mysteries are there in the history of humankind? In today's review of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, we will clear these doubts and explore the essential questions of history and modern society.

The author of this book is Yuval Harari. Born in Israel, Harari is a history professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is a world-renowned historian and a rising star in the field of history. His focus areas incorporate history, anthropology, ecology, genetics, and other academic disciplines. From a macroscopic point of view in his research, he frequently yields perspectives that are not only innovative but also afford much food for thought. Hence, his works are highly sought after by readers from all walks of life. We've already covered his bestselling books 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, and Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow. The book, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind that we're going to discuss today became an international hit once published. It is a phenomenal and unique work that has become popular worldwide.

Next, we will uncover the book through four parts:

Part one: The Cognitive Revolution;

Part two: The Agricultural Revolution;

Part three, The Unification of Humankind;

Part four, The Scientific Revolution.