Historian Yuval Noah Harari, author of the bestselling Sapiens, shares insights about his new children's book, Unstoppable Us. He discusses the importance of teaching kids about life's big questions, drawing from personal experiences. Harari delves into the fascinating interaction between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, exploring how ancient histories shape modern identities. He challenges ideas of human superiority and highlights our ecological responsibilities. The conversation invites listeners to rethink narratives around money, urging a fresh perspective on its role in society.
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First Historical Memory
Yuval Noah Harari's first historical memory is the sinking of the Sheffield in the Falklands War.
This event, along with the subsequent Lebanon War, made him realize history exists beyond his personal life.
insights INSIGHT
Scientific Origin Story
Unstoppable Us aims to provide a scientific origin story for the 21st century.
It challenges traditional, often unscientific origin stories absorbed in childhood.
insights INSIGHT
Clarity in Writing
Writing for children requires more research and deeper understanding than writing for adults.
Clear and simple language necessitates precise thinking and well-defined concepts.
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In this book, Yuval Noah Harari continues the narrative of human history, focusing on the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to village farmers, the establishment of kingdoms and laws, and the development of civilization. The book is accompanied by maps, a timeline, and full-color illustrations, making the story engaging and accessible. It delves into how humans cultivated land, shared resources, built pyramids, and paid taxes, highlighting the key inventions and historical milestones that shaped human society[1][4][5].
Sapiens
A Brief History of Humankind
Yuval Noah Harari
This book surveys the history of humankind from the Stone Age to the 21st century, focusing on Homo sapiens. It divides human history into four major parts: the Cognitive Revolution, the Agricultural Revolution, the Unification of Humankind, and the Scientific Revolution. Harari argues that Homo sapiens dominate the world due to their unique ability to cooperate in large numbers through beliefs in imagined realities such as gods, nations, money, and human rights. The book also examines the impact of human activities on the global ecosystem and speculates on the future of humanity, including the potential for genetic engineering and non-organic life.
Homo Deus
A Brief History of Tomorrow
Yuval Noah Harari
In 'Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow', Yuval Noah Harari examines the future of humanity, predicting that in the 21st century, humans will strive for happiness, immortality, and god-like powers. The book discusses how technological developments, such as artificial intelligence and genetic engineering, will shape human society. Harari speculates on the possibilities of overcoming death, creating artificial life, and the potential risks and philosophical implications of these advancements. He also explores the impact of humanism, individualism, and transhumanism on our future and questions the continued dominance of humans in a world increasingly driven by data and algorithms.
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In the first part of a special double episode, historian and The Sunday Times bestselling author of Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari, joins us to discuss his new book for children, Unstoppable Us, Volume 1. He also reflects on the epic scope of his work looking back over thousands of years of human history and the turbulent times humanity finds itself in today. In 2011, Harari wrote A Brief History of Humankind, covering the last 70,000 years of human evolution. Published in English as Sapiens in 2014, it’s since been translated into 65 languages, become a New York Times bestseller admired by both Barack Obama and Bill Gates and is widely seen as a publishing phenomenon. Its future-focused follow-up, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, helped further nudge the dial on how we perceive ourselves as a species and it is the book that launched a growing genre of god's-eye-view non-fiction known as Big History. Harari's latest book is on the smaller side and for smaller people but it's still full of big ideas, inviting younger readers to look at the early history of humankind. Joining Harari in conversation for this episode is our host the academic and broadcaster, Professor Shahidha Bari.
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