Unstoppable Us: Rethinking the History of Humanity, with Yuval Noah Harari – Part One

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Oct 12, 2022

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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ANECDOTE

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.

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.

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 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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