SAPIENS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF HUMANKIND | ANIMATED BOOK SUMMARY

Script: Blinkist

100,000 years ago, at least six human species 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.

Reviews

'Here is a simple reason why Sapiens has risen explosively to the ranks of an international bestseller. 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)

"I would recommend Sapiens to anyone who’s interested in the history and future of our species" (Bill Gates)

"Interesting and provocative… It gives you a sense of how briefly we’ve been on this Earth" (Barack Obama)

"Jaw-dropping from the first word to the last… It may be the best book I’ve ever read" (Chris Evans)

"Tackles the biggest questions of history and the modern world… Written in unforgettably vivid language" (Jared Diamond)

"Startling... It changes the way you look at the world" (Simon Mayo)

"Sapiens is a starburst of a book, as enjoyable as it is stimulating" (Sunday Express)

"One of the best books I’ve read recently… Gives an excellent overview of how our species has developed" (Lily Cole)

"Sweeps the cobwebs out of your brain… Radiates power and clarity, making the world strange and new" (Sunday Times)

My previous video:

[sex]

Thanks for the effort and the animation 👏 - Tipp: I can hear your lip-smacking which makes the video not that enjoyable. You should work on the sound quality next time

[mahsabala]

Thank you for your effort, but I wish you could practice more before you record your voice. It not professional. It is like you read the book by force without any practice before.

[spiderlime]

the twentieth century was NOT the most peaceful. referring to it's history AFTER 1945 would be to ignore the two world wars and their influence on history. factually and morally this is wrong.

[thenightporter]

Servus 🙂

I am a radio announcer and narrator for audio recordings. I think you have a very pleasant voice with great enunciation.

Seeing that there are zero more pressing issues in the world, please consider a pop filter so that you can end the torture and suffering --- the-- the INHUMANITY of your callous disregard for the delicate constitution of some of your viewers/listeners whose tear-filled voices cry out 😫😫😫😫😫 in anguish for you to STOP THE INSANITY of your incessant lip 😂😂😂😂

Meine Verwandten wohnen in Schladming 🇦🇹 und Ich hier in 🇺🇲. Dein Englisch ist auch 👌👍.

[cindykelly]

Interesting. He started explaining sapiens globally and through the millennium using science. He ended the book with a narrow view using and blaming the western world. For instance, the discussion of capitalism resulting in “white “ men having all the wealth. This is leaves out the super powers and multi-skin toned countries of China and Russia.