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djfortman's review against another edition
4.0
Harari presents a highly thought-provoking account of the development of our species from its earliest origins to our modern-day society. While I recognize the criticisms that there may be some poetic license taken in condensing the story of humanity into 400 pages, Harari does a great job of tackling the overarching themes that have crafted our society as it exists today. This book should certainly make everyone think a little more deeply about some of the preconceived notions we have of humans and their role on Earth.
ftima_mendes's review against another edition
4.0
This is a phenomenal book, not perfect, but very good indeed. It explians a lot of our history (i especially enjoyed the first part) and also makes you think about our current and future self, and other valueable questions and doubts about our species and it's conscience, as well as it's effect on everything else that constitutes our planet.
maxsebastian's review against another edition
This book is probably better to read than to listen to. Either way, I felt that Harari frequently uses link chains that don't follow (if x is true, then y, if y is true, then z). The first chapter of this book, which focuses on the history of different sapiens species, is fascinating.
blueberry31's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great book on many levels, and it delivers on its promise in the title: it gives you a brief history of humankind.
I've heard from many people that the beginning is great but then it becomes less "grounded in data/science" and too much of the author's opinion. I went into this book fearing this, but surprisingly this didn't strike me at all. Perhaps as the book gets into more recent human history we are faced with questioning our entire system of values and beliefs... and that can be hard to do. So the easy response is to say "that's just the author's opinion/extrapolations". Even if it were, I didn't find his speculations crazy: there is nothing natural anymore about what makes up our modern society and cultures, it's all myth, and the agricultural revolution may not have been a good move for humankind. I don't see why some people seem to find these claims so provocative. Strangely, I find this view of the world and humankind to be extremely liberating. Besides, I think it's pretty evident that religion and capitalism are pure products of human collective imagination. I actually really appreciate that the author doesn't spend time debating nonsensical things like gods and mystical creators - he takes it as a given that they are 100% human creation.
I wouldn't say that anything was breathrough for me in this book, but I did still learn a lot: the author put words and concepts on things that I had a sense of, or "felt" before. I wasn't bored once and found the topic fascinating. I highly recommend this book and am actually considering re-reading it.
I've heard from many people that the beginning is great but then it becomes less "grounded in data/science" and too much of the author's opinion. I went into this book fearing this, but surprisingly this didn't strike me at all. Perhaps as the book gets into more recent human history we are faced with questioning our entire system of values and beliefs... and that can be hard to do. So the easy response is to say "that's just the author's opinion/extrapolations". Even if it were, I didn't find his speculations crazy: there is nothing natural anymore about what makes up our modern society and cultures, it's all myth, and the agricultural revolution may not have been a good move for humankind. I don't see why some people seem to find these claims so provocative. Strangely, I find this view of the world and humankind to be extremely liberating. Besides, I think it's pretty evident that religion and capitalism are pure products of human collective imagination. I actually really appreciate that the author doesn't spend time debating nonsensical things like gods and mystical creators - he takes it as a given that they are 100% human creation.
I wouldn't say that anything was breathrough for me in this book, but I did still learn a lot: the author put words and concepts on things that I had a sense of, or "felt" before. I wasn't bored once and found the topic fascinating. I highly recommend this book and am actually considering re-reading it.