Scan barcode
honnari_hannya's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting and very accessible, I can see why this has the acclaim and readership that it does but is perhaps too broad for someone who has a generally good idea of the history of homo sapiens. It did end up feeling very undersourced, and there were parts where I questioned whether Harari has read any literature challenging his own assumptions about early human civilizations—particularly in cases where he mentioned that the "East" did not feel the need for conquest beyond its borders, the relative movement towards collectivism rather than individualism as he sees it, that humans are the only ones who can "imagine" ourselves into societies and nations, etc.—since counter-arguments were rarely addressed. I do like the way this book was structured, especially the section describing the ways in which homo sapiens organize their communities and what makes such groupings possible on large scales. I especially enjoyed the section on the imagined mythologies that help communities form nations, and nations form alliances, usually becomes of material needs, and how they circle right back around to ideological needs—the fiction of human rights, for example, that many consider inalienable.
abbytekken's review against another edition
5.0
An essential read for anyone who is not affiliated with organized religion. It will open your eyes to to the many collective myths of society, as well as how many of the "advancements" in human history came with major tradeoffs.
anticommutator's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
littlebookterror's review against another edition
medium-paced
2.0
this didn't start of too bad but my skepticism started on his very brief (and wrong) breakdown of sex and gender and never really went away. Especially his uncritical views on colonialism, racial dynamics and the importance of (Western) sciences above everything had me unimpressed.
I also did not care about his philosophizing towards the end.
I also did not care about his philosophizing towards the end.
jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
Sapiens traces the history of humankind from the time of early man/Neanderthals through current day. Harari talks about evolution & science, the development of civilizations, the development of abstract concepts like governments & religion. He analyzes how various advancements both helped and hindered humans. This was a very interesting read that bridges science, history, and sociology.
What to Listen to While Reading (or during reading breaks)
Human by the Human League
History Repeats by Brittany Howard
Imagine by John Lennon
Way Back in the Way Back When by Glen Hansard
Human by Sevdaliza
What to Listen to While Reading (or during reading breaks)
Human by the Human League
History Repeats by Brittany Howard
Imagine by John Lennon
Way Back in the Way Back When by Glen Hansard
Human by Sevdaliza