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andreasadsad's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Fantastic look at how humans have evolved in history! Super informative and really delves into how humans work and how societal systems and beliefs have come to be
lisannelouwerse's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
This book is very information dense. It took me almost 2 years to finish it because I only read small bits at a time, giving myself time to process everything.
I understand the criticism that you can't summarise millions of years of history in 500 pages without having to skim over certain parts. But IF you want to try to do so, I don't think you can do a better job than this.
It is, however, hard for me to judge how objective Harari was in his writing. A lot of it felt quite speculative, and given that I listened to the audiobook, I couldn't see which parts were backed with references and which ones weren't.
I did love that he didn't shy away from shining a light on the dark parts of our history. I have to admit it left me feeling a bit sad at times. Overall, this book is a great introduction for a history-noob like me.
I understand the criticism that you can't summarise millions of years of history in 500 pages without having to skim over certain parts. But IF you want to try to do so, I don't think you can do a better job than this.
It is, however, hard for me to judge how objective Harari was in his writing. A lot of it felt quite speculative, and given that I listened to the audiobook, I couldn't see which parts were backed with references and which ones weren't.
I did love that he didn't shy away from shining a light on the dark parts of our history. I have to admit it left me feeling a bit sad at times. Overall, this book is a great introduction for a history-noob like me.
evaaaarrrgghhh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
4.5
zripwud's review against another edition
5.0
Increíble, en el sentido literal de la palabra, viaje del pasado al posible futuro de la Humanidad. Sus logros y tropiezos visto desde una perspectiva bastante objetiva.
Un libro hecho para abrir cabezas.
Un libro hecho para abrir cabezas.
jackson_kn64's review against another edition
4.0
Harari undoubtedly proposes a compelling thesis and analysis of some of the most pressing questions facing humanity today.
This book draws on what it means to be human, and touches on some of the contradictions that we have become accustomed to over the past 200 years, since the Industrial Revolution. This is I think the book's strongest point, in that Harari says what is necessary in reference to the history of Sapiens before the Cognitive and Agricultural Revolutions, and then really draws on the implications modernity (post-Industrial and Scientific Revolution) has brought to our lives today.
I also think that the closing 40 pages or so really sums up the point of the book itself. How do we "know" what it is we want as a society? How can we trust that advancements in artificial intelligence will bring us closer to a level of certain contentment or happiness? Such questions permeate our culture, and it is concerning that many are not consciously evaluating such ideas. The singularity has already begun. We have no idea where we're headed. Our capacity to grasp the significance of the advancements in science is hardly an indication of a defined/determined future.
This book draws on what it means to be human, and touches on some of the contradictions that we have become accustomed to over the past 200 years, since the Industrial Revolution. This is I think the book's strongest point, in that Harari says what is necessary in reference to the history of Sapiens before the Cognitive and Agricultural Revolutions, and then really draws on the implications modernity (post-Industrial and Scientific Revolution) has brought to our lives today.
I also think that the closing 40 pages or so really sums up the point of the book itself. How do we "know" what it is we want as a society? How can we trust that advancements in artificial intelligence will bring us closer to a level of certain contentment or happiness? Such questions permeate our culture, and it is concerning that many are not consciously evaluating such ideas. The singularity has already begun. We have no idea where we're headed. Our capacity to grasp the significance of the advancements in science is hardly an indication of a defined/determined future.