There are books which you read and remember them as a good read and then you read Sapiens. It is one of the few books I have read which has intrigued me so much. It had been on my reading shelf for quite a while and I once left it mid way. I decided to get back to reading this book once again and what a read it was.
Yuval Noah Harari takes you thorough a journey, literally a journey in a case study based approach. It seems like reading multiple case studies which in the end amalgamate into a case study of humankind where the case writer has given you crumbs along the way ; intrigue you in multiple ways and set your thoughts in motion. I have always been fascinated by the speech from Steve Jobs about the dots connecting backwards and this book is just that.
The journey highlighted by Harari is a clear testament of the of the power of cognitive revolution. Till thousands of years ago we were like others in the ground and then came cognitive revolution. How it led to the gradual disappearance of so many species from the planet and gradual spread of supremacy. It also highlights the power of myth and stories which lead to the growth of empires. The author poses questions which make you think like you might not have thought about your own human race. It makes you think how much we as humans have evolved; the impact of our actions especially on the flora and fauna. What could the world have been had we been more responsible.
The beauty of the book being in a case based approach is that there are no definite right answers and you can always have your arguments and perspectives of what the other side might be. However, it’s a recommended read for anyone looking for a fun and engaging read on human history.
The book is a bit slow paced in the first half and towards the second half it picks up immense pace especially towards the end where the writer highlights on all the possibilities and what the future might look like. I am now looking forward to pick up Homo Deus and see the view of future which the author has in store.
