Summary

In Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Yuval Noah Harari explores the history of humankind from the Stone Age to the present day. Combining insights from various disciplines like biology, anthropology, and economics, Harari's book offers a unique perspective on our species' journey. Sapiens, argues Harari, conquered the world thanks to its unique language, capable of creating imagined realities and enabling large-scale cooperation. From animism to polytheism and the rise of monotheistic religions, the book examines how these belief systems shaped societies and their values, sometimes uniting, sometimes dividing, and often justifying empires. The Agricultural Revolution, often hailed as a leap forward, is presented as a potential fraud, trapping humans in a cycle of endless labor. Harari also emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between modern science and capitalism. The pursuit of knowledge is closely linked to economic growth, leading to both scientific breakthroughs and the rise of the military-industrial complex. The modern economy, fuelled by trust in the future and credit, grows incessantly, transforming societies and reshaping the planet in ways that are both innovative and destructive. This insatiable growth coupled with technological advancements, particularly in the fields of bioengineering and artificial intelligence, has put us at the edge of a new era, threatening even the survival of Homo sapiens. As humans transcend biological limits, the book raises crucial questions about the nature of happiness, our place in the world, and the future of our species.