Sapiens A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

This book is going to change the way you see the world, history and your own existence. This provocative and insightful work is sure to spark debate. "Sapiens" has an engaging writing style, an ambitious scope, and an ability to synthesize complex ideas in an accessible way.

First published in Hebrew in Israel in 2011, and then translated into English and published in 2014. The book surveys the history of humankind from the evolution of Homo sapiens in the Stone Age up to the political and technological revolutions of the 21st century.

Harari's work is characterized by a focus on broad historical narratives, informed by insights from many different disciplines, including history, biology, anthropology, and economics. In "Sapiens", he organizes the narrative around several key "revolutions" that have fundamentally reshaped human societies:

The Cognitive Revolution (c. 70,000 years ago), was when Homo sapiens began to develop dramatically more complex forms of communication and social organization.

The Agricultural Revolution (c. 10,000 years ago), led to the development of farming, permanent settlements, and a massive increase in human population.

The Unification of Humankind, through the development of interconnected societies and global trade networks.

The Scientific Revolution (c. 500 years ago), has led to the modern era of technological progress and political and cultural change.

In the book, Harari discusses how Homo sapiens came to dominate the world, how and why we created the societies and cultures we live in, and where we might be heading in the future. He also delves into concepts like money, religion, and happiness, providing a thought-provoking and often challenging overview of human history.

Harari's work is not explicitly humanist, but it does often focus on the power of human beliefs, actions, and institutions in shaping history. He explores the ways in which Homo sapiens, through our unique cognitive abilities, have created complex societies, cultures, and technologies. This reflects a humanist emphasis on the role of human action and decision-making in shaping the world.

However, Harari also challenges some aspects of humanism. For instance, he questions the idea of individual agency, suggesting that our decisions and actions are often driven by unconscious biases, genetic factors, and social pressures. He also criticizes the humanist focus on individual human life as the ultimate source of meaning and value, pointing out that this perspective has led to negative consequences, such as environmental destruction and animal suffering.

In his exploration of the future of humankind, Harari explores the potential for technologies like artificial intelligence and genetic engineering to change what it means to be fundamentally human. This is a challenge to humanism in that it questions the fixed nature of 'humanity' and suggests that our understanding of ourselves may need to evolve in the future.

"Sapiens" offers a lot to think about. It affirms the importance of human agency and the power of human-created systems and ideas, while also challenging some of the assumptions and potential limitations of humanist philosophy.