It is a bold and exhilarating reimagining of human origins. Drawing from cutting-edge anthropology and archaeology, the book dismantles long-held assumptions about our ancestors, power structures, and the roots of inequality.
What makes this book truly compelling is how it challenges the linear, deterministic view of history popularized by Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. While Sapiens presents a sweeping narrative with a somewhat fatalistic tone—suggesting that agriculture and civilization inevitably led to domination and inequality—Graeber and Wengrow counter this with a more open-ended, hopeful vision. They propose that humanity has always had choices, that social systems were diverse and imaginative, and that we are not locked into a singular path of progress.
This isn't just history—it’s a manifesto for curiosity and intellectual freedom. It invites us to think differently about freedom, society, and the future. By tracing how Enlightenment thinkers were influenced by Indigenous critique, the book also serves as a powerful reminder of the global roots of political thought.
A fascinating, paradigm-shifting read.
Up next on my list: Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman. I'll let you know how that one resonates.
