Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

Sapiens is a deep and detailed exploration of the history of humankind, tracing our species' journey from insignificant primates to the dominant force shaping the planet. Harari examines how cognitive, agricultural, and scientific revolutions shaped our societies, beliefs, and ways of life, offering a sweeping yet digestible account of human history. One of the book's key insights is the power of shared myths—religions, money, nations, and even human rights—which exist only because enough people believe in them. Harari argues that these collective fictions have allowed large-scale cooperation, enabling Homo sapiens to dominate the world. He also critiques the Agricultural Revolution, often seen as a step forward for humanity, suggesting that it actually led to more suffering by trapping people in harder, more monotonous lives. A good read for anyone interested in anthropology, history and philosophy, though his speculative tone can be controversial but still remains quite a classic. He also explores the potential future of humankind, touching on genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, and the possibility of our species evolving into something entirely different.