Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind is a book by Yuval Noah Harari that surveys the history of humankind from the Stone Age to the 21st century, focusing on Homo sapiens. It was first published in Hebrew in Israel in 2011, and in English in 2014.Here's a summary of the book, according to the Wikipedia article: Framework Harari places human history within a framework where the natural sciences set the limits for human activity, and social sciences shape what happens within those bounds. History, as an academic discipline, is the account of cultural change. Divisions of History Harari divides the history of Homo sapiens into four major parts: Main ArgumentHomo sapiens came to dominate the world because they are the only animal that can cooperate flexibly in large numbers. This ability arises from the unique capacity to believe in things existing purely in the imagination, such as gods, nations, money, and human rights. Harari argues that these beliefs give rise to discrimination and that it is potentially impossible to have a completely unbiased society. Agricultural Revolution While it promoted population growth for H. sapiens and co-evolving species like wheat and cows, it made the lives of most individuals (and animals) worse than they had been when H. sapiens were mostly hunter-gatherers, since their diet and daily lives became significantly less varied. Unification of Humankind Over history, the trend for H. sapiens has increasingly been towards political and economic interdependence. For centuries, the majority of humans lived in empires, and capitalist globalisation is effectively producing one, global empire. Money, empires, and universal religions are the principal drivers of this process. Scientific Revolution Innovation in European thought, whereby elites became willing to admit to and try to remedy their own ignorance. Harari claims there is a lack of research into the history of happiness, and posits that people today are not significantly happier than in past eras. Modern technology may soon end the species by ushering in genetic engineering, immortality, and non-organic life.The book has been translated into 65 different languages and made The New York Times best-seller list for 182 weeks. It has received both positive and mixed reviews from critics. Some have praised its broad scope and engaging style, while others have criticised its accuracy and lack of originality.

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