Want to know who we are, how we came about, and how did we build this human civilization the way we did? Then look no further than this immensely readable book. Seventy thousand years of the history of Homo Sapiens condensed into four hundred pages of incredible lucid writing.

One hundred thousand years ago there were at least six human species that inhabited the earth, Homo Neanderthalensis, Homo Erectus, Homo Sapiens, and others. Today there is just one, Homo Sapiens. One hundred thousand years ago all these human species were just insignificant animals, much like other apes. The first real advancement of human civilization happened seventy thousand years ago with the cognitive revolution, possibly caused by a genetic mutation in Homo Sapiens that allowed them to communicate with others in an effective way, share stories, and build a collective learning system. This single mutation helped Homo Sapiens to dominate other human species and eventually (possibly) kill them off. Yes – the history of humankind is full of cruelty and injustices! The next big leap in human history happened twelve thousand years ago, when humans discovered agriculture, domesticated plants, and animals, and settled down in permanent shelters. The last revolution that jump-started human history again occurred five hundred years ago – the scientific revolution. The quest for the unknown led to the discovery of unknown continents like America and the rise of capitalism.

But, you may ask, isn’t it a simple collection of historical facts? Why this book is different than any other book on the subject? The answer is Harari explained the history of humankind drawing upon the knowledge of economics, anthropology, linguistics, biology, and philosophy. The result is four hundred pages of immensely readable human history that not only enhances your knowledge but provides you with a framework to understand historical events, such as the invention of money, the origin of religion, the rise of capitalism, and so on.

I do not agree with everything the author had to say. For example, while comparing the life of the hunter-gatherers with that of the farmers, Harari romanticized the life of hunter-gatheres, pointing to their better diets and stress-free lives. But, he didn’t mention the fact the agricultural revolution allowed humans to settle down which eventually led to the advancement of knowledge, artistic creation, and scientific discoveries. But, that’s a minor quibble to an immensely recommendable book. As of now, I would recommend this book as one of the best ten books I have read.