Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

Name: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Author: Yuval Noah Harari

by Yuval Noah Harari

2011 · 443 pages · Nonfiction

88.8Must-Read
Score Modern

Critics' pick · Lifetime bestseller

≈ 11 hours to read · about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

A hundred thousand years ago, at least six species of humans walked the Earth. Today there is only one: us. Historian Yuval Noah Harari tells how Homo sapiens came to rule the planet, through the cognitive, agricultural and scientific revolutions, and how shared stories like money, religion and nations let huge numbers of strangers cooperate.

Why it's worth reading

It's one of the best-selling nonfiction books ever, with about 25 million copies sold, a #1 New York Times bestseller, and on the Guardian's list of the best books of the 21st century. Even readers who argue with it say it changed how they think about history.

You'll love it if you liked

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, A Brief History of Time or The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History

Good to know

It's a big-picture argument rather than a textbook, and some historians dispute its broader claims. It's easy to read in short sessions.

Quick answers

Is Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind worth reading?

Yes. It's one of the best-selling nonfiction books ever, with about 25 million copies sold, a #1 New York Times bestseller, and on the Guardian's list of the best books of the 21st century. It ranks #53 of the 2,819 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 88.8 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind about?

How long does it take to read Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind?

About 11 hours (443 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind?

If you liked it, try Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond, A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking or The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert.

By the numbers

88.8Must-Read Score

Readers85 out of 100 · counts 42%
Critics51 out of 100 · counts 14%
Bestseller90 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

On the Guardian 100 Best Books of the 21st Century list. One of the best-selling books ever (about 25 million copies).