From Powells.com
Hot new releases and under-the-radar gems for adults and kids.
Staff Pick
There are a lot of choices in evolutionary science titles, and I personally feel it can get a bit overwhelming. When Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens came out a few years ago, it really brought evolutionary science to the masses. Thoughtful, engaging writing that is accessible, even to the non-science-y folks. With The Birth of Human Kind (Sapiens #1), we can see Harari's work brought to life in captivating illustrations, further encouraging us to discuss and debate our favorite subject: us. Who are we really, and where did we come from? Recommended By Corie K-B., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
The first volume of the graphic adaptation of Yuval Noah Harari's smash #1 New York Times and
international bestseller recommended by President Barack Obama and Bill
Gates, with gorgeous full-color illustrations and concise, easy to
comprehend text for readers of all ages.
One hundred
thousand years ago, at least six different species of humans inhabited
Earth. Yet today there is only one — homo sapiens. What happened to the
others? And what may happen to us?
In this first volume of the full-color illustrated adaptation of his
groundbreaking book, renowned historian Yuval Harari tells the story of
humankind's creation and evolution, exploring the ways in which biology
and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it
means to be "human." From examining the role evolving humans have played
in the global ecosystem to charting the rise of empires, Sapiens challenges
us to reconsider accepted beliefs, connect past developments with
contemporary concerns, and view specific events within the context of
larger ideas.
Featuring 256 pages of full-color illustrations and
easy-to-understand text covering the first part of the full-length
original edition, this adaptation of the mind-expanding book furthers
the ongoing conversation as it introduces Harari's ideas to a wide new
readership.
Review
“Sapiens takes readers on a sweeping tour of the history of our
species....Harari's formidable intellect sheds light on the biggest
breakthroughs in the human story...important reading for serious-minded,
self-reflective sapiens.” Washington Post
Review
"Sapiens is learned, thought-provoking and crisply written....Fascinating." Wall Street Journal
Review
“Yuval Noah Harari's
full-throated review of our species may have been blurbed by Jared
Diamond, but Harari's conclusions are at once balder and less
tendentious than that of his famous colleague.” New York magazine
Synopsis
Instant National Bestseller
The first volume of the graphic adaptation of Yuval Noah Harari's smash #1 New York Times and international bestseller recommended by President Barack Obama and Bill Gates, with gorgeous full-color illustrations and concise, easy to comprehend text for readers of all ages.
One hundred thousand years ago, at least six different species of humans inhabited Earth. Yet today there is only one--homo sapiens. What happened to the others? And what may happen to us?
In this first volume of the full-color illustrated adaptation of his groundbreaking book, renowned historian Yuval Harari tells the story of humankind's creation and evolution, exploring the ways in which biology and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be "human." From examining the role evolving humans have played in the global ecosystem to charting the rise of empires, Sapiens challenges us to reconsider accepted beliefs, connect past developments with contemporary concerns, and view specific events within the context of larger ideas.
Featuring 256 pages of full-color illustrations and easy-to-understand text covering the first part of the full-length original edition, this adaptation of the mind-expanding book furthers the ongoing conversation as it introduces Harari's ideas to a wide new readership.
About the Author
Prof. Yuval Noah Harari is a historian, philosopher, and the bestselling author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, and Sapiens: A Graphic History.
His books have sold 27.5 Million copies in 60 languages, and he is
considered one of the world's most influential public intellectuals
today. The Guardian has credited Sapiens with revolutionizing the non-fiction market and popularizing "brainy books".
In 2020 Harari joined forces with renowned comics artists David Vandermeulen and Daniel Casanave, to create Sapiens: A Graphic History:
a radical adaptation of the original Sapiens into a graphic novel
series that is bursting with wit, humour and colour (to be launched fall
2020). This illustrated book casts Yuval Noah Harari in the role of
guide, who takes the reader through the entire history of the human
species, accompanied by a range of fictional characters and traveling
through time, space and popular culture references.
Born in Haifa, Israel, in 1976, Harari received his PhD from the
University of Oxford in 2002, and is currently a lecturer at the
Department of History, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He originally
specialized in world history, medieval history and military history,
and his current research focuses on macro-historical questions such as:
What is the relationship between history and biology? What is the
essential difference between Homo sapiens and other animals? Is there
justice in history? Does history have a direction? Did people become
happier as history unfolded? What ethical questions do science and
technology raise in the 21st century?