rational human being

From a renowned historian comes a groundbreaking book on the creation and evolution of humanity—an international bestseller—that explores how biology and history have defined and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be “human.” One hundred thousand years ago, at least six different species of humans inhabited the Earth. Today, there is only one—Homo sapiens. What happened to the others? And what might happen to us? Most books on human history follow either a historical or a biological approach, but Dr. Yuval Noah Harari breaks the mold with this highly original book that begins around 70,000 years ago, with the emergence of modern cognition. From examining the role of evolving humans in the global ecosystem to tracing the rise of empires, Homo sapiens integrates history and science to reexamine accepted narratives, connect past developments to contemporary concerns, and examine specific events within the context of broader ideas. Harari also pushes us to look to the future, because over the past few decades, humans have begun to transcend the laws of natural selection that have governed life for four billion years. We are gaining the power to design not only the world around us, but also ourselves. Where does this lead us, and who do we want to become? This provocative and insightful work is sure to spark debate and is essential reading for fans of Jared Diamond, James Gleick, Matt Ridley, Robert Wright, and Sharon Moallem.