Review Details

Sapiens {MP3} + Digital Bonus

Product Review (submitted on November 27, 2018):

I was attracted to the book based on a recommendation, and from an interest in evolutionary psychology. And I actually enjoyed most of Part I, which dealt with loosely accepted origins of the cognitively aware humans we know and live as today. But from there, the book took a disappointing turn. It diverged into an ideological rant against agriculture, Western Civilization (or all civilizations really), the evils of modern technology, and most of all against the "myths"of every belief system in the modern world. While these arguments may be ostensibly in the the vein of a devil's advocate, it quickly became clear that Harari was presenting a fast and loose version of HIS view of history, regardless of the grounding material.

I don't have problem with critiques or examinations of human thought and beliefs, but Harari condemns almost all modern structures of society, without recognizing any of the obvious benefits. It seems that this 1st world writer, in a country with free speech, touting the benefits of science and the age of Enlightenment, believes that we should all go back to gathering nuts and hunting wild game in the pure foraging bands of yore. "Obviously," we were all happier back then, due to the esteemed wisdom of the Great God of Evolution. (also a benefit of modern rational thought, btw).