Sapiens
***1/2/***** History
Sapiens: A Brief
History of Humankind
Yuval Noah Harari
Yuval Noah Harari is a historian. In this epic story of the species
Homo Sapiens, he takes up the task of analysing the three principle revolutions
that shaped its history viz. ‘Cognitive revolution that kick-started history
about 70,000 years ago, Agricultural revolution that sped it up about 12,000
years ago and the scientific revolution (that) got underway only about 500
years ago but may well end history…’ in his own words. Harari offers some
ingenious comments and analysis on these epoch-changing events in our history.
According to him the greatest attribute that cognitive revolution gave our
species was ability to believe collectively in imagined myths. This led to
invention of religion, belief in nationhood, rule of law. These imaginary
concepts catalysed cooperation amongst very large group of individuals enabling
development of powerful communities. His analysis of agricultural revolution is
iconoclastic too. He does not eulogize agriculture as one of the greatest revolutions
of human history that revved up a prosperity drive for its practitioners.
According to him agriculture is responsible for many ills that plague human
beings today. I will not spoil the fun of future readers of this book by
describing these out-of-box thoughts of Harari. He sees a direction that human
history is following over the millennia. And this is the unification of the
world gradually into a global village, where diversity on macro level is
coalescing to produce a culturally less varied world. Religion, Money and Empires,
he says have laid the foundation for this unification.
Harari’s most forceful, convincing and nonconformist arguments in the
book, in my view, are on the subject of Scientific Revolution. His new ideas
open up clogged alleys of mind and force one to meditate concepts that were
alien to mind till now. In the end, Harari delivers a beautifully written,
thought- provoking, and a profound essay on Happiness. He talks about what
constitute a happy mind, what are the ways people adopt in their pursuit of
happiness and is happiness real or a mere illusion? He finds Buddhist
explanation of human suffering most convincing.
I have read some books on human evolution, world history, scientific
revolution and human mind. This background reading helped me to understand the subjects
Harari discusses in the book. But I found his arguments and conclusions
completely different and refreshing. Anyone interested in human beings, their
history and their place in cosmos must not miss this book.
Comments
Post a Comment