Sapiens: A Graphic History: The Birth of Humankind (Vol. 1)

Official U.S. edition with full color illustrations throughout.

#1 New York Times Bestseller

The Summer Reading Pick for President Barack Obama, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg, now available as a beautifully packaged paperback

From a renowned historian comes a groundbreaking narrative of humanity’s creation and evolution—a #1 international bestseller—that explores the ways in which biology and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be “human.”

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?

Most books about the history of humanity pursue either a historical or a biological approach, but Dr. Yuval Noah Harari breaks the mold with this highly original book of big history that begins about 70,000 years ago with the appearance of modern cognition. From examining the role evolving humans have played in the global ecosystem to charting the rise of empires, Sapiens integrates history and science to reconsider accepted narratives, connect past developments with contemporary concerns, and examine specific events within the context of larger ideas.

Dr. Harari also compels us to look ahead, because over the last few decades humans have begun to bend laws of natural selection that have governed life for the past four billion years. We are acquiring the ability to design not only the world around us, but also ourselves. Where is this leading us, and what do we want to become?

Featuring 27 photographs, 6 maps, and 25 illustrations/diagrams, this provocative and insightful world history graphic novel is sure to spark debate and is essential reading for aficionados of Jared Diamond, James Gleick, Matt Ridley, Robert Wright, and Sharon Moalem.

This graphic adaptation brings Dr. Harari’s groundbreaking analysis to life, exploring the biggest questions about our species:

• Human Evolution: A look at the other human species that walked the Earth—and an investigation into why only Homo Sapiens survived.
• The Cognitive Revolution: Journey back 70,000 years to the moment that changed everything, when our ancestors began to think in new ways and cooperate in massive numbers.
• Biology Meets History: A unique approach that integrates science and history to challenge everything you thought you knew about our shared past.
• The Future of Humanity: A provocative look ahead at how our species is beginning to bend the laws of natural selection and what it might mean for our future.

“Fascinating.” - Wall Street Journal

“Sapiens tackles the biggest questions of history and of the modern world.” - Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel, Collapse, and The World until Yesterday

“Yuval Noah Harari’s celebrated Sapiens does for human evolution what Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time did for physics. . . . He does a superb job of outlining our slow emergence and eventual domination of the planet.” - Forbes

“Interesting and provocative. . . . It gives you a sense of perspective on how briefly we’ve been on this earth, how short things like agriculture and science have been around, and why it makes sense for us to not take them for granted.” - President Barack Obama

“I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a fun, engaging look at early human history . . . you’ll have a hard time putting it down.” - Bill Gates

"This appealing first volume elucidates often misunderstood basics of human evolution (i.e., that until 50,000 years ago, there used to be at least six species of humans) while also unraveling knotty existential questions about humanity’s role on this planet. Young science enthusiasts and adult philosophers alike will want to pick up this smart, snappy work." - Publishers Weekly

"In a manner that is both playful and provocative, Harari teams with co-creators adept at the graphic format to enliven his academic studies....An informative, breathless sprint through the evolution and consequences of human development." - Kirkus Reviews