Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

by Yuval Noah Harari

Large numbers of strangers can cooperate successfully by believing in common myths.

There is some evidence that the size of the average Sapiens brain has actually decreased since the age of foraging.

No noteworthy plant or animal has been domesticated in the last 2,000 years.

Worldwide, wheat covers about 870,000 square miles of the globe’s surface, almost ten times the size of Britain.

In most agricultural societies at least one out of every three children died before reaching twenty.

‘Biology enables, Culture forbids.’

money is also the apogee of human tolerance.

Polytheism is inherently open-minded, and rarely persecutes ‘heretics’ and ‘infidels’.

suffering arises from craving; the only way to be fully liberated from suffering is to be fully liberated from craving; and the only way to be liberated from craving is to train the mind to experience reality as it is.

The first Chinese world map to show America was not issued until 1602 –

we can congratulate ourselves on the unprecedented accomplishments of modern Sapiens only if we completely ignore the fate of all other animals.

winning the lottery has, over time, the same impact on people’s happiness as a debilitating car accident.

being satisfied with what you already have is far more important than getting more of what you want.

Lasting happiness comes only from serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin.