Thanks . That's what Jared Diamond sez, as well. I have my doubts:
Sapiens goes on to retell the history of our species from a completely fresh perspective. It explains that money is the most pluralistic system of mutual trust ever devised; that capitalism is the most successful religion ever invented; that the treatment of animals in modern agriculture is probably the worst crime in history; and that even though we are far more powerful than our ancient ancestors, we arent much happier...
- We rule the world because we are the only animal that can believe in things that exist purely in our own imagination, such as gods, states, money and human rights.
- Sapiens are ecological serial killers even with stone-age tools, our ancestors wiped out half the planets large terrestrial mammals well before the advent of agriculture.
- The Agricultural Revolution was historys biggest fraud wheat domesticated Sapiens rather than the other way around.
- Money is the most universal and pluralistic system of mutual trust ever devised. Money is the only thing everyone trusts.
- Empire is the most successful political system humans have invented, and our present era of anti-imperial sentiment is probably a short-lived aberration.
- Capitalism is a religion rather than just an economic theory and it is the most successful religion to date.
- The treatment of animals in modern agriculture may turn out to be the worst crime in history.
- Individualism was fostered by states and markets as a way of breaking up families and communities.
- We are far more powerful than our ancestors, but we arent much happier.
- Sapiens will soon disappear. With the help of novel technologies, within a few centuries or even decades, Sapiens will upgrade themselves into completely different beings, enjoying godlike qualities and abilities. History began when humans invented gods and will end when humans become gods.
You dont have to agree to enjoy the book....right?