What Makes Us Human?

In his book Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari advances an interesting proposition as to what allowed Homo sapiens to out-compete Neanderthals and other close relatives, spread across the globe, and eventually become the world’s dominant life form. In Harari’s account, the crucial difference between sapiens and neanderthalensis wasn’t brain size or even language, but the capacity to invent and share fictions.

Reading: Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind, selections as follows:

• Chapter 2, in full
• Ch 5, first two sections (“History’s Biggest Fraud” and “The Luxury Trap”)
• Ch 6, in full

As you finish each of these chapters from Harari’s book, go back and make a brief list of two or three key points you want to remember from that chapter. Note a page # and a 2-3 word quote to help you find that passage later on in the book. Be brief, not copious: ideally, ALL your notes from these three chapters should fit on one side of a piece of paper.

Then, take a minimum one-hour break so your brain can absorb what you’ve learned (eat a meal or work on something else). Then skim back through your notes to identify ONE key idea that you find compelling—something that you might want to share with a friend.

Writing: a short paragraph presenting one of Harari’s key ideas in your own words to someone well educated but unfamiliar with Harari. Your ¶ should start with a sentence that highlights the idea you’re covering, using Harari’s keyterm and a page range. Quote sparingly or not at all.

Publish your ¶ in the comments below.

For class: Bring your paper notes from Harari to class for my inspection.