Harper Perennial

Sapiens: A Graphic History - The Birth of Humankind (Volume 1)

A Visual Journey Through the Origins of Humanity

**Sapiens: A Graphic History - The Birth of Humankind** is the first volume in a captivating graphic adaptation of Yuval Noah Harari's international bestseller, *Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind*. This visually stunning and accessible work brings Harari's groundbreaking exploration of human history to life with vibrant full-color illustrations and clear, concise text, making it perfect for readers of all ages.

A Compelling Narrative of Our Past

One hundred thousand years ago, the Earth was home to at least six different human species. Yet today, only Homo sapiens remain. What led to the extinction of these other hominids? And what does our unique survival tell us about the future of our species?

In this first volume, renowned historian Yuval Noah Harari takes readers on a fascinating journey through the origins and evolution of humankind. He examines the role of early humans in the global ecosystem, explores the rise of complex societies and empires, and delves into the defining characteristics that have shaped our understanding of what it means to be "human."

A Fresh Perspective on Human History

**Sapiens: A Graphic History** challenges us to re-evaluate long-held beliefs about our place in the world. By connecting past developments with contemporary concerns, Harari encourages readers to consider specific events within the larger context of human history and evolution. This unique perspective offers a deeper understanding of our present and potential future.

A Visually Stunning and Engaging Experience

With 256 pages of stunning illustrations and engaging text, this graphic adaptation of *Sapiens* brings Harari's complex ideas to a wider audience. It provides a captivating and accessible entry point into this influential work, making it ideal for those seeking a visually rich and informative journey through the history of humankind.

Review: A Must-Read for Anyone Curious About Our Past

**Sapiens: A Graphic History** is a remarkable achievement in storytelling and visual communication. It masterfully translates the complexities of human history into an engaging and accessible format. The vibrant illustrations and clear text make this book an enjoyable read for anyone interested in understanding the origins and evolution of our species. Whether you're a history buff, a science enthusiast, or simply curious about our place in the world, this graphic adaptation of *Sapiens* is a must-read.

<p>Hell And Other Destinations: A 21st-Century Memoir</p>

<p>“Richly detailed. . . an intimate portrait of a diplomat.” —New Yorker</p>

<p>Now in paperback with a new epilogue</p>

<p>In this revealing, funny, and inspiring memoir, seven-time New York Times bestselling author and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright—among the most admired and tireless public servants in history—reflects on the challenge of continuing one’s career far beyond the normal age of retirement.</p>

<p>In 2001, when Madeleine Albright was leaving office as America’s first female secretary of state, interviewers asked her how she wished to be remembered. “I don’t want to be remembered,” she answered. “I am still here and have much more I intend to do. As difficult as it might seem, I want every stage of my life to be more exciting than the last.”</p>

<p>In that time of transition, the former Secretary considered the possibilities: she could write, teach, travel, give speeches, start a business, fight for democracy, help to empower women, campaign for favored political candidates, spend more time with her grandchildren. Instead of choosing one or two, she decided to do it all. For nearly twenty years, Albright was in constant motion, navigating half a dozen professions, clashing with presidents and prime ministers, learning every day. After leaving the State Department, she blazed her own trail—and gave voice to millions who yearn for respect, regardless of gender, background, or age.</p>

<p>Hell and Other Destinations reveals this remarkable figure at her bluntest, funniest, most intimate, and most serious. It is the tale of our times anchored in lessons for all time, narrated by an extraordinary woman who had a matchless zest for life.</p>

<p>The Betrayal Of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation</p>

<p>A New York Times Bestseller</p>

<p>Less a mystery unsolved than a secret well kept...</p>

<p>Using new technology, recently discovered documents and sophisticated investigative techniques, an international team—led by an obsessed retired FBI agent—has finally solved the mystery that has haunted generations since World War II: Who betrayed Anne Frank and her family? And why?</p>

<p>Over thirty million people have read The Diary of a Young Girl, the journal teen-aged Anne Frank kept while living in an attic with her family and four other people in Amsterdam during World War II, until the Nazis arrested them and sent them to a concentration camp. But despite the many works—journalism, books, plays and novels—devoted to Anne’s story, none has ever conclusively explained how these eight people managed to live in hiding undetected for over two years—and who or what finally brought the Nazis to their door.</p>

<p>With painstaking care, retired FBI agent Vincent Pankoke and a team of indefatigable investigators pored over tens of thousands of pages of documents—some never before seen—and interviewed scores of descendants of people familiar with the Franks. Utilizing methods developed by the FBI, the Cold Case Team painstakingly pieced together the months leading to the infamous arrest—and came to a shocking conclusion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation is the riveting story of their mission. Rosemary Sullivan introduces us to the investigators, explains the behavior of both the captives and their captors and profiles a group of suspects. All the while, she vividly brings to life wartime Amsterdam: a place where no matter how wealthy, educated, or careful you were, you never knew whom you could trust.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Homo Deus</p>

<p>Yuval Noah Harari, author of the critically-acclaimed&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;bestseller and international phenomenon&nbsp;Sapiens, returns with an equally original, compelling, and provocative book, turning his focus toward humanity's future, and our quest to upgrade humans into gods.</p>

<p>Over the past century humankind has managed to do the impossible and rein in famine, plague, and war. This may seem hard to accept, but, as Harari explains in his trademark style--thorough, yet riveting--famine, plague and war have been transformed from incomprehensible and uncontrollable forces of nature into manageable challenges. For the first time ever, more people die from eating too much than from eating too little; more people die from old age than from infectious diseases; and more people commit suicide than are killed by soldiers, terrorists and criminals put together. The average American is a thousand times more likely to die from binging at McDonalds than from being blown up by Al Qaeda.</p>

<p>What then will replace famine, plague, and war at the top of the human agenda? As the self-made gods of planet earth, what destinies will we set ourselves, and which quests will we undertake?&nbsp;Homo Deus&nbsp;explores the projects, dreams and nightmares that will shape the twenty-first century--from overcoming death to creating artificial life. It asks the fundamental questions: Where do we go from here? And how will we protect this fragile world from our own destructive powers? This is the next stage of evolution. This is Homo Deus.</p>

<p>With the same insight and clarity that made&nbsp;Sapiens&nbsp;an international hit and a&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;bestseller, Harari maps out our future.</p>

<p>Knowing What We Know</p>

<p>From the creation of the first encyclopedia to Wikipedia, from ancient museums to modern kindergarten classes—this is award winning writer Simon Winchester’s brilliant and all-encompassing look at how humans acquire, retain, and pass on information and data, and how technology continues to change our lives and our minds.</p>

<p>With the advent of the internet, any topic we want to know about is instantly available with the touch of a smartphone button. With so much knowledge at our fingertips, what is there left for our brains to do? At a time when we seem to be stripping all value from the idea of knowing things—no need for math, no need for map-reading, no need for memorization—are we risking our ability to think? As we empty our minds, will we one day be incapable of thoughtfulness?</p>

<p>Addressing these questions, Simon Winchester explores how humans have attained, stored, and disseminated knowledge. Examining such disciplines as education, journalism, encyclopedia creation, museum curation, photography, and broadcasting, he looks at a whole range of knowledge diffusion—from the cuneiform writings of Babylon to the machine-made genius of artificial intelligence, by way of Gutenberg, Google, and Wikipedia to the huge Victorian assemblage of the Mundanaeum, the collection of everything ever known, currently stored in a damp basement in northern Belgium.</p>

<p>Studded with strange and fascinating details, Knowing What We Know is a deep dive into learning and the human mind. Throughout this fascinating tour, Winchester forces us to ponder what rational humans are becoming. What good is all this knowledge if it leads to lack of thought? What is information without wisdom? Does Rene Descartes’s Cogito, ergo sum—“I think therefore I am,” the foundation for human knowledge widely accepted since the Enlightenment—still hold?</p>

<p> And what will the world be like if no one in it is wise?</p>

<p>Sapiens: A Graphic History, Volume 2: The Pillars Of Civilization</p>

<p>NATIONAL BESTSELLER</p>

<p>This second volume of Sapiens: A Graphic History, the full-color graphic adaptation of Yuval Noah Harari’s 1 New York Times bestseller, focuses on the Agricultural Revolution—when humans fell into a trap we’ve yet to escape: working harder and harder with diminishing returns.</p>

<p>What if humanity’s major woes—war, plague, famine and inequality—originated 12,000 years ago, when Homo sapiens converted from nomads to settlers, in pursuit of the fantasy of productivity and efficiency? What if by seeking to control plants and animals, humans ended up being controlled by kings, priests, and Kafkaesque bureaucracy? Volume 2 of Sapiens: A Graphic History–The Pillars of Civilization explores a crucial chapter in human development: the Agricultural Revolution. This is the story of how wheat took over the world; how an unlikely marriage between a god and a bureaucrat created the first empires; and how war, plague, famine, and inequality became an intractable feature of the human condition.</p>

<p>But it’s not all doom and gloom with this book’s cast of entertaining characters and colorful humorous scenes. Yuval, Zoe, Prof. Saraswati, Cindy and Bill (now farmers), Detective Lopez, and Dr. Fiction, all introduced in Volume 1, once again travel the length and breadth of human history, this time investigating the impact the Agricultural Revolution has had on our species. The cunning Mephisto shows them how to ensnare humans, King Hammurabi lays down the law, and Confucius explains harmonious society. The origins of modern farming are introduced through Elizabethan tragedy; the changing fortunes of domesticated plants and animals are tracked in the columns of the Daily Business News; the story of urbanization is portrayed as a travel brochure, offering discount journeys to ancient Babylon and China; and the history of inequality unfolds in a superhero detective story; with guest appearances by historical and cultural personalities throughout such as Thomas Jefferson, Scarlett O'Hara, Margaret Thatcher, and John Lennon.</p>

<p>Sapiens: A Graphic History, Volume 2 is a radical, witty and colorful retelling of the story of humankind for adults and young adults, and can be read on its own or in sequence with Volume I.</p>