Any out there read this book? I just finished it; and while not agreeing with the author on everything, it was a very intellectually stimulating read.
My criticism of the book was that the author was in too much of a rush to cram every possible idea in, and some of it could use a trifle more careful fact-checking; but, in what is really a book of big ideas, that’s a bit of a nit.
I didn’t see any previous thread on this book, which I think (like it or hate it) would be of great interest to people on this board.
I guess the criticism of it is in a way its strong point as well: this book reminds me of those days (and nights) spent in University many years ago, arguing with very smart people in my old Anthropology department about the “Big Questions” of human physical and social evolution. It’s bold, maybe over-bold, and written in a very engaging style. Reminds me of Jared Diamond (who wrote a praising blurb), but I prefer this writing style and content to Diamonds’.
I bought it read about half and put it asiide (library wait list books with a limited borrowing time). I plan to finish it.
So far it has made me a little more tolerant of religion. Probably not his exact wording but the idea that fictional/imaginary/pretend things can have a use in organizing people to a common goal.
I read Sapiens last year and mentioned it in the Whatcha Reading? thread. I liked it - a concise history of humanity, told at the gallop. The author’s discussions of empire, agriculture and early forms of writing were particularly interesting to me.
