Sapiens - A Storytelling Animal and His Roles

Homo Sapiens. We were used to this term specifically with something related to historical subject. Despite the popularity, we're still lack of knowledge to describe and only able to equalize it in very simple way - human. This book, Sapiens (A Brief History of Humankind) by Yuval Noah Harari, characterized human-being as a part of kingdom animalia -- according to the evolution theory -- and elaborated human's roles in the world.

Sapiens - or human - or storytelling animal, in the last millenniums apparently have an absolute authority to control and run the world. Despite initially animal evolving gradually into certain condition before capable becoming a king (this may took dozens century - or millennium), human got this role instantly without encountering a massive evolution (which is never happened to other animals, lion needed centuries to reach this position). A simple and crucial difference that has posed human jumping into 'king' stage in very hasty way is - 'imagination', an ability to create something in mind, even if this thing never exists in real life. Human's capability to tell a story, discuss, even gossip, is something special that other creatures don't have.

Not only can human build an imaginary land in their head, but they also would like to believe it! What an amazing ability! This one affected human can collaborate with all people around the world, as long as all of them have a same belief. For instance, my country - Indonesia, is something fictional. Indonesia never exists then and now, we just see the islands, buildings, people, but where can we see Indonesia in them? It's only in our head. We've created a belief there's a place named Indonesia, and we have to defend it because we live there, we need to show our belief in nationalism. This credo empowered human than other creatures, although living with quite big population, animal restricted to only make a group regionally, they're even unable to contact their species in another island.

It also happens to money, the biggest lie that has ever invented! Human used to barter whenever they need something, with someone who needs something from them. It's not easy to find someone who needs a thing that exactly the same with our thing, and they have a thing that exactly the same with our needs. It's also hard if someone needs a huge amount of something, or immoveable stuff like property. All of those difficulties forced human try considering a new exchange medium, it leads them to make money as the alternative! Money is something trivial, whatever its form - either it made from gold or gravel - what matter is : human's belief in money make it possible to establish it as a legal exchange medium.

Harari was brave enough to explore other topics such as politics (include its correlation with scientific revolution), gender inequality, religions, history, etc. I commended his ability to comprehend and describe an idea generally and neutrally, without discriminating a certain group of people. His writing style and ideas were able to provoke because of his controversial statements.

Actually I want to write a longer text but due to Harari's unpopular opinion, you guys really need to read Sapiens yourself! I'd like to include Sapiens in a list of a book that should be read at least once for entire life. I gave it 5/5 stars, and obviously I'd never write a review on my blog if it's not recommended!