The book is really split into two parts. The first half is a captivating exploration of human origins. It traces the history of Homo Sapiens, our interactions with Neanderthals and other human species, and the theories about how we lived and spread across the globe. The material is presented clearly, making it accessible even if you’re not a scientist. You can follow the story of how we evolved, migrated, and even interbred. While some of the science has since advanced, the book remains an engaging introduction to our natural history, and a sobering reminder of how destructive we’ve always been, both to one another and to the world around us.
The second half shifts focus to more recent history and speculative ideas about the future. Here, the book loses some of its strength. Instead of building on the careful research of the first half, it drifts into the author’s own theories, sometimes feeling more like self-help musings than grounded science. New terms and concepts are introduced without much support, and the rigor of the early chapters gives way to looser speculation. While some of the ideas are thought-provoking, they don’t carry the same weight as the historical sections. At times, it feels as though these chapters were written to bulk out the book rather than extend its insights.
Overall, Sapiens is still well worth reading, especially for the first half. Just be prepared: the final sections require more patience, and they may leave you wishing the author had stayed closer to established science.
The premise is appealing, but some articles fall flat. A few are so densely packed with obscure French places and château names that even with my decent wine knowledge, I occasionally lost the thread. There are also plenty of name-drops of people the author assumes we should know, but for many readers, they’ll mean little.
As the book progresses, the articles tend to get shorter, with the occasional longer piece mixed in. Still, the repetition makes them start to blend together, and by the end, the initial charm feels a little worn.
Taken as a whole, though, the book feels exactly like what it aims to be: a magazine in book form, complete with both hits and misses. It’s fun, informative, and very well written. And for wine enthusiasts, it’s worth picking up. Beyond its content, it’s also a handsome object: a large-format hardback with a ribbon bookmark that looks just as impressive on a coffee table as it does on a bookshelf, a fine addition to any wine lover’s library.