Sapiens (10th Anniversary Hardcover Special Edition)

Author Yuval Harari · Publisher Gimmyoung · Published 2023-01-27 · ISBN 9788934943235

About the Book

Special antique hardcover edition released to commemorate 10th anniversary of publication, 200th printing, and 1.15 million copies sold
Includes a special preface by Yuval Harari

Yuval Harari's 대표작 (masterpiece) 《Sapiens》, hailed as "a genius thinker" by the New York Times, is now available in a new special hardcover edition. Even in the domestic publishing market, where the term "recession" is no longer unfamiliar, 《Sapiens》 has been leading trends in the humanities and liberal arts fields, achieving astonishing results with its 200th printing and 1.15 million copies sold as of January 2023. Globally, it has been published in 65 languages and sold over 23 million copies, long establishing itself as a global bestseller. Strongly recommended by renowned intellectuals both in Korea and abroad, including Bill Gates, Jared Diamond, Mark Zuckerberg, KAIST neuroscientist Professor Kim Dae-sik, writer Yu Si-min, and Kyung Hee University physics professor Kim Sang-wook, 《Sapiens》 is truly a classic of our time. The insights of 《Sapiens》, which traverse human history and the future, are essential for understanding and preparing for an uncertain and complex world.

This special edition includes a special preface that looks back at the 10 years since the original publication in 2011 and offers suggestions to humanity facing a crisis. From climate crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic to the US-China hegemonic competition, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the bright and dark sides of technological innovation, increasing polarization, and signs of democratic collapse and prolonged economic recession observed around the world, humanity is currently facing more difficult circumstances than ever before. What should we do to overcome these challenges? The author emphasizes "understanding humanity" as a key to a better world. Although it is a preface for the 10th anniversary of the publication, it contains an appeal to fellow Sapiens to overcome unprecedented difficulties rather than the author's personal reflections on publishing a global bestseller.

"In the age of AI, what we need to know is the human mind, not coding."
An appeal to fellow Sapiens through the special preface

The special preface begins with the author's shock and bewilderment. A text written in the author's style by a strong artificial intelligence called "GPT-3" was surprisingly plausible. "I don't agree with some of GPT-3's claims. But I was surprised that the text actually made some kind of argument." In the 10 years since the publication of 《Sapiens》, artificial intelligence has revolutionarily changed human life. As the author predicted, a day may soon come when AI understands us better than we understand ourselves. Will a dystopian movie become a reality?

The author says that in the coming age of technology, a new path will open when we understand the human mind, not computer programs. Humanity has created and developed civilization by creating fictional stories about gods, nations, and corporations. "Humans know more facts than any other animal, but they also believe in more fiction. These stories are the foundation of our society and the source of meaning in our lives." Therefore, in a new era, knowing the human mind that creates new stories is more important than knowing how to code. This is why the wisdom of poets, philosophers, and historians is even more necessary than the knowledge of technical experts and economists.

The most controversial and audacious grand narrative of human history and future
Where will humanity, having sailed the sea of evolution on the ship of civilization, go next?

《Sapiens》 is a rare and engaging humanities book that weaves rich knowledge and information into brilliant storytelling. This is why, despite being a "brick book," it is chosen by many readers. The experience of reading Harari's book, which combines broad knowledge with bold interpretations and insights, and a lively writing style that captivates the public, offers the pleasure of being invited to a grand intellectual feast. It comprehensively covers the latest achievements in both new and old academic fields, from paleoanthropology to politics, society, economics, culture, biotechnology, information technology, and data science. After reading 《Sapiens》, one can be said to have assimilated major works in most fields. Yet, he knows how to unpack profound topics without making them heavy. He digests research findings from various fields to form the foundation and main thrust of his narrative, then extends branches with his own inferences and imagination at crucial junctures. Major academic discourses such as nature and culture, matter and consciousness, sacred and secular, religion and science, democracy and nationalism, identity and meaning, algorithms and data, are transformed into fascinating stories in his hands.

How did Homo Sapiens, a peripheral ape, become the ruler of the world? How did our hunter-gatherer ancestors gather in one place to build cities and kingdoms? Why did humans become the most lethal animals in Earth's history? Is science the future of all religions? How long is the shelf life of humanity? 《Sapiens》 is an unprecedented work that diversely and vividly illuminates the history of humanity, from its origins through the Cognitive Revolution, Agricultural Revolution, and Scientific Revolution, constantly evolving, traversing the boundaries of various disciplines such as biology, economics, religious studies, psychology, and philosophy. You can't help but love this book (Jared Diamond).

Table of Contents

Special Preface for the 10th Anniversary of Publication_ In the Age of AI, We Need New Stories
Preface_ To Korean Readers
Historical Timeline

Part 1: The Cognitive Revolution
1. An Unimportant Animal
2. The Tree of Knowledge
3. A Day in the Life of Adam and Eve
4. The Deluge

Part 2: The Agricultural Revolution
5. History's Biggest Fraud
6. Building Pyramids
7. Memory Overload
8. There Is No Justice in History

Part 3: The Unification of Humankind
9. The Arrow of History
10. The Scent of Money
11. The Vision of Empire
12. The Law of Religion
13. The Secret of Success

Part 4: The Scientific Revolution
14. The Discovery of Ignorance
15. The Marriage of Science and Empire
16. The Capitalist Creed
17. The Wheels of Industry
18. The Endless Revolution
19. And They Lived Happily Ever After
20. The End of Homo Sapiens

Epilogue_ The Animal That Became a God
Translator's Afterword
Bibliography
Index