Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

“A human handprint made about 30,000 years ago, on the wall of the Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc Cave in southern France. Somebody tried to say, ‘I was here!’” 

Harari uses this example—provided as a photo with caption—to introduce his discussion of the Cognitive Revolution. This handprint is a form of communication: a public declaration of oneself, a way to be remembered and noticed, and also a way to let those that come after us realize that they are not the first. 

“Tolerance is not a Sapiens trademark.” 

History does not lack for examples of intolerance. Even today, differences in religion, language, and skin color are enough to trigger human conflict, often with devastating results. If modern humans are so intolerant, it is unlikely that ancient humans would have been tolerant towards another human species. Perhaps genocide is the reason that Sapiens are the only human species alive today, Harari suggests.

“Our language evolved as a way of gossiping.”

Humans are social animals, and sharing news and personal details in the form of gossip is the first step in cooperation.