Kirstin

SAPIENS was disappointing. Of course, to even attempt to provide an accurate or somewhat comprehensive history of the species is a mountainous task, and that can be applauded. 
But. 
Harari's choices in this novel struck me as incredibly biased and, frankly, patriarchal  and hegemonic. When understanding that he is a History scholar, this makes some sense - he is focusing on what the victors have focused on! But, as he posits the history of Sapiens (at least early stages) to basically be about and determined by biology, his choices to skim over historical systems of oppression aree shown to be problematic.
I was hoping throughout the book that there would be refutations of pseudo-science and fake evolutionary biology (aka eugenics), or at the very least, recognition of the biases that lead to racist and sexist policies, but Harari only included analysis of theories when he clearly disagreed with them, such as around the Agricultural Revolution. 
There are interesting parts in this book, and as a very high level view of evolutionary understanding of the human species and history, I found some value in it. But the number of times that this book made me laugh or fume or roll my eyes greatly outweighed the appreciation that I have for it. If I want to have human history and biology mansplained to me by someone who is not an expert in either, I'll go to a local undergraduate class.