NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From world-renowned historian and philosopher Yuval Noah Harari, the bestselling author of Sapiens, comes an exciting, illustrated book for middle school readers that looks at the early history of humankind.
A New York Times Best Book of the Year
"Gripping and thought-provoking." —The New York Times
Even though we’ll never outrun a hungry lion or outswim an angry shark, humans are pretty impressive—and we’re the most dominant species on the planet. So how exactly did we become “unstoppable”?
The answer to that is one of the strangest tales you’ll ever hear. And it’s a true story!
From learning to make fire and using the stars as guides to cooking meals in microwaves and landing on the moon, prepare to uncover the secrets and superpowers of how we evolved from our first appearances on Earth millions of years ago.
Acclaimed author Yuval Noah Harari has expertly crafted an extraordinary story of how humans learned to not only survive but also thrive on Earth, complete with maps, a timeline, and full-color illustrations that bring his dynamic, unputdownable writing to life.
On sale: October 18, 2022
Age: 10 and up
Grade: Grades 6-12
Page count: 208 Pages
ISBN: 9780593643464
Reading level: Lexile: 950L | Fountas/Pinnell: Z
Prof. Yuval Noah Harari is a historian, a philosopher, and the bestselling author of
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, and
Sapiens: A Graphic History. His books have sold over 35 million copies in 65 languages, and he is considered one of the world’s most influential public intellectuals today. ynharari.com / Twitter @harari_yuval / Instagram: @yuval_noah_harari
Ricard Zaplana Ruiz is an artist and illustrator with over twenty years of experience. He has worked as a story artist for animation, commercials, and live action films. His artwork for children’s books has been published worldwide since 2013. He was born and still resides in Barcelona, Spain.
“Gripping and thought provoking … In a neat trick, he has simplified the presentation for this younger audience.” —
The New York Times ★ "An enticingly depicted intro to human history and archaeology, simply expressed but extensive and engaging." —
Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Lively, engaging … provocative reading." —
Booklist“An exciting, clear-eyed chronicle of the rise of Homo sapiens, and an essential book in helping us understand our past — and our potential.” —Jeff Kinney, #1
New York Times-bestselling author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series