As a homeschooling family, I have found no other books more valuable in teaching human history than the Sapiens graphic novels! My kids just pour over every page over and over! Volume 3 is the perfect addendum to the first 2. Bravo!

This was a great continuation to this nonfiction graphic novel series. While I still think the first volume is my favorite, this volume had so much interesting information and theories as to what is the driving force to humanity's fate. The answers presented were all very well researched and explained in an easily understandable way. I think the graphic novel format lends well to nonfiction writing as it makes it, at least for me, more easy to grasp the concepts. I like that the ideas are a bit more condensed in this format with easy examples in history that go well with the art. It just makes for a fun reading experience.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial for granting me access in exchange for an honest review.

I am vested in Sapiens and have looked forward to the release of each installment, as I know I will learn so much in an entertaining medium. The concepts are not always straightforward (veering into complex or controversial topics), but the structure and presentation of the material, along with the familiar characters, make consumption and absorption of the ideas and context digestible and relatable.  

Each volume can be read as a standalone, but I have read them sequentially.  I’ll add that a minimal amount of information from previous editions is referenced throughout, but nothing to distract the reader.  Volume 3 delves into the influences that shape and influence humanity and ponders the path we’re on – is it toward destruction or unification?  Are we evolving or devolving?  Are we allowing the lessons of history to inform our future?   What is done here is the examination of various phenomena or influences that have shaped human history – based on fact and logic.  It starts with randomness and evaluates if luck and timing have merit.  It then explores cycles such as weather patterns, natural disasters, etc.  It gains momentum and gravitas when the influence of empires, religion, and currency/global trade mechanisms are discussed (separately) in detail.  I loved how the pros, cons, good, bad, and ugly were argued – balanced and unbiased.

Outstanding work is done here! I captured many notes for further research in each section and am looking forward to Volume 4.

Thanks to the publisher, Harper Perennial, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review.

First, I'd like to extend a big thanks to the author, Yuval Noah Harari, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to be able to read Sapiens: A Graphic History, Volume 3. I will share my review to Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble upon release. I'm a fan of Harari's work and his method of historical thinking, and these volumes are not excepted. This third volume focuses on certain figures or movers of history, and how they may intertwine to change the trajectory of mankind. These are really serious questions set in an interesting way, as more of a game show with a jury that is deciding the main driver of the universe. Each of the main themes or characters that is arguing for their version of historical influence is a humorous dive into what makes the gears of the historical clock turn. The layer of creativity and playfulness can appeal to just about any age, middle grade and higher, because even adults can appreciate the jokes.

I really think an impressive aspect of this series is putting such big ideas into a graphic format, which I know has to be tough. Some of these concepts were things we discussed in my master's level history courses, like how the expansion of empire and religion shape cultures, politics, economies, and the role of money and capitalism in the shaping of behavior. One of my favorite characters was Clashwoman, who shows how narrow history becomes in that more reactionary mindset. The abstract concepts are kept engaging because of the bold colors and interesting characters presented. I think a lot of the characters are really helpful, because as humans we like to think of history in a narrative format. We like to give structure that history doesn't necessarily have as it occurs, and these can be helpful for just processing and categorizing a lot of the info. All of this is to say that I think these volumes can be super helpful for getting young people to think about history in a deeper way, beyond memorization of dates or names or focusing solely on American history. I would recommend for any fan of Harari's past work or anyone who wants to dive in - I loved this book!

This was an interesting book. It was both fun and informative. I love the idea of telling history through graphic novel. It allows a heavy topic to seem a bit lighter. It also makes the telling of history easier to engage with, and helps visual learners truly embrace what they are reading. I thought the information was provided in a unique way without detracting from what was being conveyed. I think this would be a great book for anyone high school aged and up.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the ARC. Unfortunately I couldn't get through this one. The high concept, while clever, was a bit too removed from the subject matter for me, making it hard for me to engage with the book. I didn't find the illustration style or coloring particularly compelling, either. That, coupled with the huge amount of text in many of the panels made this one much less fun than it should be. However impossible to make happen, I definitely expected this to be a zippy graphic novel condensing Harari's excellent book into a readable graphic novel for young-ish readers — but it was a bit too laborious of a read for even me. The concept of news reporters or presenters narrating such heady topics instead of showing these concepts "in action" was a bit too removed from the subject matter for me.

These books are so good, discussing the breadth of human history with a level of levity you don’t expect from the topic. This one discusses whether a quest for empire, a love of money, or the creation of religion unified humanity most and the results are surprising. As a nonbeliever, I particularly loved the way religion was handled and found it extremely insightful and balanced. After three of these graphic novels, I kinda want to read the original book now…. Very excited for book 4!