What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Yuval Noah Harari · Book · 2015
If you loved Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, start with Humans (Jonathan Brackley, 2015) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind across media.
You enjoyed Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind for the way it forces you to reconcile human progress with our existential fragility.
Films on the same thread
2001: A Space Odyssey
Stanley Kubrick · Film · 1968
Shares a thread with Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind: Human Evolution.
Like Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, this film explores the massive scale of human evolution, framing our technological advancement as a pivotal moment in cosmic history.
Children of Men
Alfonso Cuarón · Film · 2006
Explores: Infertility, Societal Collapse, Hope in Darkness.
Just as Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind examines the vulnerability of our species, this story confronts the potential for societal collapse when our biological future disappears.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Matt Reeves · Film · 2014
Explores: Humanity vs. Nature, Primal Leadership, Xenophobia.
This film mirrors the analysis in Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind regarding humanity's dominance over nature, questioning the moral ambiguity inherent in our struggle for survival.
Parasite
Bong Joon Ho · Film · 2019
Explores: Class Warfare, Social Commentary, Deception.
While Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind covers macro-history, this narrative zooms in on the class dynamics and social structures that define the modern human experience.
Series on the same thread
Life on Earth
Series · 1979
Explores: Evolution, Biodiversity, Natural Selection.
If Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind sparked your interest in our biological origins, this series provides the essential visual context for the evolution of all life.
Human Planet
Dale Templar · Series · 2011
Explores: Human-Animal Interaction, Adaptation, Survival.
This documentary series deepens your understanding of human adaptation, a central theme in Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by exploring how we thrive in extreme environments.
Cosmos: A Personal Voyage
Carl Sagan · Series · 1980
Explores: Cosmology, Origin of Life, Scientific History.
Much like Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, this classic series contextualizes our existence within the vast timeline of the universe and the history of scientific thought.
Humans
Jonathan Brackley · Series · 2015
Explores: Artificial Consciousness, Human-Robot Relations, Technological Singularity.
As Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind asks what makes us unique, this show probes the ethical boundaries of artificial consciousness and our relationship with new technology.
Podcasts on the same thread
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2025
Shares a thread with Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind: human nature.
Dan Carlin shares the same narrative ambition found in Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, using historical analysis to challenge your perspective on human nature and power.
Making Sense with Sam Harris
Sam Harris · Podcast · 2026
Explores: critical thinking, ethical dilemmas, cognitive bias.
Sam Harris mirrors the rationalist inquiry of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, dissecting the cognitive biases and moral philosophies that shape our modern society and future.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the primary subject of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind?
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind examines how one species, among countless others on a planet 4.5 billion years old, rose to dominate the Earth. The book explores the factors that made humans both the most advanced and the most destructive animals to ever live.
Is Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind focused on the entire timeline of Earth?
While Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind acknowledges that Earth is 4.5 billion years old, the book focuses specifically on the brief fraction of that time during which humans conquered the planet. It analyzes the specific traits that distinguish our species from all other life forms.
Does Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind explain why humans are considered destructive?
Yes, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind investigates the duality of our species. The book explores the specific evolutionary and historical developments that made humans brilliant, while also analyzing the behaviors and impacts that have established us as the most destructive animals to have ever lived.
Who is the author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind?
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind was written by Yuval Noah Harari. Published in 2015, the work provides an analytical look at the history of our species and the unique characteristics that allowed humans to conquer the planet in a relatively short period of time.