Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Merits: Yuval Noah Harari has a PhD in history from the University of Oxford. He also lectures at the department of history at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, specializing in world history.

Material: This book offers a sweeping tour of the history of our species that spans millennia, exploring questions such as, what brought our foraging ancestors together to eventually create empire, how did we come to believe in gods, and how did we end up enslaved by consumerism? Harari explores how the currents of history have shape our human societies and the potential shape of what’s to come.

Grade: Herodotus. This book integrates history with science, pulling insight form multiple scientific disciplines such as anthropology, biology, and paleontology. This blend creates a wide ranging and entertaining journey that elevates itself from the dry slog that traditional historical writing can sometimes be.