Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What do you know about evolution? How do terms like “natural selection” and “adaptation” fit into your understanding of evolution?

Teaching Suggestion: Though some students will be well versed in basic evolutionary theory, it is likely that others will have misunderstandings about evolution or even dispute its validity. These questions are meant to provide students with a firmer foundation from which to approach Harari’s work. Class discussion and exposure to the resources linked below or similar ones will ensure that all students have accurate basic background knowledge before beginning Sapiens.

• This 10-minute video from SciShow explaining the basics of evolution and clearing up some common misconceptions
• This glossary of terms related to evolution, from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

2. What kinds of questions do scientists still have about evolution? Are scientists unclear about whether evolution exists, or do they mainly have questions about exactly how it works?

Teaching Suggestion: The purpose of these questions is to guide students toward an accurate understanding that it is the mechanisms of evolution that scientists are still investigating, not its very existence. As students are unlikely to have a thorough background in the controversies that still exist in evolutionary biology, it may be beneficial to offer these or similar resources before asking them to either write about or discuss these questions.

• This Guardian article exploring recent critiques of evolutionary theory
• This article in The Conversation exploring schisms within the field of evolutionary biology

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the book.

What are some questions that interest you personally about human society and human nature? How might a scientific study of evolution contribute to our understanding of these issues?

Teaching Suggestion: Most students will have ready answers for the first question in this prompt. Some may struggle, however, to understand how evolutionary biology might shed light on the issues they identify. You might guide them through thinking about one issue in particular, such as “Why does war exist?” and model for them how an evolutionary biologist might think about this question. You can challenge more advanced students to also explore some possible pitfalls of trying to answer these questions through evolutionary biology: How might studies be flawed, assumptions be erroneous, and so on, because of the particular limitations and worldview of this branch of science?