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As a scientist (not in anthropology), the feel of Sapiens was very unscientific. All assertions were made with minimum citation, and couched in "relevatory" lan
by Ar-Curunir 5y ago
As a scientist (not in anthropology), the feel of Sapiens was very unscientific. All assertions were made with minimum citation, and couched in "relevatory" language that always makes me feel that the author is hiding something.
If you want Sapiens but without these problems, try "Against the Grain" by James C. Scott. Covers much of the same material, but with many more citations from reputed journals and academics.
- Syzygies 5y agoLike "Guns, Germs, and Steel", "Sapiens" spins a tale. True or not, I can see how these ideas could be dangerous in a mind like Carl Rove's. As a mathematician, I take ideas under consideration, to expand my imagination of what's possible. And as a would-be mountaineer, it has been explained to me how one needs to be able to tell six days of stories in case a snowstorm pins you inside your tent. These guys could clearly manage. I'm considering "Against the Grain". The Audible narrator is an acquired taste (he hyper-articulates, and holds trailing vowels as if he's trying to establish his social class) but one can learn to tune this out.