Part 1: The Cognitive Revolution
Chapter 1: An Insignificant Animal
- The emergence of Homo Sapiens in the ecosystem
- The biological differences between Sapiens and other human species
- The role of fire in evolution
Chapter 2: The Tree of Knowledge
- The development of unique cognitive abilities
- Language and the capacity to create fictional stories
- The importance of communication in human progress
Chapter 3: A Day in the Life of Adam and Eve
- Life of Stone Age hunter-gatherers
- Primitive social and cultural structures
- Comparison of ancient and modern quality of life
Chapter 4: The Great Flood
- The extinction of other human species (Neanderthals, Denisovans, etc.)
- The impact of Homo Sapiens on the global ecosystem
- Theories on the dominance of Sapiens
Part 2: The Agricultural Revolution
Chapter 5: History’s Biggest Fraud
- The transition from foraging to farming
- The negative effects of agriculture on human life
- Population growth and societal changes
Chapter 6: Building Pyramids
- The rise of complex societies
- Hierarchies and social inequality
- The importance of monumental structures in civilizations
Chapter 7: Memory Overload
- The limits of human memory in complex societies
- The development of writing and information storage systems
- The role of text in managing societies
Chapter 8: There is No Justice in History
- Gender and class inequality in agrarian societies
- Political and religious systems reinforcing inequality
- The long-term effects of these social structures
Part 3: The Unification of Humankind
Chapter 9: The Arrow of History
- The global unification trend of civilizations
- Drivers of unification (trade, war, religion)
- A vision of a united world
Chapter 10: The Scent of Money
- The invention of money and its economic role
- Money as a shared system of belief
- The impact of money on society and culture
Chapter 11: Imperial Visions
- The rise and spread of empires
- Ideals and tools of imperialism
- The legacy of empires in the modern world
Chapter 12: The Law of Religion
- The development of polytheistic and monotheistic religions
- Religion as a tool for societal unification
- Competition between belief systems
Chapter 13: The Secret of Success
- Factors leading to Homo Sapiens’ dominance
- The role of large-scale cooperation
- The importance of shared myths
Part 4: The Scientific Revolution
Chapter 14: The Discovery of Ignorance
- The beginning of the Scientific Revolution
- Embracing ignorance to drive research
- The influence of science on human thinking
Chapter 15: The Marriage of Science and Empire
- The relationship between science and imperialism
- Scientific expeditions and territorial expansion
- Science’s role in global expansion
Chapter 16: The Capitalist Creed
- The rise of capitalism
- The belief in infinite economic growth
- Capitalism’s impact on modern society
Chapter 17: The Wheels of Industry
- The Industrial Revolution and social transformation
- The development of energy and mass production
- Environmental and human consequences
Chapter 18: A Permanent Revolution
- Rapid changes in the modern era
- The rise of technology and artificial intelligence
- Challenges for the future of humankind
Chapter 19: And They Lived Happily Ever After
- Assessing human happiness throughout history
- Comparing hunter-gatherer and modern happiness
- Factors influencing happiness
Chapter 20: Homo Sapiens: The End of History?
- The future of Homo Sapiens in the technological age
- Developments in biotechnology and artificial intelligence
- The question of the meaning of human existence
Epilogue (included in some newer editions, such as the 2024 pocket edition)
The Dissatisfied Gods
- Updates on modern issues (AI, climate change, etc.)
- Reflections on the future of humanity
- The role of Sapiens in shaping the world