‘Sapiens’ graphic rebirth will appeal to all ages

SAPIENS – VOLUME 1: THE BIRTH OF HUMANKIND

Yuval Harari, David Vandermeulen, Daniel Casanave Loot.co.za (R363) JONATHAN CAPE

PUBLISHED in 2011, Yuval Harari's debut book, Sapiens, has gone on to be translated into sixty languages and enjoy global sales of over 16 million copies.

Now he brings us the first volume of Sapiens – a Graphic History.

Based on the phenomenal original, it offers something quite different in style.

“The graphic format offers readers a new intellectual and artistic exploration of the past.

“Human evolution is reimagined as a tacky reality TV show.

“The first encounter between Sapiens and Neanderthals is explored through the masterpieces of modern art.

“The extinction of the mammoths and sabre-toothed tigers is retold as a “whodunit” movie.

“Come meet the gay Neanderthals, the all- powerful Doctor Fiction, and the world's worst-ever serial killers – and find out why we are all trapped inside the dreams of dead people!”

Harari's graphic rebirth of Sapiens is a marvellous blend of the intellectual majesty of the original and the superb visual and conceptual brilliance of his collaboration team.

Briefly it tells the story of “how an insignificant ape became the ruler of planet Earth, capable of splitting the atom, flying to the moon, and manipulating the gene code of life”.

Sapiens – A Graphic History tells its various stories through a series of superbly crafted comics.

Whereas the original might have proved a challenging read for some, in this version the Harari team has presented its style that should appeal to readers across the spectrum from teens onward.

Each member of my family sang its praises.

Beautiful to look at, engrossing to read. The treatment might be graphic, but the content has the depth and scope of the original.

If you are new to Yuval Harari it is a wonderful introduction to his thinking.