Sapiens: A Graphic History Volume One: The Birth of Humankind
By Yuval Noah Harari
Page I bailed on: 28.
Verdict: I really enjoyed Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens, which was a blockbuster Big History bestseller. Harari has a wonderful way of explaining ideas in a popular voice. Unfortunately, this graphic version tries to be even more reader-friendly without adding anything of value. The character of Harari’s niece Zoe is introduced to be a surrogate for the audience, so I take it the target reader here was young people. Younger than me anyway. I found it to be too cutesy by half and gave up pretty quickly. It did make me go back to re-read parts of Sapiens though, which I enjoyed very much and frankly found easier to follow.
If you just read graphic versions of books because you can’t bring yourself to read full text, then fine. Otherwise I don’t know why you’d bother.
Graphic novels aren’t for kids, they’re for adults. So this is weird, making a Classic Comic, written for kids, that’s a graphic novel priced (I assume) for adults. No wonder it doesn’t work!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s very pricey too! And this was only volume 1. They turned the book into three volumes.
What is for kids and what’s for adults has become a very blurry area. When the Harry Potter phenomenon was in full swing they even had to invent a new category, “kidult,” because after the first couple of books more adults were buying them than kids.
LikeLike
I don’t read graphic novels ever so I’m fine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always ahead of the game you are!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep indeedy!
What game?
LikeLike
The game of life!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah that one. No magic cards for it though.
LikeLike
Sounds like a cash grab to me. Hope you didn’t pay very much for this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Borrowed from library!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Then the entire town got ripped off. I wish libraries were more careful about the stuff they buy.
LikeLike
I thought the graphics were bold and inspired.
LikeLike