Volume two in this nonfiction series about human development begins 10,000 years ago and focuses largely on plant and animal domestication, and the emergence of writing. With the invention of writing, comes the heart of Harari’s thesis which is that the world is controlled by stories. Though it is volume two, it stands alone.

Harari has an engaging writing style that feels conversational, like your favorite older cousin, who happens to teach early civilizations, is giving you a play-by-play about how humans organized themselves. It’s all a lead-in to how we got to current-day society. It is informational and thought-provoking. Broken into four major sections: “Everything’s Under Control,” “Oops, We Didn’t See That Coming,” “Things That Scare Adults,” and “The Dreams of Dead People,” each larger chapter has sections set off by large colorful font. The sections make the information easier to absorb and Harari’s use of emboldening key sentences helps highlight the larger ideas in the section.

The one glaring omission is sources. Harari mentions many, many facts and stories but nothing is sourced. In a book written for upper elementary and middle school readers, by a historian, it’s a wasted opportunity and goes against many of the skills and practices enforced by educators. There is a lot here for teachers to use (if they are willing to do some source work) and for a curious young reader who might ask the questions, “why isn’t the world fair?” or “how did humans create the society we know of today?” and then accepts a book as an answer.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School