Books
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
A broad provocative introduction to the large forces that shaped human societies.
Decision guide
Why it fits
It works best as a curiosity-starter: read it for big connecting arguments then use its claims as invitations for further reading rather than final answers.
Yuval Noah Harari surveys human development from early Homo species through agriculture empires science and capitalism. Its strength is synthesis and debate-provoking framing not exhaustive specialist detail.