"The revered New York Times bestselling author traces the development of technology from the Industrial Age to the Digital Age to explore the single component crucial to advancement--precision--in a superb history that is both an homage and a warning for our future." --Amazon.com.

"Over the past century humankind has managed to do the impossible and rein in famine, plague, and war. This may seem hard to accept, but, as Harari explains in his trademark style--thorough, yet riveting--famine, plague and war have been transformed from incomprehensible and uncontrollable forces of nature into manageable challenges. For the first time ever, more people die from eating too much than from eating too little; more people die from old...

"The big spin: The greatest medical accident in history starts a trail that leads to Helen of Troy, 17th century flower-power, the invention of soda pop and earthquake detection."--Container. "Bright ideas: A Baltimore man invented the bottle, which led to razors, clock springs, and the Hubbell telescope."--Container. "Making waves: Hairdressers, Gold Rush miners, Irish potato farmers and English parliamentarians are really tied together."--Container. "Routes:...

"One word: One medieval word kicks off the investigation into different cultures with the same stories that ends in cultural anthropology."--Container. "Sign here: Dutch piracy starts international law and French probability math, phonetics, and Victorian seances."--Container. "Better than the real thing: How the zipper started with technology Jefferson picked up in Paris during a row about Creation."--Container. "Flexible response: Robin Hood...