The Wheels of Industry — Energy, Consumerism, and the Industrial Revolution Explained | Chapter 17 from Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
The Wheels of Industry — Energy, Consumerism, and the Industrial Revolution Explained | Chapter 17 from Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari How did the Industrial Revolution reshape not only economies, but the very fabric of daily life and the fate of billions of humans and animals? In Chapter 17 of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind , Yuval Noah Harari explores the origins, mechanisms, and consequences of industrialization—from steam engines to consumer culture and factory farming. Watch the full chapter summary below and subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for detailed guides to every chapter! The Industrial Revolution: Energy and Materials Harari explains how the modern era’s explosive growth started with new ways to extract and convert energy—steam, electricity, fossil fuels—and invent materials like aluminum, plastic, and synthetic fertilizers. This technological leap unlocked a cycle of productivity, invention, and rapid change unlike anything before. Key Topics in Chapt...