2nd Place, "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

Yuval Noah Harari is a professor of history at the Hebrew University and one of the most prominent emerging historians worldwide.
This book is written in accessible language with a fresh perspective. It avoids complex dates and place names but covers major events in human rise, involving biology, anthropology, philosophy, psychology, art, literature, ethics, and many other fields.
What’s most interesting is that the author examines individuals within the context of human development, discussing topics such as happiness and the meaning of life. It is both a history book and a personal journey of happiness exploration.