Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Unstoppable Us #3

How Enemies Become Friends

Rate this book
From world-renowned historian and philosopher Yuval Noah Harari, bestselling author of Sapiens, comes the third thrilling, illustrated volume in the Unstoppable Us series―an unforgettable journey into how ancient enemies became allies and helped shape the world we live in today.

How do strangers―and even enemies―become friends?

The answer is one of the most surprising true stories in human history. Thousands of years ago, long before modern borders existed, people from different lands met, traded, told stories, and sometimes married. Through these connections, new cities rose, cultures blended, and shared languages and religions emerged. But when differences grew larger than similarities, neighbors could become rivals, sparking conflicts that changed the course of history.

In Unstoppable Us, Volume 3, Harari explores how early civilizations interacted across continents: exchanging food and ideas, travelling vast oceans, building mighty empires, and forming the first countries and communities. It’s a sweeping tale of cooperation and conflict―of how humans learned to unite, compete, and create the world we know.

Following the adventures of Volumes 1 and 2, this book continues the epic story of humankind with Harari’s signature clarity and humor. Complete with a map, timeline, and vivid full-color illustrations, Volume 3 brings history to life for curious young readers, showing how the friendships (and rivalries) of the past still shape our present.

Prepare to discover how enemies became friends―and how those friendships changed everything.

208 pages, Paperback

Published February 5, 2026

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Yuval Noah Harari

80 books40k followers
Yuval Noah Harari is an Israeli historian and philosopher. He is considered one of the world’s most influential public intellectuals working today.

Born in Israel in 1976, Harari received his Ph.D. from the University of Oxford in 2002. He is currently a lecturer at the Department of History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a Distinguished Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge’s Centre for the Study of Existential Risk. Harari co-founded the social impact company Sapienship, focused on education and storytelling, with his husband, Itzik Yahav.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
120 (41%)
4 stars
111 (38%)
3 stars
56 (19%)
2 stars
3 (1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Pallavi.
1,304 reviews231 followers
April 15, 2026
5 stars
I really enjoyed Unstoppable Us, Volume 3: How Enemies Become Friends. I bought it as part of series for my kid and I too bacame a quick fan of the writer. It is an easy but thought-provoking read.
It dives into how humans went from strangers/enemies to actually cooperating and building societies together. What I liked most is how it explains big ideas like war, trade, religion, and culture in a super simple way without feeling dumbed down. The book jumps across places like ancient Rome, Carthage, and even the Mongol Empire, which keeps things interesting. It shows how people didn’t just fight all the time, sometimes they traded, shared ideas, repected each other's spiritual beliefs and even married across cultures.

But at the same time, it doesn’t ignore the darker side, like how differences can turn into conflict really quickly.I loved how Harari keeps asking questions instead of just giving answers,it makes you actually think. The storytelling style is super engaging, almost like you’re being told history as a series of stories rather than facts. Also, the whole theme of “what makes us cooperate vs fight” feels very relevant today.

An excellant read, both for kids and adults, anybody above 10years!.

Happy Reading!!
12 reviews1 follower
March 11, 2025
Un libro de historia sobre nuestros antepasados y su relación con los extranjeros lo leí con mi padre y me gustó mucho
Profile Image for S.Ach.
716 reviews208 followers
May 7, 2026
Pongalswamy : "Get this liberal propaganda out of my sight. It belongs in the trash."

I: "I wouldn't be so quick to discard it. A lot of his thought process actually resonates with me."

Pongalswamy: "Resonates? Tell me—do you honestly want your daughter to grow up as another confused, 'woke' statistic?"

I: "Why do we feel the need to label people without their consent? Can't she just be a person who thinks?"

Pongalswamy: "Because this book isn't teaching her to think; it’s designed to manufacture a liberal atheist."

I: "I lean more toward agnosticism myself. It's about the accepting the unknowable, not a denial of it."

Pongalswamy: "Weren’t you the one preaching against 'indoctrination'? You claimed you were opposed to forcing any ‘ism’ on a child."

I (pausing): "That’s true. I am. But shouldn't we be presenting all ideas? Exposure isn't the same as indoctrination."

Pongalswamy: "Calling religion 'mere stories' is its own form of indoctrination. It’s the forced gospel of non-conformism."

I: "But non-conformism is the hallmark of a questioning mind."

Pongalswamy: "In this era, questions are used as fashion statements, not genuine inquiries. It's performative skepticism."

I: "Even a performative question opens a door. It's better than a locked mind, isn't it?"

Pongalswamy: "Only if the tone is one of genuine inquiry. If the tone is dismissive, the door isn't opening—it's being slammed on thousands of years of tradition."

I: "I'll admit... Harari is incredibly persuasive. He frames his ideas in a way that’s hard to ignore."

Pongalswamy (with a grim smirk): "So, you finally admit it: it's liberal propaganda wrapped in a clever narrative."

Sarah (interjecting coolly): "And so what if it is? Liberalism has already won the intellectual race. Welcome to the elite club."

I (with a heavy sigh): "I’m far too old to join a coterie. I’m just looking for the truth."

Sarah: "Fine. Stay in your fence-sitting lane. I’ll go talk to your daughter instead."
Profile Image for Ieva Strazdiņa [mrs.lasitaja].
523 reviews300 followers
May 13, 2025
Jau trešā grāmata sērijā, kas nonāk pie lasītājiem latviešu valodā. 📜

Pirmās divas bija izcilas! Ļoti aizraujoši un interesanti izstāstīta vēsture. Tādēļ arī jaunāko grāmatu gaidīju ar lielu interesi. Tomēr šī daļa mani uzrunāja drusku mazāk par pirmajām divām.

Jaunākajā grāmatā autors analizē konfliktus jeb karus pasaules senākajā vēsturē. Kādēļ to bijis tik daudz? Atbilde – atšķirības. Kad saskaras dažādas kultūras, kuru cilvēki nesaprot un nepieņem citādo, sākas sadursmes, lai pierādītu savu taisnību. Visbiežāk šis atšķirīgais ir bijusi reliģija un ticība. Līdz ar to grāmatā diezgan daudz tiek diskutēts par šo tēmu. Ja sākumā šķita interesanti, tad ap vidu man jau kļuva tā kā drusku garlaicīgi.

Un tomēr – autors grāmatu sarakstījis savā ierastajā manierē, proti, grāmata ir viegli uztverama, tajā ir auditorijai atbilstoši piemēri, kā arī tā raisa interesi uzzināt vairāk. 🙌
Profile Image for Jesse.
47 reviews
July 5, 2025
Het derde deel in de reeks van de auteur van Sapiens. Mooi geïllustreerd en mooi geschreven. Het zet je aan tot denken over hoe jij zelf in het leven staat. Erg doordacht.
204 reviews2 followers
March 22, 2025
Prachtig boek fantastisch geïllustreerd, waarin de wereldgeschiedenis van de mens wordt verteld. En in het bijzonder het vermogen van de mens om zowel vijand als vriend te zijn.
De kwaliteit van dit boek zit vooral in de verteltrant en de illustraties. Die appelleren zowel aan volwassenen als aan kinderen.
Profile Image for Oya Güvercinci.
354 reviews6 followers
July 13, 2026

Yuval Noah Harari’nin Durdurulamayan İnsanlık serisinin üçüncü kitabı olan Düşmanlar Nasıl Dost Oldu, serinin önceki iki kitabı gibi tarihi eğlenceli, anlaşılır ve düşündürücü bir şekilde anlatıyor. Çocuklara hitap etse de, bence yetişkinlerin de keyifle okuyabileceği bir kitap.

Kitapta para neden ortaya çıktı, insanlar neden değersiz bir kâğıt ya da madeni paraya güvenmeye başladı, yazı nasıl geliştirildi, devletler ve imparatorluklar nasıl kuruldu, kanunlar neden ortaya çıktı, dinler nasıl doğdu ve toplumların bir arada yaşamasında nasıl bir rol oynadı gibi pek çok konu sade bir dille ele alınıyor. Harari, bütün bunların temelinde insanların ortak hikâyelere inanabilme becerisinin yattığını anlatıyor. Çizimler de anlatımı desteklediği için kitap oldukça akıcı ilerliyor.

Kitapla ilgili özellikle değinmek istediğim bir nokta var. Harari, dinlere oldukça geniş yer ayırıyor ve dinlerin ortaya çıkışını, gelişimini ve toplum üzerindeki etkisini evrimsel ve tarihsel bir bakış açısıyla inceliyor. Bu bölümde zaman zaman dinlere yönelik eleştirel değerlendirmeler de yapıyor. Kitap bunu herhangi bir dini hedef alarak değil, genel olarak din olgusunu sorgulayarak yapıyor. Yine de bu eser öncelikle çocuklara yönelik yazıldığı için, çocuklarının dini inançları eleştiren görüşlerle karşılaşmasını istemeyen ebeveynlerin bunu önceden bilmelerinde fayda olduğunu düşünüyorum. Buna karşılık, farklı bakış açılarını tartışmaya açık bir şekilde değerlendirmeyi önemseyen aileler için de güzel sohbetler başlatabilecek bir içerik sunuyor.

Genel olarak seriyi başarılı buluyorum. Tarihi ezberletmek yerine sorgulamayı öğreten, sık sık “Neden böyle oldu?” sorusunu sorduran ve okuru düşünmeye teşvik eden bir anlatımı var. Serinin ilk iki kitabını beğendiyseniz, üçüncü kitap da aynı çizgiyi başarıyla sürdürüyor.
Profile Image for Marilyn Boyle.
Author 2 books33 followers
April 15, 2026
As with his previous two volumes, Harari has given us a wonderful exploration of ideas and social issues through his "unstoppable" perspective. This volume dealt with "How Enemies Become Friends". He takes us through mythology and history, examining economies and religions, and shows within his optimistic perspective, how people shift to accommodate each other's views over time, never forgetting it's hard work at times. This is a valuable book, enjoyable for the young reader and adults alike, showing how civilizations keep changing, as we are always interconnected with many people in other countries, who may or may not have the same beliefs, and we do get along in many ways. The illustrations are fabulous, clear and on point for his target reader, the examples are fun, yet full of rich detail, and the pace is set at a rate to let you absorb the ideas, yet keep turning the page.
As in his other two books, Harari leaves the door open for another volume, this time looking at science and its background, how it differs from stories of "the gods and dragons" and questioning whether science can actually help us solve the "problems of famine, disease, and war". I'm looking forward to this next volume of this intriguing series.
Many thanks to LibraryThing and Puffin Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Elly Stroo Cloeck.
Author 28 books11 followers
August 26, 2025
Prachtig boek, dit derde deel in de serie Het mysterie van de mens. Het is geen hervertelling van Sapiens, maar gaat wel over een aantal onderwerpen die in dat boek aan de orde kwamen. Ik was erg onder de indruk van het hoofdstuk over religie, waarin 5 kinderen elkaar vertellen over hun geloof, en de regels die dat geloof opleggen. Het kinderlijke onbegrip vertolkt zo mooi de twijfels die de meeste van ons hebben. Waarom laat God (in het boek: de Hemelvader) het lijden toe. Kon hij niet een wereld creëren zónder oorlogen en geweld. Als er ook een duivel is, wie heeft die dan gemaakt, en waarom? Is het Boeddhisme het antwoord op alle vragen? Of de wetenschap (dat komt in deel 4 begrijp ik). Ook mooi: we stammen allemaal van 'buitenlanders' en hebben hun gebruiken overgenomen. Als we ons dit allemaal realiseren, en geen negatieve gedachten toelaten, moet de wereld een stuk mooier worden.
Het is geschreven voor kinderen, in vrij simpele taal, maar is helemaal niet kinderachtig, integendeel. Schitterende tekeningen maken het af.
Profile Image for daj.nura.w.ksiazki.
286 reviews3 followers
December 23, 2025
👬🏼👣

,,Niepowstrzymani 3. Jak wrogowie stają się przyjaciółmi" to kolejny tom serii, której autor w przystępny sposób przybliża czytelnikom dzieje ludzkości.

Poprzednie części stanowiły rozważania nad tym, jak ludziom udało się przejąć władzę nad światem, co stanowi ich największą siłę oraz jak to możliwe, że nasze standardy życia tak bardzo się od siebie różnią.

🏘️🏚️

Chętnie sięgam po kolejne tomy tej serii, ponieważ jest ona ciekawie napisana. Myślę, że młodsi czytelnicy tym bardziej docenią przystępny język i formę. Całości dopełniają piękne, brawne ilustracje, które pobudzają wyobraźnię.

Tym razem autor skupia się na władzy, wojnach i konfliktach, pokazując, jak wygodny dla wszystkich jest podział na ,,dobrych i złych", który często jest uproszczeniem, mającym niewiele wspólnego z prawdą. Opowiada o imperiach, ich powstaniach i upadkach.

Polecam, zwłaszcza ciekawym świata, młodym czytelnikom!

🧭🗺️

[współpraca reklamowa z @wydawnictwoliterackie]
Profile Image for An.
318 reviews5 followers
June 26, 2025
4.5☆

Great to introduce kids to concepts such as different religions, how sometimes people are afraid of those who are different and arising conflicts in the world in past and present.

As with the previous two books, this book uses language that is easy to understand and the medium of story to explain things in an accessible way.

The one slightly concerning footnote I have is how in the last 2 pages Harrari likens science to a replacement for religious beliefs and spirituality. While I understand this is how it has been for so many over the past few centuries, the tide is turning on that one, and I hope that as he explores this topic in a next book he lands on a more balanced view where both contribute and can co-exist, which is where the world seems to be headed right now.
Profile Image for Chase Parsley.
580 reviews26 followers
February 26, 2026
Another awesome entry in the "Unstoppable Us" series! This time, we find ourselves in the early civilization years. Lots of wisdom and very easy to read.

My favorite parts were when Harari writes about how intertwined humans are. Our "identities" are more fleeting than expected. He talks about a Muslim in 850 CE Tunisia would be shocked to meet his direct grandfather in 250 CE Roman Carthage. In turn, he would be shocked about meeting a person from Carthaginian Carthage, and before that Phoenician Carthage (he used intervals of 600 years as an illustration). Furthermore, when you do the math, we have a LOT of relatives! Having a generation every 25 years would mean that 100 years ago we have 16 direct grandparents. 200 years ago, we would have 256 direct grandparents! Great series.
Profile Image for Kristen Hunter.
112 reviews
June 15, 2026
Read this with my 9 year old but honestly would have enjoyed reading it on my own just as much. Reading about history and complex topics explained to children is one of my favorite things, and nobody does it better than Yuval Harari. This is volume 3 in his three-part series Unstoppable Us, the kids-focused version of Sapiens and I loved it 5x better than Sapiens. The way he breaks down big ideas and tells stories to make the history stick is so fun to read.
Profile Image for Daisy Hendrikx.
633 reviews2 followers
May 8, 2025
Opnieuw een fantastisch boek van Yuval Noah Harari over het mysterie van de mens.
Dit keer belicht het oorlogen en waarom de mens vijanden én vrienden kan maken. Gekoppeld aan geschiedkundige feiten en aan de ontwikkeling van de wereldreligies.
Een zeer waardevol boek in onze huidige tijd, met het oog op polarisatie, oorlogen, vluchtelingen, machtsverhoudingen, etc.

Profile Image for Katrin Laureyssens.
85 reviews4 followers
July 13, 2025
Ik kan de vlotte schrijfstijl van Harari wel appreciëren en vooral ook zijn stelling dat geschiedenis (en samenleven) ingewikkeld is, maar gelukkig steeds verandert door de keuzes die wij kunnen maken. Fijn boek voor iedereen (en kinderen in het bijzonder) die zich afvragen waarom oorlog bestaat.

Een volledige recensie vind je op www.denkkaravaan.be/blog
Profile Image for Hailie Wang.
94 reviews
June 13, 2026
Overall a meh book — not really what I was hoping for. Harari m’ostly just explored the ideas he’d already introduced in the previous books — like stories bringing humankind together but also driving them apart. And suddenly the storyline turned to RELIGION, and I was like, “Ookay, I think I’m out.”
Profile Image for Weronika Zych.
119 reviews9 followers
November 29, 2025
Wow! Ta książka wbija się szturmem do mojej aktualnej topki tego roku! Dała mi do myślenia na tyle, że od jej zamknięcia myślę o niej niemalże codziennie. Książka dla dzieci, którą powinien przeczytać KAŻDY człowiek.
Zabieram się za 1 i 2 tom pełna ekscytacji!
Profile Image for Heidi.
814 reviews12 followers
April 1, 2026
I read it in English. Very powerful message. Science is what allows us to explain everything around us. The illustrations and narration conveyed the message and content so well. What truly matters is that you are kind to others and do not hurt anyone, regardless of specific beliefs.
531 reviews21 followers
June 14, 2026
As an adult reader, I thought this was less good than the previous one, because I am not a fan of imagined dialogue in non-fiction, though I admit there might not be a more effective alternative. I do think it would not be a bad thing if this series were a part of every child’s education.
184 reviews
May 3, 2025
Weer een interessant boek in de reeks mysterie van de mens, maar wel iets minder dan andere delen die ik heb gelezen.
47 reviews
May 17, 2025
Es war ein gutes Buch weil ich Geschichte spannend finde und weil ich neues gelernt habe so wie zum Beispiel dass es in Karthago einen riesigen Markt gab.
Profile Image for Ruben.
118 reviews1 follower
May 27, 2025
wat blijft dit een mooie boek serie ik leer er zo veel van en wat schrijft Yuval Noah Harari heerlijke! en weer heerlijk in gesproken door: Rik van de Westelaken.
Profile Image for Margreeth.
1,251 reviews5 followers
June 22, 2025
Op een heel toegankelijke manier geschreven verhaal over hoe mensen met elkaar om kunnen gaan. Mooie illustraties.
Profile Image for Celina.
267 reviews1 follower
July 29, 2025
Yuval Noah Harari heeft een interessante kijk op het leven. Ook dit boek nodigt leerlingen uit tot mooie gesprekken.
46 reviews
October 5, 2025
Yuval slaagt erin om het mysterie van de mens eenvoudig te beschrijven waardoor kinderen het minder complex hoeven te vinden.
Profile Image for Erika.
318 reviews3 followers
November 2, 2025
Par daudz filozofijas, pārdomu un nebūtisku sarunu, par maz vēsturisku faktu un notikumu, kas mani saista šī autora grāmatās.
168 reviews2 followers
February 8, 2026
Mooi boek en het zou goed zijn als alle kinderen het zouden lezen, maar ben bang dat het daarvoor te beschouwend is.
Profile Image for Lena Palaniyappan.
41 reviews2 followers
March 13, 2026
good boy



Why is it so hard to say ruff 2 times 67 911 67676767676767 67 67 67 67 67 67 67
Profile Image for Olena V.
78 reviews4 followers
April 6, 2026
Не очікувала, що тут буде пояснена ідея релігій для дітей - це тааак важливо!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews