> Sapiens is a good example of that kind of mass market crap.
I think Sapiens is an interesting case, because, in my situation, I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the experience.
I enjoyed it so much that I started to question everything I was hearing and spent at least twice as many hours checking what the author said than listening.
To the point that now I completely forgot the content of the book, but learned about so many things that I would probably had no reason to learn about without the book.
So it acted as a gateway with me.
Meanwhile I know of other people who took it as gospel and are now living with a polarized mindset.
IMO this kinda illustrates my point about cultural cachet. Going down a Wikipedia-driven rabbit hole doesn't have cultural cachet. Looking up sources from a prestigious book does have cultural cachet. But they are sort of the same activity?
I think Sapiens is an interesting case, because, in my situation, I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the experience. I enjoyed it so much that I started to question everything I was hearing and spent at least twice as many hours checking what the author said than listening.
To the point that now I completely forgot the content of the book, but learned about so many things that I would probably had no reason to learn about without the book. So it acted as a gateway with me. Meanwhile I know of other people who took it as gospel and are now living with a polarized mindset.