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Swap the books you've read, for some you haven't!
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Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared M. Diamond
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  | W. W. Norton & Company, 1999 Paperback, 496 pages edition: Later Printing isbn: 0393317552value: 17 creditscondition: good | owner: grinningleopard (new user)
an artful and informative non-fiction vision of human history |
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Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared M. Diamond
Review: In this thought-provoking and ambitious book, Diamond sets out to explain, in broad terms, how the current human economic, political and social world came to be the way it is. He refutes racist notions of inherent genetic superiority, pointing instead to geographical features, such as oceans, mountain ranges and the positioning of continents. The global distribution of useful plant and animal species is also crucial. This book is wonderfully entertaining, providing many a nugget of fascinating information for the curious. However, Diamond's conclusions are humbling, when one considers the way vast impersonal forces have worked together to shape human history.
Review: The whole of human history? Most folk who try to do such a broad sweep start about 2500 years ago and then write more and more about less and less until they hit the 20th century (with the logical conclusion that they end up writing everything about nothing).
This chap goes way, way back into what most historians ignore as 'pre-history', and uses that to develop his theme of why some civilisations apparently hit the curve to 'modernization' and 'civilisation' quicker and more effectivley than others. He has a few central themes which he argues brilliantly.
My gripe was that the author repeats himself a lot. You will understand his central themes probably by the end of the first chapter, but he seems to repeat them again and again and again writing each time as if he is introducing the concepts to the reader for the first time.
Despite this quirk of style (which is irritatating) the topic itself and the academic dilligence and research he has put into it make it a simply fascinating read despite the authors style.
If you have an interest in history, and fancy a change from the traditional deep dive on a given period, give this a go. It's a real thought provoker.
Review: Jared Diamond has an ambitious goal: explain the history of mankind globally.
His thesis is quite simple: different people had different histories because of geographical (environmental), not innate (racial) differences. He presents, develops and defends his point of view brilliantly and forcefully.
Some people remained hunters-gatherers, while others became masters of the world.
The crucial factor in human history is food. The availability of materials (plants, animals) for domestication leads to the production of food surpluses in some geographical fertile regions, which allowed the feeding of specialists outside agriculture (craftsmen, warriors, bureaucrats, priests, kings). Intensive food production, population size and societal complexity stimulated each other as fewer peasants were needed to feed the whole population. Craftsmen developed maritime, military and industrial technology and warriors conquered new territories.
Population growth generated a centralized organization (a state structure) for decision making (politics) and conflict resolutions (law).
Domestication provided other cardinal advantages. Infectious diseases evolve from animal diseases. Through intimacy with animals people became immune. But, when not immunized populations came in contact with immunized ones, they were wiped out. Also, animals could be used as power engines and warrior transport means.
Other important historical factors were those related to transmission of acquired knowledge: migration and, cardinally, writing.
While hunter-gatherer groups remained more or less egalitarian, states with centralized governments generated great differences of wealth. They became ruled by an elite which controlled nearly wholly (kleptocracy) or partially the manna of the state (the budget).
But, how could the elite continue to control the masses?
Jared Diamond sees 4 different solutions: arm the elite and disarm the masses, redistribution of wealth, impose public order and curb violence (police), construct ideology or religion to justify the kleptocracy.
The author remarks judiciously that with the organization of the state the irrational beliefs of the population became institutionalized into an `official' religion.
All in all, Jared Diamond's book is a magisterial and very revealing Darwinian essay about power problems and survival of the human species.
A must read for all those interested in the history of mankind.
Review: It seems trite to say it, but this book should be required reading for human beings. Diamond is engaging; he's authoritative but able to speak to the non-expert. And the perspective he offers is priceless. I consider this one of the most important books I've ever read.
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