Why did Eurasians conquer, displace, or decimate Native Americans, Australians, and Africans, instead of the reverse? Evolutionary biologist Jared Diamond stunningly dismantles racially based theories of human history by revealing the environmental factors actually responsible for history’s broadest patterns.
The story begins 13,000 years ago, when Stone Age hunter-gatherers constituted the entire human population. Around that time, the paths of development of human societies on different continents began to diverge greatly. Early domestication of wild plants and animals in the Fertile Crescent, China, Mesoamerica, the Andes, and other areas gave peoples of those regions a head start. Only societies that advanced beyond the hunter-gatherer stage acquired a potential for developing writing, technology, government, and organized religions—as well as those nasty germs and potent weapons of war. It was those societies, that expanded to new homelands at the expense of other peoples. The most familiar examples involve the conquest of non-European peoples by Europeans in the last 500 years, beginning with voyages in search of precious metals and spices, and often leading to invasion of native lands and decimation of native inhabitants.
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"Really loved this crystallization of some aspects of world history into an explanation of (not an apology for) why certain areas supported highly urban, technological societies and why others did not (or didn't need to). I had known about some aspects of the conflict between the Spanish and the Aztecs and Incas, but the degree to which animal husbandry and highly urban societies contributed to certain civilizations' resistance to disease is fascinating. Also, the geographic inconvenience in the Americas of the tiny strip of land at the equator that narrowed (or eliminated) the chances that draft animals from the southern hemisphere could have been used in conjunction with the wheel in the northern hemisphere is striking. A book well worth reading if you are interested in world history (and prehistory)."
— David (5 out of 5 stars)
Artful, informative, and delightful.... There is nothing like a radically new angle of vision for bringing out unsuspected dimensions of a subject, and that is what Jared Diamond has done. — William H. McNeil (New York Review of Books)
An ambitious, highly important book. — James Shreeve (New York Times Book Review)
A book of remarkable scope, a history of the world in less than 500 pages which succeeds admirably, where so many others have failed, in analyzing some of the basic workings of culture process.... One of the most important and readable works on the human past published in recent years. — Colin Renfrew (Nature)
The scope and the explanatory power of this book are astounding. — The New Yorker
No scientist brings more experience from the laboratory and field, none thinks more deeply about social issues or addresses them with greater clarity, than Jared Diamond as illustrated by Guns, Germs, and Steel. In this remarkably readable book he shows how history and biology can enrich one another to produce a deeper understanding of the human condition. — Edward O. Wilson, Pellegrino University Professor, Harvard University
Serious, groundbreaking biological studies of human history only seem to come along once every generation or so. . . . Now [Guns, Germs, and Steel] must be added to their select number. . . . Diamond meshes technological mastery with historical sweep, anecdotal delight with broad conceptual vision, and command of sources with creative leaps. No finer work of its kind has been published this year, or for many past. — Martin Sieff (Washington Times)
[Diamond] is broadly erudite, writes in a style that pleasantly expresses scientific concepts in vernacular American English, and deals almost exclusively in questions that should interest everyone concerned about how humanity has developed. . . . [He] has done us all a great favor by supplying a rock-solid alternative to the racist answer. . . . A wonderfully interesting book. — Alfred W. Crosby (Los Angeles Times)
An epochal work. Diamond has written a summary of human history that can be accounted, for the time being, as Darwinian in its authority. — Thomas M. Disch (The New Leader)
" Jared Diamond is a certified genius with the ability to write endlessly on single topic. This book is, essentially, a very detailed explanation of how the agricultural revolution lead to colonialism. I often replayed many of the chapters because of the wealth of information. Doug Ordunio, as narrator, did a pretty good job. Although, there were a few times where his voice changed, but that is all too common in a book of this caliber. All in all, I recommend this book. I recommend this audiobook. I recommend audiobookstore.com "
— Pryce, 11/27/2020" I am glad there are people like Jared Diamond who are looking at us and asking the right questions. Then working very hard to find answers. "
— Cathy, 2/10/2014" This is one of the most important book i've ever read. I hope my children will read this. "
— Ad, 1/25/2014" Didn't love it and didn't find it that well-researched. I think the hype comes from an interesting premise. Disappointed in the final result. "
— Krystyn, 1/17/2014" pretty cool. no surprises but enjoyed seeing things all laid out in a chronological and geographic way. "
— Moniplazola, 1/17/2014" One of the best books that Ive ever read! Finally we have an explanation of how different societies and cultures evolved and to what level, based on their environment and resources at hand, rather than some racist polemic. Its amazing how much geography is destiny, and how what you have in terms of livestock and plants is such a crucial factor. One comes away from reading this book realizing that every society is in the end, an adaptation to whatever they had at their disposal. "
— Laurence, 1/14/2014" This book was a great read and I learned a lot. I had not thought that rising animals and plants and living from just east to west would help out so much. "
— Ben, 12/23/2013" Not an easy read, full attention demanded. This is an awesome read. Very interesting information. "
— Julio, 12/22/2013" Excellent analysis and discussion. Compelling argument about the more intelligent societies. An interesting read. "
— Adelaido, 12/18/2013" The book is full of wonderful surprises. "
— zltg, 11/1/2013" ... this is a soul searching quest, its historical implications and ideas arent applicable to contemporary economic setup anymore. "
— Constantine, 9/7/2013" It took me a long time to get through this one (not just because it's so long!). But I think it raises some interesting and important theories about human civilization. "
— Megan, 7/22/2013" Geeky book, very thick, but I think about this one a lot! "
— Sheri, 7/16/2013" I learned so much from this very informative book!! A lot of light bulbs came on to why the world is like it is today. Wish I could take a class on this to dig even deeper into some of the theories, etc. "
— Denise, 6/2/2013" It was very long, and dry at parts, but it was a thorough way of completely obliterating any racist theories of history, and gave you so much insight into why things happened "
— Lena, 4/5/2013" Very good but why must ever jared diamond book include chapters about the spread of language? "
— BB, 10/13/2012" Terrific message/writing that could have benefited by some editing. "
— Zach, 6/9/2012" Awesome book. Large concepts, but very clearly written. Jared Diamond is a genius. "
— Mark, 5/26/2012" Read this for a masters in history class. Very good because it didn't have a strong liberal bias. The Columbian Exchange has always fascinated me. "
— Kathy, 3/13/2012" Loved this book. It may be slow.... Like really slow but I learned much "
— Jaclyn, 12/24/2011" The best book by a genius of a science writer. Particularly enlightening on linguistic anthropology. "
— John, 12/8/2011" Awesome book. Makes you rethink the picture of humanity you have painted in your mind. Why human history happened the way it did - biogeography. "
— Kishore, 10/22/2011" Good book with great analysis and depth of information on "The Fate of Human Societies". BUT after about 1/2 to 2/3 way through the book it gets tedious and repetitive. Couldn't wait to finish. "
— Arturo, 8/2/2011" Very interesting information, but long and very dense. Not light reading. "
— Matthew, 5/23/2011" Fascinating! Packed full of details and information, but very readable. Things I wondered about over the years were answered very completely. "
— Paula, 5/23/2011" A bit too long and somewhat repetitive, but a must-read for anyone interested in the history of civilizations. The most logical explanation I've ever encountered as to why some civilizations and peoples crumble in the wake of others. "
— Bill, 5/22/2011" White men are terrible terrible people and they win at everything. "
— Ted, 5/20/2011" Not very entertaining, but factually interesting and surprising. A worthwhile read. "
— Lauree, 5/19/2011" Very interesting how he compares 'historical science' with other scientific fields. :) Wonderful book, with a very good examination of people throughout history. "
— Carrie, 5/18/2011" This is one of those books that really shaped the way I think about evolution, economics and culture. I have referred countless people to Guns, Germs and Steel as a step to looking at possible reasons why the world has shaken out to its current state. "
— Kate, 5/17/2011" rare look at physical, environmental explanations for broad trends in world history. "
— Bmcnett, 5/13/2011" This book did not interest me. I had to read this for my AP World History class, so I didn't read this just because I could. The book was very repetitive and could have been summarized into a book half as long. The book wasn't bad - Jared Diamond is a great author - but I did not appeal to me. "
— Lue, 5/8/2011" Not usually my cuppa, but this was fascinating. There were only a few places where the science-speak made me glaze over. "
— Tony, 5/6/2011" Too dry for me. Found my mind wondering a lot. This did not keep me interested. His conclusions seem too obvious. "
— Jason, 5/6/2011" He puts it all together. Excellent. <br/> "
— Donalda007, 5/4/2011" Jared's writing style is a bit dry, and the book could have used an editor with a closer eye to tightening it up, but an otherwise excellent book. "
— Patrick, 5/2/2011Jared Diamond is a professor of geography at the University of California, Los Angeles. He began his scientific career in physiology and expanded into evolutionary biology and biogeography. He has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. Among Dr. Diamond’s many awards are the National Medal of Science, the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, Japan’s Cosmos Prize, a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, and the Lewis Thomas Prize honoring the Scientist as Poet, presented by Rockefeller University. He has published more than two hundred articles and his book Guns, Germs, and Steel was awarded the Pulitzer Prize.