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magikspells's review against another edition
3.0
First, I would like to preface this comment by saying that Jared Diamond is not an anthropologist nor is he an archaeologist. He's a bio-geographer who writes on a multitude of topics ranging from biology to archaeology to technology, most of which can be found synthesized in his books. While I don't agree with his conclusions, I have to commend him for his ability to bring all of these topics together in a way that's approachable and not overloaded with jargon.
Diamond's argument at it's core is that some societies have advanced and others haven't because of accidents of geography which have allowed some societies such as Eurasian (who's continent is oriented east-west) to develop food production and advance ahead of other societies such as African and American societies (both of who's continents are oriented north-south). This east-west orientation allowed for easier transport of food production as well as social complexity that gave these people a head start.
It sounds like a good argument and Diamond makes a great case for it using geographic, botanical, historical and even linguistic data to support his argument. Unfortunately much of his arguments center around broad generalizations of his points. Specifically, the argument over the new world falling due to germs and steel. This is true in many cases, but many groups had longs since disappeared by the time Europeans arrived. Even a thriving chiefdom like Moundville which was said to house thousands of inhabitants was nothing more than an acropolis when de Soto came through the south in the 1540s.
Many scholars have rebutted Diamond's claims much more eloquently than I could possibly hope to accomplish here. It seems to me though that if more academic and historical information were available in such a readable and approachable format as this, perhaps there would be more interest in these subjects aside from these few texts that make it into the mainstream and what is left in the academic world. To be honest, I think some academic writers could take a few hints from Diamond and his way with words.
All in all, this book is very recommendable. But like anything, it can't be taken at face value. Most of the research presented here is merely the tip of the iceberg.
Diamond's argument at it's core is that some societies have advanced and others haven't because of accidents of geography which have allowed some societies such as Eurasian (who's continent is oriented east-west) to develop food production and advance ahead of other societies such as African and American societies (both of who's continents are oriented north-south). This east-west orientation allowed for easier transport of food production as well as social complexity that gave these people a head start.
It sounds like a good argument and Diamond makes a great case for it using geographic, botanical, historical and even linguistic data to support his argument. Unfortunately much of his arguments center around broad generalizations of his points. Specifically, the argument over the new world falling due to germs and steel. This is true in many cases, but many groups had longs since disappeared by the time Europeans arrived. Even a thriving chiefdom like Moundville which was said to house thousands of inhabitants was nothing more than an acropolis when de Soto came through the south in the 1540s.
Many scholars have rebutted Diamond's claims much more eloquently than I could possibly hope to accomplish here. It seems to me though that if more academic and historical information were available in such a readable and approachable format as this, perhaps there would be more interest in these subjects aside from these few texts that make it into the mainstream and what is left in the academic world. To be honest, I think some academic writers could take a few hints from Diamond and his way with words.
All in all, this book is very recommendable. But like anything, it can't be taken at face value. Most of the research presented here is merely the tip of the iceberg.
kevin_milne's review against another edition
3.0
As someone who has already read Harrari's "Sapiens" - a lot of the information in this book was familliar, albeit "Guns, Germs, and Steel" has a slightly more narrow focus.
Wonderful infotainment, to say the least, I've always found Anthropological studies to be my subject of choice when seeking knowledge in a leisure-type-way. That said, a lot of this book's second half is overwrought, redundant or repetitive.
Diamond essentially proves his point in part one, explaining the environmental factors present in Eurasia that allowed these peoples a head start on the track to progress- the superiority of the domestic animals available, the east-west nature of the continent allowing for rapid spread of useful agricultural plants, to name the two most pertinent. The result is Eurasia's agricultural revolution began between 5 and 3 thousand years earlier, and on a much larger scale, than that of Africa, America, or Australasia.
This point, albeit an thorough and interesting thesis, is revealed early and the book moves on to several case studies supporting it, leaving this book smouldering like a fire that burned too quick.
Worth a read, though.
Wonderful infotainment, to say the least, I've always found Anthropological studies to be my subject of choice when seeking knowledge in a leisure-type-way. That said, a lot of this book's second half is overwrought, redundant or repetitive.
Diamond essentially proves his point in part one, explaining the environmental factors present in Eurasia that allowed these peoples a head start on the track to progress- the superiority of the domestic animals available, the east-west nature of the continent allowing for rapid spread of useful agricultural plants, to name the two most pertinent. The result is Eurasia's agricultural revolution began between 5 and 3 thousand years earlier, and on a much larger scale, than that of Africa, America, or Australasia.
This point, albeit an thorough and interesting thesis, is revealed early and the book moves on to several case studies supporting it, leaving this book smouldering like a fire that burned too quick.
Worth a read, though.
casteele303's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.75
Loved how easy to read and digest this information was. Like your favorite HS science teacher talking to you. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to establish a solid foundation in their understanding of anthropology.
j3r3's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting framework
This seems to me like am interesting framework from which to view history however I don't see how this information helps in looking at current times or the future. If environment and geography are ultimate causes how can those factors be changed? Does this mean that in a few thousand years poorer countries will become less poor as they become more acclimated to the factors rich countries have longer exposure too? Overall I found the book pretty dry and was put off by the numerous times the author accused competing theories as simply racist.
This seems to me like am interesting framework from which to view history however I don't see how this information helps in looking at current times or the future. If environment and geography are ultimate causes how can those factors be changed? Does this mean that in a few thousand years poorer countries will become less poor as they become more acclimated to the factors rich countries have longer exposure too? Overall I found the book pretty dry and was put off by the numerous times the author accused competing theories as simply racist.
mrs_bonaventure's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this and was gripped by its relentlessly logical exposition of human history on all the continents. In fact his tone is so certain that I wondered whether his central thesis has been disputed in the years since this was published in the late 90s. I will read the reviews with interest. Still, I feel as though I learned a lot that I wouldn’t otherwise have known, for instance about the number of plant species suitable for domestication on each continent, and the similar factors giving rise to farmed animals. I was equally fascinated by the diaspora of peoples through the South Pacific, something I had vaguely read about before but not appreciated the distances or the varying terrains and conditions of different islands which had very different results for the subsequent cultures which arose: I was astonished to read that Madagascar was colonised from Indonesia first rather than Africa! (Some of the South Pacific history reminded me of the events in Cloud Atlas).
A layer down, I think there is more to be said about the relationship between sedentary human tribes who domesticate plants and animals, and the rise of patriarchy as a political and cultural system (the fact that blew me away most was that birth spaces are double in hunter gatherer societies because everyone, including toddlers, has to move with the tribe - we truly are Born to Run) - but I think that’s another book somewhere.
It’s also depressing - maybe - that more primitive societies are repeatedly overrun and colonised by those with better technology, resources and organisation. You may say it’s the way of the world, but it has resulted in much genocide. And when will people decide that what they have is enough, and cease the constant pursuit of MORE? Resource accumulation can only go so far before it hits natural limits and we are already endangering ecological systems on a planetary scale. This is something the author touched on in Collapse which I would like to read next.
A layer down, I think there is more to be said about the relationship between sedentary human tribes who domesticate plants and animals, and the rise of patriarchy as a political and cultural system (the fact that blew me away most was that birth spaces are double in hunter gatherer societies because everyone, including toddlers, has to move with the tribe - we truly are Born to Run) - but I think that’s another book somewhere.
It’s also depressing - maybe - that more primitive societies are repeatedly overrun and colonised by those with better technology, resources and organisation. You may say it’s the way of the world, but it has resulted in much genocide. And when will people decide that what they have is enough, and cease the constant pursuit of MORE? Resource accumulation can only go so far before it hits natural limits and we are already endangering ecological systems on a planetary scale. This is something the author touched on in Collapse which I would like to read next.
karso's review
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.75
It's just too reductionist of a view on human history.