Guns, Germs and Steel
Ratings144
Average rating3.8
15
Ratings144
Average rating3.8
This book answers the most obvious, the most important, yet the most difficult question about human history: why history unfolded so differently on different continents. Geography and biography, not race, moulded the contrasting fates of Europeans, Asians
Series
3 primary booksCivilizations Rise and Fall is a 3-book series with 3 primary works first released in 1991 with contributions by Jared M. Diamond and Jared Diamond.
Reviews with the most likes.
The book teaches us about the reasons why some places developed civilisations way before others and why some never developed any civilisation at all and how this is not related to some humans being smarter or intellectually superior to others. It answers some questions I never even thought of like why Europeans conquered the Americas but the Native Americans never invaded Europe.
I understand some are bored with such ideas and want to get over the ideas of racism and cultural superiorities but unfortunately our world is still full of racism and bigotry and it's all due to ignorance. It's such books with such knowledge that opens up the eyes of blind racists and bigots.
All about the factors that have led to some countries and continents doing better than others - full of fascinating insights that answer questions like ‘why weren't European invaders repelled by rhino-riding African shock troops' (the answer in brief - the shape of the African continent, the relative shortage of domesticable African plants, and the fact rhinos can't be domesticated but European horses were). Can't recommend this enough.
Dry. Very dry at times. Overall insightful and educational, however.
I bought this for bedtime reading and while some of it is interesting, the style and the majority of it is eh. Not recommended unless you need it for research.
