Guns, Germs and Steel traces the origins of human societies and why some became more successful than others. Jared Diamond poses the question: What allowed certain groups to become global powers while others remained insignificant? The answer, he argues, lies in geography – more specifically in innate differences among peoples’ environments that led to variations in their development. Diamond’s sweeping account covers 13 thousand years of history and takes us around the world from North America to Polynesia.
For who is this book for ?
This book is for people who are interested in history, politics and social sciences. It provides a detailed account of human societies and their development over time.
Pros :
- Guns, Germs and Steel is a comprehensive look at the development of human societies.
- The book provides an interesting perspective on why certain groups have been more successful than others.
- Guns, Germs and Steel is well written and engaging
Cons :
- It is dense and difficult to read
- It lacks a strong narrative arc
- The author’s position on some topics can be controversial
Learn more about the author
Jared Diamond is a professor of geography at UCLA and the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs and Steel.
Reader Reviews
“This book deserves a place on the shelf of every thoughtful person.”
“Guns, Germs and Steel is an answer to the question of why some societies become powerful while others don’t. Jared Diamond’s theory is that it has more to do with environmental advantages then anything else. This book takes the reader on a journey around the world, exploring how different environments have affected society’s development.”
“Guns, Germs and Steel is an extremely ambitious work that will no doubt be hailed as one of the great achievements in the history of anthropology.”
“In Guns, Germs and Steel Jared Diamond posits that geographical differences are the reason why some human societies developed more successfully than others. The book is a sweeping account of 13 thousand years of history and takes us around the world from North America to Polynesia.”
