Guns, Germs, & Steele Diamond, Jared?

Question

I would like to ask for some feedback on the book above? I thought it to be a brilliant scientific analysis that cummulatively and unmistakably provided the insights to explain why societies and cultures are what they are relative to evolution, necessity, and unconscious group mentality. If you haven't read it & you like socio-politics pickit up, it won the pulitizer, national book award and should of won the nobel but didnt...... Anyway does anyone have any opposing theories they'd like to put out there??

Answer 1

It has been aid that in the field of social science if you aren't copying someone else's work then your not working.  If this maxim is true the Jared Diamond is the top of the field.  Don't get me wrong I have read all his stuff and it contains good information presented in a readable format but I have also read the books where he gets the lion's share of is info.  The best example for both Guns, Germs & Steel and Collapse is the Alfred Crosby's book Ecological Imperialism: The Biological Expansion of Europe, 900-1900.  This book is a bit drier but covers almost all of the same information, the same examples and predates GG&S by over a decade.  By all means read Diamond and enjoy it, he writes great books, but give credit where credit is due, he did not invent the lightbulb he just mae it more accessible.

Answer 2

Jared Diamond's awesome!  Have you checked out his _Third Chimpanzee_ yet?

Answer 3

Yeah, that the book really isn't as original you seem to think it is, but is just a pop-history book distilled from a lot of other people's work and put in a less academic form.