It is a story that spans,000 years of human history, beginning when stone age huntergatherers constituted the entire human population. The interdisciplinary guns, germs and steeldiamonds examination of the relationship between scientific technology and economic disparitywon the 1997 pulitzer prize. Jared diamond starts with a proposition every good guardian reader would wish to believe that all humans are born with much the same. Winner of the pulitzer prize, the phi beta kappa award in science, the rhonepoulenc prize, and the commonwealth club of californias gold medal. A global account of the rise of civilization that is also a stunning refutation of ideas of human development based on race. In various chapters, the author recounts personal information about himself and the people he has met and uses the words we and us throughout the book to draw the reader in. This 74pages guide for guns, germs and steel by jared diamond includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 19 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. The fates of human societies, from which the following passages are excerpted, won the 1998 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction and the aventis prize for best science book. What is the overall thesis of the book guns, germs, and. Jared diamonds ideas about human society and human nature continue to be enormously influential. And even those who disagree with diamond completely may appreciate guns, germs and steel, many chapters of which can stand alone. My notes are informal and often contain quotes from the book as well as my own thoughts.
The first printed stamped, not handwritten document is the cretan minoan phaistos disk of 1700 bc, but it did not lead to a proliferation of printing apparently because it was ahead of its time, lacked receptive circumstances and supporting technology, etc. Guns, germs and steel and a ploughmans lunch agriculture. Though necessity is sometimes the mother to invention e. If you are looking for a last minute christmas present, guns, germs and steel is a book which should appeal to anyone who enjoys history or popular science. Ways of the world and sources for the ap chapter 1 terms. Guns, germs, and steel is a book that opens up a lot of discussion possibilities. Full text of jared diamond guns germs and steel see other formats. The fates of human societies guns, germs, and steel. The interesting topic as well as ageless subject turn into one of the all reasons to get by reading this book.
The fates of human societies is een boek van jared diamond dat in 1997 werd uitgegeven. The fates of human societies audiobook by jared diamond. Guns, germs, and steel goodreads meet your next favorite book. The basic premise of the book is to explain why eurasian civilizations have survived and conquered others, while refuting the idea. The fates of human societies, won the 1998 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction and the aventis prize for best science book. On the whole this is an impressive achievement, with nods to the historians, anthropologists and others who have laid the groundwork. Principles of sociologyguns, germs, and steel wikibooks. This summary also includes key lessons and important passages from the book. Jul 11, 2001 winner of the pulitzer prizein this groundbreaking work, evolutionary biologist jared diamond stunningly dismantles racially based theories of human history by revealing the environmental factors actually responsible for historys broadest patterns. Crafted and edited with care, worth books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a wellinformed reader. Feb 19, 2010 the great thing about guns, germs and steel is the detail.
What is the overall thesis of the book guns, germs, and steel. This is an interesting book written by a physiologist and evolutionary biologist, very broad in its scope, thoughtprovoking and challenging, for the most part refreshing in its outlook definitely not eurocentric. Guns, germs and steel lays a foundation for understanding human history, which makes it fascinating in its own right. This is my book summary of guns, germs, and steel by jared diamond.
In this artful, informative, and delightful william h. The fates of human societies is a 1997 transdisciplinary nonfiction book by jared diamond. Guns, germs, and steel summary from litcharts the creators. This brief overview of guns, germs, and steel tells you what you need to knowbefore or after you read jared diamonds book. A short history of everybody for the last,000 years is a 1997 transdisciplinary nonfiction book by jared diamond. The fates of human societies richly deserves the 1998 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction it garnered. Guns germs and steel by jared diamond distorts history.
Jared diamond writing styles in guns, germs, and steel. In 1998, it was again published by vintage under the title guns, germs, and steel. A major advance in our understanding of human societies, guns, germs, and steel chronicles the way that the modern world came to be and stunningly dismantles racially based theories of human history. The fates of human societies previously titled guns, germs and steel. The great thing about guns, germs and steel is the detail. The fates of human societies attempts to explain why history progressed differently for peoples from various geographical regions.
Its message is interesting, wellthoughtout, yet at times controversial. In 1998, it won the pulitzer prize for general nonfiction and the aventis prize. Guns germs and steel is surely the most widely read book about agriculture anyone has ever written. He has dedicated this book to his sons and future generations. While diamond wasnt the first to propose such a theory, he was the. The evolution and future of the human animal was heralded for its accessibility and for its blending of science and social science. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. An epilogue, the future of human history as a science, proposes extending the approach of guns, germs and steel to smaller geographic and shorter time scales. I heard someone mention the book guns, germs, and steel and i was wondering if this is a good book to learn more of the history of eu 3 and to prepare for eu4. Regardless of how one feels about the book, most people can agree, guns, germs, and steel has been useful in stirring conversation and critical thinking about this important topic.
This short summary and analysis of guns, germs, and steel by jared diamond includes. Diamond suggests geographical fragmentation producing the right amount of political unity as an explanation for why, within eurasia, it was europe rather than china that eventually took the lead in technological innovation. Full text of jared diamondguns germs and steel see other formats. Wikipedia has related information at guns, germs, and steel material below drawn from jared diamonds guns, germs, and steel his thesis goes something like this different natural environments allow societies to take up more advanced social organization at different times. Two decades ago a ucla geography professor named jared diamond published guns, germs, and steel. Having done field work in new guinea for more than 30 years, jared diamond presents the geographical and ecological factors that have shaped the modern world. The fates of human societies uses first person narration from the authors experiences and viewpoints. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Is guns, germs, and steel a good book to prepare for euiv. The book has since won the pulitzer prize, been translated into 25 languages and sold millions of.
This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. I think its great to know opposing viewpoints, and the best way to do that is reading books on all sides. Guns, germs, and steel was a great read and im glad i invested the time. Because the question jared diamond is trying to ask is how have guns, germs, and steel shaped the history of the world. It was the 1997 publication of guns, germs and steel, which sealed diamonds global reputation. In 1998, guns, germs, and steel won the pulitzer prize for general nonfiction and the aventis prize for best science book.
The fates of human societies additionally has the fascinating product packaging starting from the cover layout and also its title, how the author brings the visitors to obtain right into words, as well as. I took a break with eu 3 and am playing the old gods in ck2. Guns, germs, and steel themes from litcharts the creators. The fates of human societies from the worlds largest community of readers. In guns, germs, and steel, jared diamond outlines the theory of geographic determinism, the idea that the differences between societies and societal development arise primarily from geographical causes. He has written several books about the history of mankind.
The book is framed as a response to a question that diamond heard from yali, a charismatic new guinean politician. 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. History followed different courses for different peoples because of differences. Because it brilliantly describes how chance advantages can lead to early success in a highly competitive environment, it also offers useful lessons for the business world and for people interested in why technologies succeed. What are some good books for someone who liked guns, germs. He is professor of geography at ucla and has been elected to the national academy of sciences, the american academy of arts and sciences, and the american philosophical society. Diamond sums up his book with the following sentence, history followed different courses for different peoples because of differences among peoples environments, not because of biological differences among.
The fates of human societies also titled guns, germs and steel. Zwaarden, paarden en ziektekiemen guns, germs, and steel. Jared diamond is the author of the pulitzer prizewinning guns, germs, and steel. Im always surprised when people casually dismiss it based on a perceived inaccuracy. This is a book summary of guns, germs, and steel by jared diamond. Guns, germs and steel summary and study guide supersummary. Diamond and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Guns, germs, and steel is an artful, informative, and delightful book, full of surprises there is nothing like a radically new angle of vision for bringing out unsuspected dimensions of a. Why, according to guns, germs, and steel, did some people not develop writing.
Guns, germs, and steel by jared diamond the book in three sentences some environments provide more starting materials and more favorable conditions for utilizing inventions and building societies than other environments. The maize festival, 192324 detail overall impression. He has written guns, germs, and steel in an attempt to enlighten society on why we have developed. In this remarkably readable book he shows how history and biology can enrich one another to produce a deeper understanding of the human condition. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. The basic premise of the book is to explain why eurasian civilizations have survived and conquered others.
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