Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond (1999, Paperback)

Weapons, viruses and metal equipment managed the leadership of the European-American concept -- up to the year of 2000. However while one still is rubbing his hands, that China was taken off since the 14th century (Arabia since 15th), the tide can oppose nevertheless soon. At present, the technology and trade development of the Asian countries is enormously positive and the oil-possessing dominance of the Arabian states just increases her demand to a global (also ideological) con-design right. The threat factors "weapons, viruses and metal equipment," -- represented always into actor pose nicely by president George W. Bush, impressed with fight bomber pilot jacket, with legs apart and broad grinning on the deck of an US-aircraft-carrier -- this success conception perhaps really could gradually oppose her inventors: State armies get for example increasingly powerless against the guerilla unit tactics of the present global suicidal terrorism. Jared Diamond perhaps looks a little confused for the stability guarantee of the European-American success concept. The geographical situation alone is not a guarantor. As an advantage factor it does not suffice eternally. Jared Diamond looks to make believe for us that the capability to make innovations, the courage to accept competition, the openness for intermixing (causes biologically seen virus resistance, hello, bird flu) -- that these factors will safeguard the further dominance of the European-American concept. He does not like to argue racialistly, religion critically or militaristically, although: The Indians of North- and South-America felt actually quite good without the missionaries and swords, railways and colts of the white ones; in addition, we do not see Diamond's remarks on drunken and lazy workers of non-white skin color (but some Afro-American reviewers do). [The factor "genocide" Jared Diamond does not examine, but in his follow-up book "Collapse" he analyzes how the Hutus murdered the Tutsis in Rwanda - avoiding the own nest soiling examples of how the American Indians lost their lives]. As an environmentalist, doubts come to the professor at the university of California , however, because of ruthless practices (so he worries in "Collapse" about some elks turned ill in Montana, toxins of a mine seeped into the ground there). Jared Diamond is uncertain and broods. We perhaps too.

PROS: Very well-researched, interesting ideas are presented. The book is written for both an academic and lay audience.

CONS: While the ideas presented are interesting, the lengthy supporting evidences, explanations, and examples get boring. I've talked to people who either like or dislike the book due to its thoroughness, but I'm in the latter category of people. I thought many of the arguments were too drawn out and repetitive.

GUNS, GERMS, AND STEEL: THE FATES OF HUMAN SOCIETIES BY JARED DIAMOND: This is one of those books that takes you a while to read -- it's pretty heavy non-fiction -- and yet at the end of it, you feel like Hippocrates, a Muslim scientist, or Leonardo Da Vinci must have felt at the realization of a great discovery. The Eureka! moment. This book is kind of like the movie Hotel Rwanda: the movie was life-altering for me, and just made every other movie that came out that year seem tawdry and unimportant; it was one of those movies that everyone should see (especially Americans and Western Europeans) just to understand the world and its history better. Guns, Germs, and Steel is one of those books that everyone should read to better comprehend their existence at this specific moment in time.

The premise of the book is revealed in the prologue in a conversation between the author and a New Guinea native who lives his very simple life in Stone Age conditions. The thesis that arises in their conversation is what specific events led to the fact that Europeans were the ones to reach New Guinea and interact with its people, and why it wasn't the New Guinea people to develop the technology and abilities to travel the world and make first contact with the Europeans.

With the concept in place, Diamond sets about doing this in his conversational and, quite frankly, mind-blowing and ingenious way. As a professor, with studies in anthropology and biology, he has an astounding way of seeing things and being able to explain ideas in a simple manner that make so much sense and you're left saying to yourself: "Oh, that's how that happened," or "that's why it's like that." At times he can bog you down with details, mainly because he explains them on minutest and seemingly most insignificant level (such as different seeds around the world). And yet you are left with that adage of chaos theory: everything on this planet happens for a reason and has a knock-on effect.

Some of Diamond's ideas that I found and still find most astonishing include:

The reason the continent of Eurasia was able to develop to a much more advanced level than the rest of the world, with its complex empires, cradles of civilizations, and large amount of farming and domesticated species was due to its latitude on a specific east-west axis. The other continents -- North and South America, Africa, Australasia -- are all on a north-south axis. What does this difference mean? For one, climate is greatly changed the further north or south ones goes, which has an effect on the migration of people, animals, and plants, as well as the spread of information, technology and culture. Because of this, Eurasia was able to develop more crops and have them spread around the continent through trade, as well as the spread of domesticated animals, culture and more importantly, technology. The other continents did not have this ease, which Diamond explains in clear detail with facts and dates.

Of course, I am vastly over-simplifying the book and it's really necessary for one to peruse its pages to get the full understanding. Another concept that I was very happy to be made so clear is the explanation of why whites conquered most of the world was not because they were a superior race in any way. And how is this simply explained? To use Jared Diamond's example:

The Aboriginal people spent many thousands of years keeping to their simple ways due to the harsh conditions of Australia. When the Europeans arr

I thought the book was going to be great because it seemed interesting and I heard of other people liking it. I was not as interested as I thought it would be. It become repetitive and boring throughout the book but does have some very good points.

Have you ever wondered why Western Civilization, America in particular, wound up on top of the heap? Is it because White Christians are superior to other human beings? This excellent treatis by Jared Diamond puts the lie to the zenophobia and moral superiority that drives the fascist theocracy currently running the United States of America.

Jared Diamond is a genius! I consider this one of the most important books I have ever read. Diamond answers questions most people have never thought to ask. Questions like: the Chinese had the worlds largest seagoing fleet. What happened to it?: Why did civilization beguin in the middle east?: Why did Europeans invade the Americas, and not the other way around?: Why were the native Australians and Tasmanian still living in the stone age when Europeans arrived? I started many chapters disagreeing with him, but I was wrong every time. Before finishing "Guns, Germs and Steel" I bought his "Collapse, How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed". Another excellent book. Diamond ia a brilliant readable author

This book is an excellent non-fiction book which includes enormous information on many items about current cultures developed. It is not an easy read but I can see why it won the Pulitzer Prize.

I bought this book and let me tell you is excellent. I love it. I still have not finished reading it, but it is what I expected it to be from the recomendations from my history professor.

I tried to buy a book because it was a good deal. However I was brand new to Ebay and didn't know about checking the feedback. If I had checked, I would have realized the seller was a crook who would take my money and not send my merchandise. I also made three other purchases that were supposed to be antiques and when they arrived they were obviously not antique but mearly "antique" looking. Having said this, Half of my buys have been really good to down right thrilling. I am becoming a big fan of Ebay and with a little experience I think anyone could make really good purchases.

Had to read it for a class, now I want my own copy! Awesome book, really got me interested in civilization...and got me hooked on Jared Diamond! P.S. New book - Collapse! is amazing as well!

The cost was excellent, the book arrived timely and in impecable condition. Outstanding. I have highly recommended this service to friends.

I bought it for my daughter's Pre AP Geography class, and when she saw the book, her mouth was wide open in shock because of how thick and big it was.

But it has some really interesting things in the book. That ever American should read.

We were required to read this for my AP World History class. I found it to be interesting, and think it will be beneficial come the test, having this neat, literary perspective. However, it was not the most fascinating read.

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I love the fact that almost anything that I need I can find on Ebay. I bought the book Guns,Germs, and Steel for my younger brother because he needed it for his High School class.

I read this book some time ago and, at the age of 65 and a heavy reader of non fiction, I rank it as among the five best books I have ever read. An absolutly massive amount of fantastic research has gone into the book.

I enjoyed the book so much, I gave several copies to friends as gifts. Now I would like to read it again but have given away my last copy. I am buying more. For those who may not have the time nor inclination to read the book, it is also available on DVD. I highly recommend the item as educational and entertaining.

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the book was in perfect condition and i use it in my history class. i would also recommend this to anyone whose interested in the history of the world

I needed this book for a class, but by the time I received it I had already had to buy another copy because the semester had started

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awesome book! Diamond tackles a huge academic problem, which he answers very thoroughly, without being overly verbose. Orson Scott Card considers this the most important book a person could read, and I tend to agree.

The book is interesting, but faulty because it does not take personality's effects on history. Diamond takes a scientific and functionalist approach to history which is questionable at best. An interesting read nonetheless.