I'm reading this book currently and I know there was a discussion of it here somewhere. When I did a search, all I found was the thread asking about if the thread about it had been deleted.
If there's a prior thread, please bump and I'll delete this.
Anyway, anyone interested in discussing Jared Diamond's ideas and proofs? I find it pretty intriguing so far.
Posted by punwit (Member # 6388) on :
I believe that was a thread started by Bean Counter and subsequently deleted.
[ February 22, 2005, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: punwit ]
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
I think a lot of his basic results are very sound, although my understanding is he presents some controversies, such as timelines in the Americas, as being more firmly settled than they are.
I also think he overreaches in places, presenting cultural reasons for past events with more surety than can possibly be possessed. He'd be better to follow the route he does in the Easter Island section and make it clear these are speculations.
I also think he blurs over some of the obvious questions, such as "why did these Eurasians achieve such great success as opposed to those Eurasians."
Overall, though, I think these criticisms are trivial. The book presents a coherent, sweeping look at historical forces with great explanatory power. Even where he takes it one step too far, the steps leading up to that are clear and compelling.
Dagonee
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I have a copy of it waiting at B&N now..they were out of it when I went there last time.
Give me a few days and I will be glad to chime in.
I read parts of it a long time ago, and I really thought he did a wonderful job of explaining his points so that people who aren't history majors can understand them.