Guns, Germs and Steel

(Patterns of Life)

Jared Diamond author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Vintage Publishing

Published:10th Jan '19

Should be back in stock very soon

Guns, Germs and Steel cover

This insightful work examines the influences of geography and environment on the development of human societies, as presented in Guns, Germs and Steel.

In Guns, Germs and Steel, Jared Diamond embarks on a profound exploration of the factors that have shaped human societies across different continents. He challenges the traditional notions of racial superiority by arguing that it is geography and biogeography that have played pivotal roles in determining the varying fates of civilizations. Through a meticulous synthesis of history, biology, and ecology, Diamond unveils how environmental factors have influenced the development of societies from Europe to sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

The book delves into the complex interplay of resources, climate, and geography, illustrating how these elements have impacted the rise and fall of civilizations. By examining the distribution of plants and animals, Diamond provides insights into why some societies were able to advance technologically and politically while others lagged behind. This groundbreaking work not only seeks to explain the past but also encourages readers to think critically about the social structures that persist today.

Guns, Germs and Steel remains a significant contribution to the fields of anthropology and history, offering a humane perspective on the forces that have shaped human existence. As part of a series of special editions, this book invites readers to engage with its timeless themes and consider the underlying patterns that govern our world.

Monumental and monumentally good -- William Leith, 4 stars * Scotsman *
A book of big questions, and big answers * Yuval Noah Harari, author of Sapiens *
A book of remarkable scope... One of the most important and readable works on the human past * Nature *
Fascinating, coherent, compassionate and completely accessible * Sunday Telegraph *
A prodigious, convincing work, conceived on a grand scale * Observer *

ISBN: 9781784873639

Dimensions: 178mm x 128mm x 43mm

Weight: 505g

656 pages