his Pulitzer Prize-winning study analyses the geographic, demographic, and environmental factors that have shaped civilization from the caveman onward and explores the reasons why some societies develop and others don’t. Pinpointing food production as the cornerstone to growth, he deflates widespread misconceptions (and prejudices) about inherent ethnic differences to demonstrate how diseases and the invention of weapons affect human destiny as societies move from the hunter-gatherer stages onto advanced technology.
Interestingly, Jared Diamond’s conclusions mirror those of Jeffrey Sachs in “The End of Poverty” and serve as a fully fleshed-out, meticulously researched, historical background to understanding today’s world. A brilliant and important work.
