Jared Diamond

Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond unveils the staggering epic of human societies across continents and millennia. The book provides a compelling narrative that explores the forces shaping the complex tapestry of global history without falling into the trap of Eurocentrism. Diamond embarks on a journey to answer a simple yet profound puzzle: Why did Eurasian societies wield guns,...

Collapse by Jared Diamond is a profound and thought-provoking exploration into the rise and fall of great civilisations. Diamond investigates why some societies prosper while others collapse, providing a detailed analysis of the factors that have historically led to societal self-destruction. Through a riveting narrative, he delves into the mysteries surrounding the abandoned statues of Easter Island, the deserted remnants...

Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond offers a compelling narrative that seeks to answer a fundamental question about human history: Why did certain societies develop advanced technology, powerful states, and dominance over others? Through an ambitious synthesis of history, biology, ecology, and linguistics, Diamond argues that geography and biogeography, rather than race, have shaped the divergent fates of human...

Upheaval by Jared Diamond is a transformative exploration into how nations face and overcome extreme crises. This gripping narrative draws from seven modern nations that have faced significant upheavals, revealing the processes by which they adapted and survived. From the dramatic forced opening of Japan to the Soviet invasion of Finland and the harrowing experiences under the Pinochet regime in...

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel, The Rise and Fall of the Third Chimpanzee provides a captivating exploration into what makes us uniquely human while examining the deep-seated connections between us and our closest animal relatives—the chimpanzees. Jared Diamond embarks on an illuminating journey through facets of human existence, investigating our life-cycle, cultural practices, sexuality, and...

The World Until Yesterday by Jared Diamond invites readers on an enthralling journey through the tapestry of human history, exploring the lifestyles and traditions of traditional societies that have changed little over millennia. Diamond delves into the practices and wisdom of these cultures, offering a poignant analysis of how their ways might still hold valuable lessons for modern society. Through...

In 20 short books, Penguin Classics brings you the new canon of great environmental works. Over the past 75 years, a new canon has emerged. As humans have driven the living planet to the brink of collapse, visionary thinkers around the world have raised their voices to defend it. Their words have endured, becoming the classics that define the environmental...

A fascinating insight into how human sexuality came to be the way it is now — Jared Diamond explains why we are different from the animal kingdom. Why are humans one of the few species to have sex in private? Why do humans have sex any day of the month or year, including when the female is pregnant, beyond her...

From the bestselling author of Guns, Germs and Steel, an exploration of the influence of leaders in politics, business, sport and religion. We often read history as the biographies of 'great men' who shaped the world. But are leaders, whichever field they are in, really that influential? Should CEOs be given large bonuses when a company performs well? Why, when...