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Guns, Germs and Steel
(Patterns of Life)
Series: Patterns of Life
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Check link for latest rating. ( 448,392 ratings, 15,574 reviews)
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Read this specially designed new edition of Jared Diamond’s Pulitzer-prize winning exploration of what makes us human.
Why has human history unfolded so differently across the globe?
A series of special editions of the best popular science books to explore the patterns of our planet. Designed by Patternity, the award-winning creative studio and pattern consultancy.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
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 societies around the world.
This Pulitzer Prize-winning work explores the factors that have influenced societal evolution by examining case studies from different continents, including Eurasia, the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, and Australia. Diamond meticulously analyses how the availability of domesticable plants and animals, the orientation of continental axes, and the spread of germs have all contributed to shaping the modern world. Rather than attributing the success of certain societies to intellectual or moral superiority, he demonstrates how environmental factors have played a crucial role in determining the course of history.
The book delves into how the agricultural revolution established the foundation for unequal distributions of wealth and power by providing the means to support dense populations, complex social structures, and technological innovations. Diamond also examines the devastating impact of germs and diseases that accompanied European colonisation, profoundly affecting indigenous populations.
Guns, Germs and Steel remains a groundbreaking and humane examination of history, challenging readers to reconsider preconceived notions about cultural and biological determinism. Its comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the interconnectedness of environmental and societal factors, making it a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the forces that have shaped our world.
Designed by Patternity, an award-winning creative studio and pattern consultancy, this special edition of Guns, Germs and Steel is part of a series of the best popular science books that explore the patterns of our planet. These editions offer readers an opportunity to appreciate the intricate connections between human history and natural patterns through beautifully designed covers and insightful content.
Series: Patterns of Life
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A series of special editions of the best popular science books to explore the patterns of our planet. Designed by Patternity, the award-winning creative studio and pattern consultancy. Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, a bestselling phenomenon, is now available in a beautifully packaged new special edition. Planet Earth is 4.5 billion years old. In just a fraction of that time,...Paperback$2700Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Guns, Germs and Steel
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...PaperbackSold Out
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Guns, Germs and Steel is praised for its monumental scope and readability. Reviewers highlight its fascinating and coherent narrative, grand scale, and comprehensive answers to big questions about human history. It is described as compassionate and accessible, making it an important and convincing work.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781784873639
Publisher: Vintage Publishing
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 10 January 2019
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Vintage Classics
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 50.0mm
Width: 122.0mm
Height: 176.0mm
Weight: 500g
Pages: 656
About the Author
Jared Diamond is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel, which was named one of TIME's best non-fiction books of all time, the number-one international bestseller Collapse, and most recently The World Until Yesterday. A professor of geography at UCLA and noted polymath, Diamond's work has been influential in the fields of anthropology, biology, ornithology, ecology and history, among others.
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Guns, Germs and Steel
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,...Paperback$3000Elsewhere:$3500Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips mid August -
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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...Paperback$3100Elsewhere:$3500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
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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...Paperback$2700Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Rise And Fall Of The Third Chimpanzee
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...Paperback$3499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
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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...Paperback$3500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
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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...Paperback$1200Elsewhere:$1299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
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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...Paperback$3199Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
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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...Paperback$4199Elsewhere:$4800Unit price /UnavailableOut 1 Sep 2026Pre-order
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