Guns, Germs and Steel

The Fate of Human Societies

De: Jared Diamond

Narrado por: Doug Ordunio

Pulitzer Prize, General Nonfiction, 1998

Guns, Germs and Steel examines the rise of civilization and the issues its development has raised throughout history.

Having done field work in New Guinea for more than 30 years, Jared Diamond presents the geographical and ecological factors that have shaped the modern world. From the viewpoint of an evolutionary biologist, he highlights the broadest movements both literal and conceptual on every continent since the Ice Age, and examines societal advances such as writing, religion, government, and technology. Diamond also dissects racial theories of global history, and the resulting work—Guns, Germs and Steel—is a major contribution to our understanding the evolution of human societies.

©1997 Jared Diamond (P)2011 Random House

Enlightening but redundant

Fantastic & enlightening explanation of many variables that created societies around the world, particularly food production, which led to a host of developments downstream including technology and germs but the same information is repeated over & over. The discussion of New Guinea which the author uses as a model is beat to death. This book could / should have been much shorter. Learned a lot but glad the trek is over.

Fact heavy

Good book and I understand the need for creating a basis for his conclusions, but a little overkill.

Great narrator, but bad editing

I’ve been listening to audiobooks since forever. And I can’t believe that towards the end of the book in the epilogue you could hear the pages turning and not only once! Several times!!! And in the middle of the book there is a very harsh change in the narrator’s voice (I know the recording of audiobooks takes place in several days) but this could have been corrected in the editing process with ProTools or any other software you use.

Don't read a religious book read this and study it

This is by far my best read. its so detailed and thorough and makes you think. Any book that makes you think is a book worth reading.

I will definitely read the book again, and I'll also buy the hard copy so I can look up his references. This is the book I've always wanted to read and it felt like every other history book I've read before was apart of this book, but this has scientific references

Will start chapter 1 again over Christmas but with a book next time.

Enjoy

Epic Overview

I've had this book on my reading list for a long time, and finally finished it. So timely, with its topics of germs and epidemics as well as those interactions with technology, agriculture, and sociopolitical challenges.

Must reread due to the density of material here, but my first pass was intriguing and educational.

As good as reading the printed version

well Narrated version of an amazing book making an incredibly complex story available to the Rest of us.

Should be mandatory read for everyone.

An absolute must read. Should be given to any racist person who spew forth trash about people from other cultures and skin colors.

thank you

very informative author and good narration. Pleasant listening. Wish this knowledge were presented at schools in stead of the steriotypical historic outlook.

Fascinating!

A deep, fascinating review of how modern societies developed to where they are today.
Highly recommend

PHD Thesis paper read to tou

The content is just what I was looking for though it reads as if it was PHD thesis paper. They could have edited it down 50% for better audio book.