Jared Diamond on Upheaval, Trump & Brexit

[@bikerslow2598]

Hero. I met him at a book signing and he couldn't have been nicer. His books are unbelievably interesting and deeply researched. An exceptional guy.

[@clashwithhotsticklegendary6632]

Absolutely brilliant I have most of his books very informative and important !

[@muylae]

i have read every single book Diamond wrote, and they were eye openers for me. i anticipate his next book that without doubt will me make a more understanding person again about .... us.

[@smalltalks4909]

I am reading guns germs and steel right now

[@rorytennes8576]

Excellent book IMO. I'm still trying to decide if his theory is 100% correct but I strongly aggree that he is at least 80% right. It's geography and natural resources including the types.of plants and animals that gave certain people the advantage.

[@Roy-mk9zl]

Me too.

[@jovanlipovatz4503]

Why not read Harry Potter or other time-wasting fiction?

[@texasRoofDoctor]

Mostly nonsense.

[@eug3nius]

@@rorytennes8576 Anything but human evolution, right? :)

[@johnnyb8629]

I agree completely with his methodology. I was wondering myself about some things I recently learned from his book guns, germs and steel about the way political unification in China caused them to dismantle their ocean going technology. I couldn't help to compare it to the way a two party system is inadequate in the US and how it too, can allow one party to make or change rules that are absurd for the greater good of us all. It seems a rule that a monoculture of anything is not good for survival. I would also add, that guns , germs and steel should have religion added to the end . Religion is an extended phenotype and is significant as such and should be regarded under the framework of evolutionary biology.

[@eug3nius]

the culture of critique is strong in this one

[@jeremymenning56]

I just read through the voting requirements for most of the major European countries. The majority of them require a form of photo or voter ID and proof of address. Weird.

[@rogeralsop3479]

Excellent book - in the circumstances I'll overlook the shirt and tie.

[@davidleong7600]

Many Americans don’t even know where other countries are located outside of the USA and probably UK. Some don’t even know where Australia is. Civilisations are built upon communities. If you go to UK and study the history, societies are built upon communal requirements against attacks by marauders. They naturally congregated in churches and pubs to build communal ties so that they can rely on each other in times of crisis. Look at the way, British army units are formed. Many are built upon recruitment among certain communities.

[@patrickklocek3332]

I loved GCS. I adored The Third Chimpanzee. I even thought Collapse was solid. But he has gone out of his depth here criticizing American Exceptionalism. It means only that the American institutions and culture combined to generate a powerful and prosperous state founded on individual freedom (since 1865) and that such a model is worth maintaining. It does not mean the rest of the world is irrelevant.

[@lronshawcross2248]

Don't sniff petrol from a can

[@TheCompleteGuitarist]

Not the neutral observer we expect from anthropologists. Look forward to his Biden era studies.

[@RJStockton]

Hey! The road is for cars!

[@kelvinkersey5058]

don't all nations claim a degree of exceptionalism? you can't scold the usa for that

[@gabrielconstantingarvvan2518]

When you set the standards for how other countries should behave, when you go to war, when you're meddling with other countries governments (coups), then we all have the right to scold/criticize US. When is the last time you've seen Iran doing a coup in Venezuela?

[@charlescascales647]

No they don't. Nearly two million people died in Vietnam due to our arrogance in thinking we could impose our political institutions on their land by military force. We did the same in Iraq.

[@paulryan2128]

@@charlescascales647 ... and now Afganistan. However, it did work out in mutual benefits for post-war Japan, Germany & S. Korea. So maybe the re- make in our image needs to be done following unconditional surrender & total devastation.

[@Knuck_Knucks]

Loved GGS but , Marxist much? Pretty low resolution when it comes to politics...

[@samhancock2282]

My thoughts exactly. Years ago when I read GGS, I couldn’t put it down. Collapse was good, but not as interesting. I accidentally happened upon this video and he is not at all politically where I thought he’d be. I don’t know why I’m surprised. I just am.

[@jerryakamuadams6399]

well in his defense, Politics isnt his field of study. Hes a professor of Biology. He's not a political scientist. I actually align with his views, but I can see the other side. Perhaps he should stick to to his lane?

[@Knuck_Knucks]

@@jerryakamuadams6399 I can respect that. Thanks for your thoughts.

[@supersmart671]

He doesn't sound American...

[@Gonboo]

He sounds like he's from New England.

[@quefares]

He is from Boston....

[@CuteEplet]

You may be shocked to know that there are immigrants living in the US.

[@MuckoMan]

@@Gonboo He's not part of the working class I am from Boston. He can keep his opinion to himself.

[@RJStockton]

@Xastur Speaks It's funny you should ask about Jared Diamond's religious background. Pull up a chair while I explain a few things about his group and their opinions about other races. . .