Deze serie duikt in de diepten van de menselijke geschiedenis en onderzoekt de boeiende vraag waarom verschillende samenlevingen zich op uiteenlopende paden hebben ontwikkeld. Het ontrafelt het complexe web van factoren die beschavingen hebben gevormd, van geografische en ecologische invloeden tot technologische innovaties en culturele uitwisselingen. Lezers gaan op reis over continenten en eeuwen, krijgen inzicht in de dynamiek van opkomst en ondergang, en begrijpen de onderlinge verbondenheid van het menselijk lot.
In this "artful, informative, and delightful (book)" ("New York Review of Books"), Diamond offers a convincing explanation of the way the modern world came to be and stunningly dismantles racially based theories of human history. Photos. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.
waarom zijn sommige beschavingen verdwenen en hoe kan de onze haar ondergang voorkomen ?
Aan de hand van vele voorbeelden uit verschillende culturen in heden en verleden zoekt de auteur antwoord op de vraag waarom sommige culturen ten onder gaan en andere zich kunnen handhaven.
In his third book, Jared Diamond explores how successful nations recover from crises by adopting selective changes, a coping mechanism often associated with individuals. He compares the experiences of six countries that have faced significant upheavals, including Japan's forced opening by U.S. Commodore Perry, Finland's defense against the Soviet Union, and the turmoil in Chile and Indonesia, along with Germany and Austria's post-World War Two transformations. Drawing on his firsthand experiences and language skills in five of these nations, Diamond presents their histories and coping strategies, which include acknowledging responsibility, honest self-appraisal, and learning from other nations. He also examines whether the United States, Japan, and the world are effectively addressing their current crises and if lessons from the past can guide them. By integrating a psychological perspective with history, geography, biology, and anthropology, Diamond reveals the factors that influence how nations and individuals respond to significant challenges. The result is an epic yet deeply personal exploration of resilience and recovery in the face of adversity.