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Michael Finocchiaro's Reviews > Guns, Germs and Steel: A Short History of Everybody for the Last 13,000 Years
Guns, Germs and Steel: A Short History of Everybody for the Last 13,000 Years
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Michael Finocchiaro's review
bookshelves: non-fiction, history, american-20th-c, pulitzer-non-fiction
Nov 30, 2016
bookshelves: non-fiction, history, american-20th-c, pulitzer-non-fiction
It took me a while to complete Diamond's book (and admittedly I also distracted myself with a few Roth novels in the meantime) because of the density of the text and the variety of ideas presented. The central thesis that it is not racial biology that determines the victors in history but rather a complex combination of agriculture, geography, population density, and continental orientation is a fascinating and compelling one. The style is not academic (and did admittedly put me off by using sentences with "!" in them), and yet does come across as the fruit of years (or decades) of research in an astounding number of fields simultaneously: biology, agriculture, history, climatology, sociology, etc. I can understand why Mr. Diamond received accolades and a Pulitzer for this complex work written at the level that the layman, non-scientist can still grasp. The funniest story that struck me was the QWERTY keyboard one which apparently is the least ergonomic design but due to its rapid adoption by typists due to capitalist competition and afterwards its ubiquity once computers became important, it is impossible to dislodge. (I still find it easier to use than the AZERTY one here in France LOL). The one thing that struck me - and here I warn readers that I climb on my soapbox near the Marble Arch for a moment - is the abundance of corroborating evidence for human evolution and development that has solid artefacts and proof going back 40000 years and more by the most precise dating methods available by today's scientists. For anyone with a shred of intelligence to try and say the world is only 6000 years old and created in-state as it were is pure insanity and blindness. And yet, we now have high-placed individuals in the US holding these beliefs and poised to poison American youth with medieval and ignorant ideas such as young-earth creationism. If one is to take reality at face value rather than with massive filters eliminating reason and coherence from it, then one cannot possibly justify believing that all humans came from Adam and Eve and that they were white as snow and racially superior to their offspring. This book proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that just because one has white skin, that this is not a determinant in the development of the individual and his/her peers as human beings. It is critical that works like this get wide diffusion in order to debunk racial superiority theories that gave rise to the horrors on Hitler and continue to inform white supremacists and Islamic radicals and all other religious or racial bigots because their underlying fundamentals are based on patently false principles. OK, down from soapbox now. The book was well-written (if a bit repetitive at times) and presents eye-opening and inventive analysis that will help me see the world I live in differently. Highly recommended. Especially in view of the rise of revisionist, white supremacist bullshit.
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Reading Progress
August 31, 2016
– Shelved as:
to-read
August 31, 2016
– Shelved
November 21, 2016
–
Started Reading
November 21, 2016
– Shelved as:
non-fiction
November 21, 2016
– Shelved as:
history
November 21, 2016
– Shelved as:
american-20th-c
November 25, 2016
–
17.71%
"Heartbreaking to read about Pizarro. There is as an expo about this at Musée Quai Branly last year. Reading about this period definitely makes me a pessimist about the depths to which human nature can stoop when driven blindly by religion, promises of gold, delusions of racial superiority, and bloodlust."
page
85
November 30, 2016
– Shelved as:
pulitzer-non-fiction
December 1, 2016
–
Finished Reading
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Chan
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Mar 07, 2017 09:23AM
Seems like a very dense read. Kinda shocked its not academic or meant for a social sciences degree seeking student
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It is not written in an academic tone.
Religion may uplift the "soul" but it certainly drags down the intellect. Fantastical beings who are omniscient and omnipotent, yet upon careful analysis this God never actually seems to be able to DO anything, are poor substitutes for science and reality. On an interesting note, since you stepped onto the soapbox, I understand your dislike for Christianity and it's potential impact on US politics. But isn't that complaining about the little Howler monkey when the 800 Lb gorilla in the room (political Islam) is incapable of even understanding why a separation of religion and government is best. Christianity, with some exceptions in Africa and S. America, for the most part is declining in Western Europe and the US/Canada. Most "Christians" are paying lip service to a vestigial cultural trait. But if you wish to complain about regression, lack of social reforms, gender inequality, respect/tolerance of homsexuality, etc may I suggest you turn your gaze towards the ME and the gradual Islamization of Turkey's once secular institutions?
I am very aware of that as well as the fracture between the two tendencies in the fanatical Islamic factions that led to the fake coup last year. I try not, however, to make generalizations - not all Christians are flat earther white supremacists and not all people of the Muslim faith are in a holy war against Christians. It is a few fanatics that are driving the politics and using populist language to dupe their followers. Now, as a general rule, I am an atheist and think all religions are manipulative, but I try not to be condescending to those that wish to believe in something. I take exception to anyone attempting to force their views on anyone else - or the consequences of those views (e.g. those who believe that the fetus is a full human being and wish to limit the reproductive freedom of ALL women even those that do not agree with them). If I were to approach any religion, it would be one with a minimum of dogma and a maximum of individual freedom such as Buddhism, particularly Zen Buddhism.
Fino wrote: "I am very aware of that as well as the fracture between the two tendencies in the fanatical Islamic factions that led to the fake coup last year. I try not, however, to make generalizations - not a..."I agree..I don't know if you read the Dalai Lama's book..but by virtue of what I read..Buddhism (especially Zen) seems likely to survive science..the rest. I agree that most religious people are harmless..but the problem lies in the inherent opposition to secularization, in fact the turning back of the tide, that seems to be part of the Islamic tradition. Of all the religions it seems to be the most regressive as it is practiced around the world.
Christianity has had its sustained periods of regression and aggression: the Spanish Inquisition and the colonisation of South and Central America for example? The idiots in DC right now are pretty fucking regressive as well.
Fino wrote: "Christianity has had its sustained periods of regression and aggression: the Spanish Inquisition and the colonisation of South and Central America for example? The idiots in DC right now are pretty..."Oh true, but regression is a relative term. We in the West see their silly beliefs as regressive but they don't handle to what I saw in the Middle East. Christianity may be the poster child for stupidity in the West, but its pernicious effects have been severely curtailed by a series of events from Absolutist monarchs to Reformation. The separation of Church and State was critical, and while individual politicians may be religious, for the most part their dubious desires are kept in check. Such a concept is not only not common, save for a few rare reformers, but looked at as antithetical. Bear in mind there is no clergy, per se, as there was in the Christian traditions. The very nature of Islam means that it is completely wound up in the day to day on a level that hasn't been seen in the West for centuries. As far as colonization- all nations, that are capable, attack and colonize their weaker neighbors-it's happened in various guises from the Mongols to the Islamic invasion of India, Africa and Europe..the Christians, like any other imperialistic power, may have cloaked their intent in the guise of religion but their intent was domination. Same for the Islamics, the Hindus, etc... but I tend to be far more critical of modern idiocy rather than events several centuries past. When I speak of regression I mean in actually turning back the tide of modern civilization. Christianity, for all its ills, was firmly stripped of its secular powers and the nations of Christendom eventually prospered due to the practices of social development that formed from the basis of Christian dogma (though it took centuries) unlike their counterparts in the Islamic world who until the 1550-1600 period were still far more advanced in science and other aspects of civilization from mathematics to cultural works. Yet, as Christianity toppled due to its hubris, thus freeing Europe to realize the benefits. Yet to see the antithesis of this secular movement one need not look back several centuries-one need only gaze east and see what has become of these once great cultures.
I do see your point, and the fucking Taliban did destroy those beautiful Buddhas in Afghanistan, but it is Russian artillery destroying Aleppo and it was American armor that laid waste to Bagdad/Babylon, and Israeli missiles that destroyed Beirut, so the destruction of cultural heritage is on all sides unfortunately. When you hear comments from that Polish asshole in the European parliament saying women are weak and thus deserve lower wages, or Ben fucking Carson claiming slaves shipped to America were freedom-loving immigrants, it makes you really wonder if the West itself is moving fowards or backwards. And let us not forget that two of the world's largest Muslim nations, Indonesia and Malaysia, while far from perfect, are not fomenting terrorism and have relatively unrepressive (but hardly enlightened) regimes
Fino wrote: "I do see your point, and the fucking Taliban did destroy those beautiful Buddhas in Afghanistan, but it is Russian artillery destroying Aleppo and it was American armor that laid waste to Bagdad/Ba..."Well as one of those Americans I can tell you for a fact, since I was there, our artillery never deliberately destroyed historical structures and often we avoided blowing things like that up. No such respect on the other side. In fact they routinely hid in mosques and other civilian buildings knowing full well if we blow it up then they'll run to the media..otherwise we clear it in hand to hand fighting that kills us...so, forgive me, my sympathy level is exceedingly low. As far as Syria-they managed a wonderful job of leveling their own cities long before the Russians decided to "help". When it comes to destruction, especially of themselves the Middle East does not need any help from Americans, Russians, etc..they do an wonderful job of it themselves.
Also the Taliban and their psychotic inbred bastard child-ISIS have annihilated more irreplaceable historical treasures than all the American, Russian, Israeli, British and French bombs combined from all the wars that have been fought. From the Buddha statues to Palmyra in Syria they are like a plague of man.
Agreed on the Taliban (although that is also our creation - a CIA-trained and armed army of heroin dealers raised for defeating the Russians in Afghanistan but - like Bin Laden - one that slipped massively out of our control). I was not there so I'll take your word for the actions in Iraq. I do have a friend that was in Iraq Part I and he was less complimentary of our actions over there. My respect for you in doing your service for our country, my comments are in no way meant to as disrespectful, I hope we see eye-to-eye on that.
Fino wrote: "Agreed on the Taliban (although that is also our creation - a CIA-trained and armed army of heroin dealers raised for defeating the Russians in Afghanistan but - like Bin Laden - one that slipped m..."No of course not and neither do I discount your view-the respect is mutual and this is merely a conversation. But as a Historian (i have a PhD in Military History) I despise the destruction of historical artifacts (they are priceless)..it is a crime against humanity. Period.
As far as the Taliban...let us be fair the Agency provided funding and Stinger missles. It was the Pakistani ISI that actually recruited and trained the Mujahadeen (under orders from President Zia). That broad term covered a vast array of fighters not all of whom were Islamic fundamentalist nutters. Many of the non-nutters formed what was the Northern Alliance, whom I worked with in Afghanistan during the initial phase of OEF I. But as is often the case in the ME- lack of a representative and effective government caused a fracturing of the Mujahadeen into various factions of warlords. Into this mess we have the Saudi's and the Iranian's vying for local hegemony and they both supported different factions (Iran- the Shia forces of Abdul mazari and Saudis-a Wahhabite faction led by Abdul Sayaff)..this caused the Civil War that led to the loss of governmental control of the south. Into this mess in the early 90's comes Mullah Omar..who recruits from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-run religious schools for Afghan refugees in Pakistan. This is the start of the Taliban. It grows from hundreds into the massive force it later became due to an estimated 15k students coming to volunteer for Omar's brand of Islam..the students came from the madrassas in Pakistan. So if there must be blame placed look to Islamabad not Langley. It is important that for many of these nations to develop they must admit their own culpability. The Great Game might be played by the large powers, but it is the cooperation and self-interest of the lesser powers that then manipulate the pawns into movement. In the cases of these particular organizations the most culpable are Saudi Arabia, Iran and MOST OF ALL-Pakistan. So in the Intelligence community the Agency will take the hit on the Mujahadeen of the late Afghan War..but the Taliban is the ISI's child. Afghanistan was important to Pakistan for Strategic Depth. Betwen '94-'99 an estimated 100K Pakistanis traveled to Afghanistan to wage jihad for the Taliban. As a Intel Officer for a high end Special Operations unit I see a wholly different side of things than the line infantryman. Thus I respect your friends opinion and his service as we are all kindred spirits. But during my time in Afghanistan (01-03) of the roughly 45K+Taliban about 15K were native Afghan (Pushtun) Taliban, about 3k were Al-Queda jihadis (from Chechnya, Uighurs, Syrians, etc) and most of them died at our hands during Operation Anaconda-but the vast majority 30K were Pakistani (primarily from the Peshwar region).
Wow, I mean, just wow. Thanks for that contextualization! Fascinating.
Fino wrote: "Wow, I mean, just wow. Thanks for that contextualization! Fascinating."My pleasure and thank YOU for a stimulating conversation.
Anytime! You might enjoy the book I just finished: The War at the End of the World by Mario Vargas Llosa. Based on a true story and absolutely captivating
Fino wrote: "Anytime! You might enjoy the book I just finished: The War at the End of the World by Mario Vargas Llosa. Based on a true story and absolutely captivating"
saw that and liked it :)
Cool! It is an awesome book!
