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Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
Unavailable
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
Unavailable
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
Audiobook (abridged)9 hours

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed

Written by Jared Diamond

Narrated by Christopher Murney

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

In Jared Diamond's follow-up to the Pulitzer Prize-winning Guns, Germs and Steel, the author explores how climate change, the population explosion, and political discord create the conditions for the collapse of civilization.

Environmental damage, climate change, globalization, rapid population growth, and unwise political choices were all factors in the demise of societies around the world, but some found solutions and persisted. As in Guns, Germs, and Steel, Diamond traces the fundamental pattern of catastrophe, and weaves an all-encompassing global thesis through a series of fascinating historical-cultural narratives. Collapse moves from the Polynesian cultures on Easter Island to the flourishing American civilizations of the Anasazi and the Maya and finally to the doomed Viking colony on Greenland. Similar problems face us today and have already brought disaster to Rwanda and Haiti, even as China and Australia are trying to cope in innovative ways. Despite our own society's apparently inexhaustible wealth and unrivaled political power, ominous warning signs have begun to emerge even in ecologically robust areas like Montana.

Brilliant, illuminating, and immensely absorbing, Collapse is destined to take its place as one of the essential books of our time, raising the urgent question: How can our world best avoid committing ecological suicide?
LanguageEnglish
Release dateDec 1, 2004
ISBN9780786555062
Unavailable
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
Author

Jared Diamond

JARED DIAMOND has been the national baseball writer for the Wall Street Journal since 2017. Prior to that, he spent a season as the Journal’s Yankees beat writer and three seasons as their Mets beat writer. In his current role, he leads the newspaper’s baseball coverage. This is his first book.  

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Reviews for Collapse

Rating: 3.980451861077324 out of 5 stars
4/5

2,302 ratings96 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Very interesting, somethings I knew some I didn't. It starts out with how Montana is not self sufficient. He review how societies fell, the main reasons and how those who survived successfully adapted.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    After getting through a rather long, unnecessary first chapter on introductory material that really doesn't add much to the book, the author tells a rollicking story, looking at numerous societies around the world that weren't able to maintain their civilization. The author proposes that the collapse was, in many cases, the result of environmental changes that occurred because of decisions made by the members of the society.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Disappointed.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Pretty good
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I liked Guns, Germs, and Steel better, but this was still a good (and very educational) read. We should all know how our societies may be doomed if we don't straighten up.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Excellent analysis of the ecocide of civilizations
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Collapse is a cautionary tale for the current world based on the story of collapses of several ancient and modern civilizations. The author provides a vivid description of various societies - Mayan, Norse, Rwandan etc. - and the key reasons for their collapse. In telling their story the author reminds us of the need for long term thinking and political will for initiating precautionary policies for a sustainable and bright future. A very interesting and breezy read and definitely a recommend.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Informative and thought provoking! Written more than a decade ago, yet the issues this book discusses are not solved, but even more pressing!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    nice book, opened a new window for me to think about comunities, reasons behind collapses and what do we need to succeed.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I felt this book did a really good job explaining environmental and societal collapse in a practical and realistic manner. Some works on this topic come across as ideological, but Diamond shows why environmental problems are of practical concern and gives some ideas about what we can do about them.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A book that absolutely stands the test of time. It was brilliant to look at so many collapsed societies and compare them to our own. It makes me fearful of the future but at least gives us some direction for what we need to get done.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    If only Mr. Diamond would stop writing every chapter like a formulaic college essay, this would merit 4 or even 5 stars, because the subject matter is in no way uninteresting. Sadly, he tells you what he's going to tell you, then tells you, and then recaps it for you. It makes me want to cry.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Fascinating. Depressing. A tiny bit hopeful at the end. A must-read for anyone who thinks our society is immune to changing climate, political unrest, and over-exploitation of resources. Jared Diamond relentlessly details how catastrophe has overtaken past and present cultures, why it happened, how it happened, and what we can do to keep it from happening again.The clock is ticking...
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Diamond is well qualified to write this as he is Professor of Geography at the University of California. In this book he looks at the reasons why some societies survive and others fail.
    The first chapter of the book considers Montana, it seems slightly odd as this is still a functioning state, but it has dropped to 49th in the state income chart from one of the top earners. It has always been a mining and logging state and is blessed with some of the most beautiful landscape. And yet there are underlying problems there; mine owners that have extracted the ore and have not considered the costs incurred with clean up; forests fires that proper management would reduce but that the local population won’t consider; invasion of non native species that have in certain case devastated local species, and so on. Part of the reason for the decline is people who live there temporarily and are not prepared to be part of the local community by paying taxes, but still want the landscape to remain as it is. Montana is dependent upon external monies coming in now, and if those were to dry up, then its circumstances will become perilous.
    Diamond looks at the evidence for Easter Island that suggests the reason for its decline was that the local population had eaten all the native animals and felled all the trees. This led to rapid erosion of the soils and further degradation of the landscape. By this time the natives had been contacted by Europeans, who bought with the diseases such as small pox, and their fate was sealed.
    Diamond then expands these theories of societies collapsing by looking at The Pitcairn Islands, The Chaco and the Maya. All of these had substantial populations in their time, and either had consumed most or all or their resources locally, or were living at the limit of what the environment could sustain. All it took was a shock of some form, i.e. a drought, and the population would take a dip, either temporarily or permanently.
    The next three chapters look at the Vikings. Most people know of the violent expansion of these Scandinavian people into England and France, but they also established settlements in Iceland and Greenland. They arrived there just as the climate was favourable, and brought with them their farming techniques from Europe. The environment there is very fragile, and with the import of livestock to the land stripped back the trees and the grass. This led to significant erosion of the landscape and made a perilous existence even more susceptible to shock. They failed to learn from the Inuit people, who used the local resources sustainably. The Norse are still there in Iceland, but parts of the landscape there have been devastated.
    The third section of the book looks at the state that some modern societies are in; China, Australia, Rwanda, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Each of these have particular problems from over population to corruption to serious environmental issues. For each there is a detailed description of the problems that they have got, either of their own making, or because of external factors like weather.
    The final section is about how we as a planet can deal with these problems. He gives examples of oil companies who now routinely start with the best environmental methods as they know it saves them money in the long term, gives them credibility and more opportunities. He compares these to mining companies who frankly couldn’t give a monkeys, and who use all the political clout they have to pass all the cleanup costs to the state, even to the point of declaring bankruptcy to avoid these costs and staring a new company soon after.
    He then list the twelve points that he thinks will have to be resolved, note not solved, as he thinks that these may be resolved by violence and war. He detail two of the organizations that are trying to put in place sustainable organizations, and showed that consumers are aware of them, and what they are trying to achieve.
    He sees see some hope though. Humanity would not have got this far if we had always eradicated ourselves at each stage. That said, he does realise that we are at the point where our action will affect millions of people unless we do something soon.
    This was an interesting read. Diamond has written a comprehensive book detailing all manner of reason why a society fades or suddenly ends. Even though I found it fascinating, I have only given it three stars as it is now out of date, and I feel could not do with being re written. I have one of his other books on my shelf, and I aim o read that soon.
    The book can be summed up though by the American Indian quote: “When the Last Tree Is Cut Down, the Last Fish Eaten, and the Last Stream Poisoned, You Will Realize That You Cannot Eat Money”
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I thought his examples were pretty interesting.But ultimately, I thought the message was a bit more mixed and weaker than in [Guns, Germs, and Steel], where he basically argues environmental determinism (people develop the resources they have, e.g. domesticable animals were distributed across Eurasia). In Collapse, Diamond gets a bit more hedgy - the Easter Island society failed from continued deforestation (a choice), while the northern Viking colonies (Iceland, Greenland, those islands, etc) failed because conditions got harsher the further away from homeland (essentially environmental). What his book and examples are good at is outlining when (and what) conditions vs. choices are important for failure (and success), but there's not really one satisfying overarching explanation for all of the examples, including that of modern America.But then, which would be more frightening: If the success or failure of a society as a whole was entirely due to choice, or entirely due to environmental (or some other) determinism? My two cents.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A logical sequel to his earlier book «Guns, germs, and steel» which analyzed success factors to explain why some civilizations succeed, in «Collapse» Jared Diamond explores and analyzes why civilizations disappear. His model is based on five major factors which each or in combination spell out disaster and contribute to or directly cause the demise of a civilizations. The book has 16 chapters, eight of which devoted to case studies of ancient societies and four to modern societies. In the final three chapters the author unfolds his generalized theory and possible solutions.The book is very repetitive and large parts if it are based on very commonly and widespread knowledge. Diamond has a very personal style, meaning that the main parts of the book are based on his very surreptitious choices. However, research includes all major civilizations into the full scope of the book.While the book seems very compelling, the argument isn't entirely convincing. It has the impression of being very scientific but it's basically all just common sense, provided you are a reasonably well-educated person.The author is very wordy and repetitive. A very readable book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Eye-opening archeological analysis giving a different perspective to the climate change topic.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Collapse is a fitting work to accompany Guns, Germs, and Steel. Although not obvious from either the cover or the blurb, this book has a strong focus on environmental factors affecting societies; in particular, how societies cause and react to changes in their environment.It begins with a summary of broad factors which cause societies to collapse. Then cycles through ancient and modern case studies to demonstrate those factors in action. As usual, Diamond's evidence spans a range of disciplines and methods in archaeology: palynology (study of pollen), carbon dating, midden (waste) analysis, soil chemical / nutrient analysis, isotope analysis. Some remarks seem unresearched or obsolete; for example, the statement metals are more volatile than oil (as an explanation for why mining is harder for businesses to practise ethically). Generally, though, Diamond's arguments are compelling.The studies I found most interesting: isolated Easter Island; the disparate futures of the Greenland Norse and Inuits; political history of Haiti; environmentally deprived Australia and its colonial attachment to Britain. Diamond often resorts to comparative history: he believes anthropology is a science, but one where existing and historic events must be analysed systematically in place of experiments. He adds colour via personal encounters and observations. I found the written records of interaction between the Greenland Norse and Inuits (or another society of the era) insightful.The last quarter of the book, which until then was captivating, borders on didactic. Technology is treated more a distant distraction or a net liability than a tool which can inform and drive environmental protection today. To that end, there's little focus on energy efficiency, conceptually or in practice. Hybrid cars are deemed irrelevant versus the rise in gas-guzzling SUVs. I would also have liked to see genetic research figure more in his arguments; likely it would supply further evidence to support his views.I was offended by Diamond's belief that third world countries should not aspire to first world benefits while condoning current levels of consumption in first world countries. There's an implicit argument that massive US per capita consumption is broadly irreversible and a requirement to maintain standards of living. While Diamond concedes we must ask ourselves which values we can forego in order to survive on this planet, he doesn't place rampant consumerism as such as a value. There's no mention of the Western obesity epidemic, or the health and environmental benefits of vegetarianism. Diamond fails to contemplate lower consumption in first world countries as a desirable proposition to safeguard a happy and fulfilling future. For this, I dock a star.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Gets a bit repetitive. With a good editor I think it could have lost 100 pages without much impact. I'm not keen on that "Choose" in the title -- it seems to me that some of these societies didn't have a lot of alternatives.Get this book into the hands of all those "cornucopians" who think that a free market can get you out of any looming disaster.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I decided a long time ago that the best way for me to maximize my learning was to make a conscious effort to read books that did not simply reinforce my own opinions. You only learn when you encounter difference.

    And, every once in a while in the process of escaping your box, you run across someone like Jared Diamond. I must admit, having read Diamond's "Big Three," that I've found him thoroughly engrossing...even when I vehemently disagreed as I did in his analysis of the social uses and accompanying value of religion.

    In a sense, this work is probably the most "preachy" of his books; he is very pointed in his analysis of areas where WEIRD (Western, educated, industrialized, rich, democratic) societies have gone amiss. The range of issues addressed is broad: from elder and child-care to social justice to food sourcing and preparation. This breadth gives the book a slight "piece-meal" feeling...as if we may be reading a collection of chapters that were cut from his other two books by a myopic editor. However, it IS cleverly brought together.

    So, why would I-a Christian who rejects the theory of atheistic evolution-find so much...well...pleasure in reading Jared Diamond? Well, for one thing, many of his theories about social development are plausible if you simply "unplug" his chronology (e.g. think "thousands of years" when he writes "billions"). But the real reason is Diamond's gift of writing: he thinks clearly within the parameters of his assumptions but is able to express those ideas with astounding simplicity. Few academic writers achieve the clarity that seems so natural in Diamond's work. Even if you don't agree with WHAT he thinks, you must admire HOW he thinks. And how he challenges you to express with equal force your own views.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A nice, soft introduction to sustainability. Soft because it looks at sustainability from a perspective other than the common environmental one.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A masterful explanation of why societies fail - mostly related to poor environmental & ecological choices.Read Mar 2005
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A real disappointment for me, having loved two of Diamond's previous books. The central idea: that ecological collapse is possible has happened before and may happen to us is important, but Diamond really belabors the point and does not properly account for the transition from an agricultural to an industrial economy. Not nearly as well though-out and presented as I've come to expect from Diamond. Compacted into 100 pages or so, this might have been something.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Fascinating account of societal collapse and advice about our own cultural trajectory. If I were an archaeologist or paleontologist, I would have given 5 stars. As it was, it had a little too much technical information for me.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    An examination of ancient and modern societies that have undergone sudden collapse, and an evaluation of the environmental context in terms of population size, impact and sustainability. Diamond argues that he doesn't believe in environmental determinism - it's not geography or climate change that he believes knocked any of these societies over - it's our responses (or lack of them) when things start to go wrong. This is crucial as our modern population growth and environmental impact are accelerating.My main issue with the book is length. It would have benefited from fewer case studies and less repetition. Ultimately, there wasn't enough differentiation between the issues within case studies, so this felt like retreading the same ground. Add in repetition within chapters - while this isn't a consistent problem, but is sporadically a big problem (I'm going to tell you about X; now I'll tell you about X in detail; having told you about X...) - and poor structure in others, and you have a recipe for intermittent boredom, which was almost enough for me to give up completely. Which is a shame, because in between are chapters that are fascinating, horrifying, thought-provoking and interesting. I think a damn good edit could have improved the whole thing, packaged it up a bit better, and actually made the message stronger rather than weaker. I can't recommend it as it stands unless you're interested with a strong stomach; an abridged version should probably be required reading for everyone.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Ugh -- when will Jared Diamond find an editor who tells him to cut, cut, cut? I'm sure there is some wonderful information and insight in this book, but a reader would need a machete to find it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    There was a lot of information to digest in this book and in places it seemed like you were drowning in the minutia. However, if you stick through the narrative, it does take you somewhere in a very informative and illuminating way. What I really liked about the author was that he was not judgemental and tried to identify his biases along the way. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would like to read more from the author and more on this subject from others.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Diamond delivers.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great book and a flawless narration, if you do not know the works of Jared Diamond this is a great start point

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Jared Diamond had built up such a reputation for being incredibly knowledgeable on a broad range of topics that I looked forward to reading “Collapse”, especially as it became an enemy of the Australian Government of the day, who criticised some of the conclusions Diamond made in “Collapse” about the less than rosy future for Australia.As it was, I instead got a lot of pages on fly-fishing; indeed I don’t think I can overestimate the coverage Diamond gives to fly-fishing. Anyway, it’s obvious that Diamond loves fly-fishing, while I do not and I was sorely tempted to either skip some pages or throw the book aside. Eventually, Diamond turns to topics like deforestation in Australia and Easter Island, and other matters of environmental devastation throughout the world, all of which were well written and sources of reflection for me. The only problem being that I had a lingering concern that I would turn the page and be faced with more fly-fishing to wade through.