tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014696560401110515.post6968764193318165675..comments2023-10-25T04:37:13.179-04:00Comments on Dogear Diary: Guns, Germs and SteelJeanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02270303640902731044noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014696560401110515.post-5362669712163496392010-03-24T09:56:46.823-04:002010-03-24T09:56:46.823-04:00I tip my hat to you! I've always wanted to re...I tip my hat to you! I've always wanted to read this one, but always opt for 'lighter' material instead. Love your review though and you've made me think perhaps I still might give this a try one day!Chandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07166022222097462784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014696560401110515.post-54997263285154784832010-03-21T23:20:31.868-04:002010-03-21T23:20:31.868-04:00Resolute Reader- I've been wondering about rea...Resolute Reader- I've been wondering about reading the second book, but right now it feels like too much effort.Jeanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02270303640902731044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014696560401110515.post-12548208502789480632010-03-21T11:31:19.524-04:002010-03-21T11:31:19.524-04:00It's an excellent book. His follow up, Collaps...It's an excellent book. His follow up, Collapse, which was similarly lauded, hyped and critiqued is interesting, but frankly not as good. There's a review on ResoluteReader somewhere.Resolute Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05543167556221747469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014696560401110515.post-87480360606698311132010-03-17T15:48:53.831-04:002010-03-17T15:48:53.831-04:00Carolsnotebook- the length was daunting. I almost ...Carolsnotebook- the length was daunting. I almost thought I wasn't going to make it through, at one point!<br /><br />Nymeth- well, my husband hasn't read it either.<br /><br />Biohistory- thank you for the insights. I will be reading those articles.<br /><br />Kim- Of course it had to be simplified (<i>all</i> of world history in just 400 pages?)but I take it that Diamond just looked at Jeanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02270303640902731044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014696560401110515.post-40147709663544593462010-03-17T11:24:41.139-04:002010-03-17T11:24:41.139-04:00Sounds really interesting! I had a professor say s...Sounds really interesting! I had a professor say some not-so-flattering things about this book a long time ago, but for the life of me I can't remember what. It's interesting your husband critiqued it for being too simplified because, it seems to me, all history has to simplify the world in order to advance a theory. No one theory is correct, but using a lens like this can help explore Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness)http://sophisticateddorkiness.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014696560401110515.post-30248849822294252232010-03-17T00:15:00.990-04:002010-03-17T00:15:00.990-04:00***Diamond's opinion, is that environment was ...***Diamond's opinion, is that environment was a huge factor in shaping early human history: local native animals and plants provided different resources for different groups, some far more useful to humans than others, and topography and climate dictated how quickly new technologies could spread.***<br /><br />Diamond's book is excellent, but he seems to start out with a pre-set Biohistorynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014696560401110515.post-28758650681231944162010-03-16T16:13:22.914-04:002010-03-16T16:13:22.914-04:00I've been meaning to read this for ages! I can...I've been meaning to read this for ages! I can see your husband's point about culture, but before I read it I can't really comment :PAna S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16092495983972185943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014696560401110515.post-44141289477501158762010-03-16T15:45:46.720-04:002010-03-16T15:45:46.720-04:00I've thought about reading this several times....I've thought about reading this several times. It just seems really interesting, but it's so thick. One of these days.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014696560401110515.post-47587270147115213062010-03-16T14:07:27.342-04:002010-03-16T14:07:27.342-04:00Jenny- He does mention wars, but it's certainl...Jenny- He does mention wars, but it's certainly not the focus (although the incident depicted in the painting on the front takes up a lot of the first chapter). If I'd thought it was about war, I never would have picked it up either!<br /><br />Shelley- I think I'd like to see the documentary. You've summed up his objective pretty well, as I understand it. Not that one race was Jeanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02270303640902731044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014696560401110515.post-38392261537942249562010-03-16T13:14:33.446-04:002010-03-16T13:14:33.446-04:00It sounds like this book gives the reader a lot to...It sounds like this book gives the reader a lot to think about. I'd probably drive my husband crazy if I read it.bermudaonionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10726401178972099557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014696560401110515.post-44295340391381738192010-03-16T11:15:26.538-04:002010-03-16T11:15:26.538-04:00I read this one and enjoyed it as well. There'...I read this one and enjoyed it as well. There's a documentary based on the book that I haven't seen. I think that maybe Diamond's argument would be that it was the environment that also led to cultural ideas of different nations. If an area was excelling in agriculture, certain people had the time to think and come up with philosophies that added to their culture? I think his mainShelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18408471966661831444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014696560401110515.post-24706468204348340622010-03-16T08:36:26.547-04:002010-03-16T08:36:26.547-04:00I didn't realize this book was about the devel...I didn't realize this book was about the development of societies like you're describing. From the title and the cover I thought it was about WAR and how people fought and strategized over WAR. Actually it sounds really interesting!Jennyhttp://jennysbooks.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com