Guns, Germs and Steel: A short history of everybody for the last 13,000 years

In Guns, Germs and Steel Jared Diamond seeks to answer the question, why do some societies advance to a point where they can conquer and displace, while other societies are conquered and displaced?  The answer he finds is that the conquering societies are those that developed guns, germs, and steel.  From that point Diamond searches for the reasons some societies developed guns, germs, and steel and others did not.  The conclusions he draws are fascinating. 

That author looks at many factors influencing the development of technology and diseases including plant and animal domestication, social structures, continental geography, climates, etc.  He is searching for the factors that held some societies back while allowing others to steam forward. 

The book is thorough in its treatment of each continent and its indigenous society, there is no hint of a Euro-centric vision of the world.  The author’s experience with New Guinea makes that the focal point of many of his examples.  I wish Diamond had included some kind of notes and references.  He draws many conclusions which must be taken at face value given his lack of citations.

Guns, Germs and Steel is a fascinating look at the forces which have shaped our world and certainly worth reading.