Jared Diamond: The world we live in

The COVID-19 pandemic has been going on for two years, and has changed life significantly. More than 5 million people worldwide have lost their lives to the coronavirus; "lockdown" has become part of the world's common vocabulary and governments and their citizens are still waiting for a "new normal" to emerge. Inequalities have deepened within countries and globally. How should we understand the world we live in through a historical lens? And what will the world be like a few years from now, after this crisis has waned.

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[hpmoxie]

Jared diamond's book, guns, germs and steel, is the the most captivating book I've ever read! Thank you for the interview!

[justgivemethetruth]

Jared begins talking at 1:22 . Asked why Guns, Germs and Steel has been a worldwide best-seller for 25 years. I prefer "Collapse" myself ... it certainly is more relevant to today's world and it's priorities.

I think the reason his book, or say one big reason that book is so popular is that it opened the eyes of regular people about how all different aspects of history and culture affects them today, and the ramifications of that. Some people have claimed this or that aspect of the book is right or wrong, but I think the thing about all great books is that it facilities people perceiving the world and thinking in new ways. GG&S certainly did that for me, even though much of what was in it in some way or another I already knew.

JD is one of those writers that I will buy a book by sight unseen, although his last two books had not really affected me as GG&S and Collapse. A really good book of his is "The Third Chimpanzee", it had all those aspects of opening up a new way or seeing and thinking. I look forward to whatever he has to say, or whatever book he writes.

[chrishooge]

"The strength of a democracy is you can tell the government you are doing a bad job." Anchor quickly changes subject.

[len]

Finland have handled covid-19 much better than any other country. And they have world best schools.

[futebolarte]

We have accumulated a lot of new knowledge about genetics and evolution since this book was written.

[blackwarrior]

So interesting. Such coincidence? I bought a copy a few days ago and received the book this morning. Ready to read it over the weekend.

[voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang]

Inca bones are common in Pleistocene human fossils from China, such as Homo erectus pekinensis from Zhoukoudian and archaic Homo sapiens from Dali in Shaanxi, and from Xujiayao and Dingcun in Shanxi. This feature is also seen in early modern humans of Chuandong in Guizhou. The presence of an Inca bone at Shigou provide more evidence that the Inca bone is a regional characteristic of Pleistocene East Asians, which supports the hypothesis of continuity of human evolution in Pleistocene East Asia.

[megthornton]

Geopolitics has kept some countries poor
Corruption has and is affecting the world
He appears to have no idea that the USA is in the grip of corruprion

[syncmastern]

I like listening to learned people. They see a bigger picture that we human beings are the same. It's things like geographical advantages that make development of different areas of the world different and how we assess the history of it (mistakes and corrections) that differentiate which country is rich, which country is poor.

[ivanho]

The success of nation depends the the competencies of leaders who lead their people. Geographical location is a bonus, however, it require competent and visionary leaders to maximise the potentialities. Educations and knowledge add strengths to the quality of the people in charge as well as the work force who can deliver the targeted outcomes. In summary inherited a good hardware is great, however, effective software deliver the results.

[johnkubek]

Why are some more prosperous than others?

Location, location, location.

[minhng]

Laos GDP PPP per capita is approximately Vietnam, around USD 8000 in 2020. Laos does not have a coast line and Vietnam has a long coast lien. How do we explain that?

[backpackly]

Great interview! Love the note at the end on cooperation between the US & China, if both countries were rational we'd work together rather than view each other as enemies. Who would want to mess with a combined alliance between the US & China?

[oxvendivil]

Geography and climate are always the arbiter, in the end no matter how much the world changes it is only temporary and when it normalizes or when situations turn bad, geography and climate will have the final say in the outcome.

[colmangreen]

I wonder if geography does play a role in the place where the fate of Western civilisation lies on the scale currently: Ukraine. Putin seems to know his Sun Tzu inside out. What will this winter bring for the AngloSaxon overlords, and will Europe pivot to a last revival as it has done repeatedly through the ages? I don't know of anyone who sees this as a possibility but I like to think out of the box, observing from the safety of my armchair...

[chuawantiong]

Does the Thucydides theory have a predictive outcome if the most power country cannot agree to cooperate with the rising power?

[natbirchall]

We should move faster towards a divided world I only see benefits, great competition, and significant development. A new digital world is also coming if we keep trade to shallow items and no essential, security-sensitive, and hi-tech items, it should be a win-win for everybody. Also, other countries like India are rising it will be an exiting time. Cheer up.

[stsk]

Lol this guy still going on with his hoky theory.