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What are readers saying about Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed?
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A Reader posted a review at 2012-02-24 12:22:12.
(Language: English)
 
While not to be taken as gospel, this is another of Diamond's thought-provoking syntheses of a vast array of knowledge in an effort to explain why societies fail. This is a book that should be read and discussed and, most importantly, considered in light of America's present history.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-22 06:58:12.
(Language: English)
Though I find Diamond's writing style to be stiff and redundant at times, the content overwhelmed me. He shows how societies throughout history have suffered the consequences of overpopulation, and overmining resources, and environmental degradation. How these societies responded to their crisis, either through change or refusal to adapt, resulted in the survival or collapse. Interestingly, many societal collapses have occurred very shortly after the zenith of culture, prosperity, and population. Diamond makes a strong argument that humans are overpopulating and overextending the resources of the Earth to a degree far greater than ever before and that unless something is done to reverse the effects, there will be real consequences within our lifetime.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-09-14 02:45:02.
(Language: English)
While infinitely more coherent a work than Diamond's previous effort, "Guns, Germs, and Steel", this book too suffers from shortcomings in Diamond's writing--having cut his teeth in articles for Discover and academic journals. Nonetheless, this book manages to be both more entertaining and far more relevant than Diamond's previous books. In addition to stunningly complete studies of the collapse of Easter Island, the Greenland colonies, and dozens of other historical mysteries, Diamond applies the same reasoning to current collapses, such as the genocide in Rwanda and Australia's current ecological woes. A fascinatingly well-rounded study of how human cultures utilize and often overtax their environment with a smart emphasis on the economics that challenge easy categorization of the relationship between corporate America and the environment, this book is a must-read for any student of the environmental movement.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-07-06 06:24:14.
(Language: English)
This is a great book with big picture view and concrete courses of actions for our world today to avoid the many potential catastrophes it is heading towards, based on studies of societies in the past which have succeeded and fail. There is no one ultimate solution, but there are easy and painful solutions among the solutions, if we end up being smart enough to choose one rather than end up collapsing like many societies in the past. As the follow-up to Guns, Germs and Steel, I would highly recommend this book as a good read, but also as the second of two books to teach in any general history course rather than this mainstream crap taught about all these dead people in the past who have done nothing but started wars and hoarded excesses. The first would be Guns, Germs and Steel, of course.
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Scott'n'Shana posted a review at 2009-08-30 05:42:42.
(Language: English)
I really dug Guns, Germs, and Steel (or as I call it--Why Indonesia Never Invaded Germany), so when Collapse came out, I bought it immediately. More anthro/archaeo perspective, only this time Diamond looks at famous failed societies and looks for a trend. The Norse settlements in Greenland, the Mayans, Easter Island, et cetera, are all examined and guess what--environments failed to support these societies after awhile and usually it occurred via human interaction. If you're listening, random congressionals from Oklahoma, it was via lack of conservation (ahem--from the same word root as "conservative") and "over" practices. Overfarming. Overfishing. Overgrazing. Overseeing irrigation diversion and the gradual over-salinization of soils through shortsighted water diversion. The chapter on the wasteful land use practices of Easter Island alone makes the case, but this book is well worth reading. Its purpose is not to turn everyone into a Sierra Club member, but I think it advocates a real close look at how we use our natural resources and how we could do it better. Some readers find Diamond's style repetitive, but I just cited every one of the "over" words, and I think that says a lot about his pedagogical skills. This book is a nice companion to Tom Friedman's Hot, Flat, and Crowded as well as The Machine That Changed the World: The Story of Lean Production by Womack, Jones, and Roos.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-10-02 08:30:38.
(Language: English)
Una lectura instructiva y, sorprendentemente, sencilla. Es instructivo el repaso a las civilizaciones que, en un entorno ecológico a veces frágil - pero no siempre - tomaron decisiones que se revelaron desastrosas, terminando incluso en su total desaparición. Isla de Pascua, Vikingos en Groenlandia, Mayas, etc. son lecciones con MUCHAS similitudes con lo que ocurre actualmente en el planeta, con dos diferencias: i) nuestra capacidad de afectar el entorno ahora es muchísimo más grande que en entonces, ii) la quasi extinción de los habitantes de la Isla de Pascua no afectó a nadie más, ese aislamiento no existe ahora, cualquier shock en algún lado, lo sentimos todos en cualquier parte. Quizá existe un rasgo común más entre nosotros y ellos: la capacidad de negar el desastre por parte de grupos (muchas veces las élites) que se sienten aisladas del problema y que perderían privilegios enfrentándolo. Al final, como dice el autor, lo único que lograron esas élites fue de ser los últimos en morir de inanición.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-09-22 07:18:47.
(Language: English)
"Collapse" is an enjoyable read, and at times quite interesting, but you have to take everything Diamond writes with a grain of salt. For instance, the chapter comparing Haiti and the Dominican Republic is abysmal. It totally fails to take into account the role of imperialism, and specifically the use of extortionist debt by Europe and the United States, to keep Haiti (the world's first predominantly black country to liberate itself, and one that did so from a position of slavery no less, when slavery was an ongoing practice throughout the hemisphere) subordinated and poor. For instance, Haiti only gained diplomatic recognition from the outside world in 1824 (having become independant in 1804) when it agreed to"repay" France (who had gunboats nearby) the equivalent of $21 billion for the loss of the slave colony. The impact of this debt, paid in order to stave off further invasion and reintegrate into the world economy, cannot be overstated in its role in making Haiti poorer than her neighbor, yet isn't mentioned once. There're many more flaws of this sort.
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Geoff posted a review at 2009-06-30 04:52:05.
(Language: English)
First, in terms of content, oh man, we're doomed. There's an optimistic epilogue to both "Collapse" and "An Inconvenient Truth", but I remember thinking as the credits rolled to the latter, "not even Melissa Etheridge can save us now". But I guess we'll do what we can. Second, in terms of form, the author bills this book as a kind of sequel to "Guns, Germs and Steel" - an explanation not of what put certain countries ahead in the second millennium but what's caused others to collapse. It's readable, scary, and as far as I can tell true, but it sometimes seems a little anemic. I guess for one the anthropologist in me wants to hear a more rigorous account of Anasazi, Mangarevan or Maya society - it feels like really understanding their collapse as more than a parable would call for more of an understanding of how their society worked in the first place. It seems a little rushed, and maybe that's because he's really trying to fit two books - one a historical record, and one a guide to current environmental crises - together. For this reason - as he admits - he ignores collapses and crises not of environmental origin, and I think a book that more thoroughly deserved its title would have to take account of the Soviet Union or (fair enough, here my own interests creep in) the Lebanese civil war, which would make the map on page 497 a lot more nuanced.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-08-18 07:43:36.
(Language: English)
Jared Diamond's central thesis in this book is that environmental deterioration of society's whether done on purpose or by mere accident can cause social,political and economic stress that can lead to a society's downfall. He uses Rwanda, Greenland, Haiti, Australia, and the Solomon Islands and certain parts of South America as his case studies. Its a good read, its very detailed almost too detailed. It goes into every small aspect of every single environmental problem in each area. Sometimes you feel like your reading a biology text book but by the end of each chapter Jared Diamond is effective in putting together a larger picture that the average reader can comprehend and enjoy. Overall 3/5 stars.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-02-20 03:21:22.
(Language: English)
"why is it so warm and what are we doing in this handbasket?" No, the world isn't doomed. Diamond presents a cogent summary of the risks the planet is facing AND a pragmatic perspective on how those can be addressed. He is cautiously optimistic. It's a thick book with Diamond's usual commitment to backing up every assertion with evidence and examples. If you don't want a history of ancient environmental disasters (and successes too), or if you don't need to convince yourself or anyone else that we are fully capable of causing man made global havoc, just read that last three chapters. They offer a pragmatic assessment of present disasters and future solutions. This would be a full five stars as a Very Important Book if the information it contained weren't at time so uncomfortable to read.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-10-13 10:58:11.
(Language: English)
I enjoyed the historic sections for their depth of study, but didn't like the modern stuff so much in that he went too detailed, without really providing any new perspectives. I didn't really agree with every criticism he levels on society for leading people on a path to collapse. The one I most disagreed with him on was when he attacked the claim that technological advancement will help the environment. Technological advancement is the way towards better environmental practices, and companies like GE understand that this sort of advancement can be molded in ways that are profitable and beneficial to the environment (also with good marketing too). While the environment is important, I feel that the 2nd half of the book really hammered the point that we are destorying our environment and hence our society so excessively that it became boring. I think that it really didn't cover any new ground or provide anything interesting to add to the discussion - I felt like I was reading pamphlets I had been distrubted throughout my primary/secondary education days all tied together in a series of chapters. Diamond tried to tie the historic case studies to contemporary issues, but spent way too much time exploring the details of contemporary issues to make the analysis sink in. I'll be up front on this, I feel that Diamond puts too little trust in grassroots movements and believes in intervention from above, while he does discuss the environmental movement in the Dominican Republic in a positive light, he seems to dismiss the fact that people in Montana who are directly connected to the land are probably the ones who are the best to manage their own land. Without such connections stupid environmental policies such as fire management happen for far too long and cause more damage than they were meant to protect. While I don't mind reading books that I have some ideological disagreements with, I feel that one should at least understand that people out there oppose you, and try to convince said skeptics by coming up with fresh and different perspectives on the issues as opposed to the same stuff that gets repeated ad nausieum. While he addresses arguments from skeptics in a very through manner, it really isn't convincing to me. Overall not bad, read it for the analysis of how historical societies have fallen apart due to environmental factors, don't read it for any insight on how the historical situations relate to contemporary society.
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Todd posted a review at 2009-02-06 10:23:13.
(Language: English)
Diamond's "Guns, Germs, and Steel" focused on why certain societies succeeded and dominated throughout history. That book was excellent and insightful. So is "Collapse" which explores from the other direction by asking the question "why do societies fail?" I.e. you can find patterns in why other civilizations crumbled while similar ones did not: 12 major factors that can be boiled down to "population" (lack of control) and "resources/environment" (depletion and destruction of). Very sobering. Great book. A very important book. Highly recommended. "Collapse" and "Guns, Germs, and Steel" are two of the most important books I have read in a number of years.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-01-27 07:18:14.
(Language: English)
A long read but fascinating. Easier to read than you might think from the subject matter and the size of the book. His summary of Australia's environmental problems makes for sobering reading. He also make it clear from the case studies in the book that we can't assume that things will somehow just work out for the best. HIs chapter on decision making and some of the factors that make it difficult for societies to take corrective action is particularly interesting. Fortunately he does make reference to societies where problems were effectively managed by people being prepared to make decisions and then actively implement them.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-01-09 08:52:51.
(Language: English)
Exellently written book on the roots of current world stress points. The list of collapsed and collapsing societies reads like a national security threat report. Military intervention is too little too late once the societies turn. I was the student in Dr. Diamonds class who asked the question about what the Easter Islanders said as they cut down the last tree. Several other Air Force students challenged Dr. Diamonds think so much in the class that at its conclusion he admitted that he had to re-write several chapters and refocus the book to include some of our observations about society collapse and national security issues. A must read for anyone in the military.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-03-03 11:31:33.
(Language: English)
A good book. Very well researched and very well written. Though, I do take what Diamond writes with grain of salt, he makes very good points about reasons for economic and social failures of societies resulting from poor stewardship of the enviroment with which they are entrusted. However, he is very apocalyptic in his writing, hinting at the collapse of the United States (or micro collapses within the US, such as Montana counties) while unconvincingly insisting that is not his intent over and over. He repetative insistence against that point convinced me that it was the whole point.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-12-20 01:26:59.
(Language: English)
It changed my mind about environmental problems. It is not only global warming. In Copenhagen, they did not talk about unsustainable logging, depleted fisheries, soil erosion, over population and some others that put the lives of our children in great danger. I think that only political engagement can really change this horrible future. I do not mean that politician can resolve the problem -not the ones that rule today-, I mean that people through consistent action can change politician for others that really care.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-10-11 12:58:29.
(Language: English)
At times, bleak; at times, optimistic... As a lover of history, culture, and the environment, I am very drawn to the topics in this book... Mr. Diamond is so insightful and clever in his formula that I wish to have had the opportunity to be a student in his classroom... His book is educational and quite the learning experience for the reader... As a professional reviewer mentions, reading this book is like taking a college course... I enjoy how he pulls events and examples from past and present societies to illustrate the importance of environmental sustainability for the viability of societies... He makes the reader aware that the decisions that impact this earth and our future is in our hands today... We cannot procrastinate on our future (while plundering and contaminating our natural resources) and take for granted that there'll always be a tomorrow... Maybe for us, there is a tomorrow, but what of our children? ... and their children's children?... and their children's children? I was especially intrigued and enlightened by his teaching that we have the ability to turn the hand of big businesses to sustainable practices for our beautiful earth... The sea of public opinion does count... I love this book...
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-03-09 02:20:15.
(Language: English)
This along with his earlier work, Guns, Germs, and Steel, is one of the best history works I have ever read and like the earlier work should be required reading in college if not high school. Focusing this time more on cultures failed rather than why some succeeded and others didn't, Diamond not only does an excellent job illustrating his points with copious (but engaging and very readable) research on economics, climatology, geology, geography, history, and political science but also gives truly engaging case studies, showing why the Norse Greenlanders, the Easter Island culture, the Maya, and so many other civilizations (some rather obscure) failed.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-01-26 04:32:06.
(Language: English)
Jared Diamond has a knack for condensing the facts while not affecting the readability too terribly. In "Collapse, Diamond looks at five historic societies and examines why they failed: Easter Island - deforestation led to irreversible environmental damage Pitcairn and Henderson Islands - deforestation led to environmental damage and loss of trading partners Anasazi - deforestation and climate change Maya - unsustainable farming practices and climate change Greenland Norse - deforestation, unsustainable farming practices, climate change, and interestingly enough a fanatical devotion to cultural self-identity. Fast forward to modern times and Diamond illustrates very briefly some societies that are succeeding and how they are doing it. Then we look at some societies that are, according to Diamond, either on the verge of collapse or well on their way: Rwanda, Haiti and Dominican Republic, China, and Australia. yes, China and Australia. I have to admit that he takes on a "glass is half-empty" view of the state of the world today but the facts he presented about China and Australia were quite sobering.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-10-30 04:46:14.
(Language: English)
This book employs the comparative method to understand societal collapses to which environmental problems contribute. The book shows, demonstrates, how overexploiting natural resources can bring to a complete collapse of a society. It also shows how culture and leadership decisions may make the difference between surviving the collapse or not. The parallels between old societies and modern world is chilling and clearly shows that todays's decisions will make the difference between success and collapse. The book analyses various societies in the past, explains how they exausted their natural resources and how this did bring to collapse of their society. The book also deal with some past societies that went close to their collapse (because of ecological problem) and finally solved them (e.g. Japan in Tokugawa era). Collapse is divided into four parts. * Part One * describes the environment of the US state of Montana, focusing on the lives of several individuals in order to put a human face on the interplay between society and the environment * Part Two * describes past societies that have collapsed. Diamond uses a "framework" when considering the collapse of a society, consisting of five "sets of factors" that may affect what happens to a society The societies describes are: - Easter Island (a society that collapsed entirely due to environmental damage) - The Polynesians of Pitcairn Island (environmental damage and loss of trading partners) - The Anasazi of the Southwestern USA (environmental damage and climate change) - The Maya of Central America (environmental damage, climate change, and hostile neighbours) - The Greenland Norse (environmental damage, loss of trading partners, climate change, hostile neighbours and unwillingness to change in the face of social collapse) For the success stories: - The Pacific island of Tikopia - The agricultural success of central New Guinea - The Tokugawa-era forest management in Japan. * Part Three * Finally, in the 3rd part, the book examines modern societies: - The collapse into genocide of Rwanda, caused in part by overpopulation - The failure of Haiti compared with the relative success of its neighbour, the Dominican Republic - The problems facing a Developing nation, China - The problems facing a First World nation, Australia * Part Four * The 4th and last part of the book touches issues regarding globalization and business exploitation.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-02-05 02:28:29.
(Language: English)
Fascinating subject but poorly handled. The author is simply a poor writer, he has the knowledge and the vision but he does not have the skill. Both the structure and the prose are quite poor, Diamond often repeats himself with no reason but sometimes does not follow up on tangents that should be reinforced. I was really annoyed by the lack of references, they are present there at the end of the book but what I'd like to see are inline references to actual studies, a book like that deserves them otherwise its just pure propaganda.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-11-16 04:01:32.
(Language: English)
You almost can feel the frustration the author pours into this book. As you would expect from Jared Diamond, the book is a well-researched, well-supported,scientific study with a peculiar sense of humor which I must admit I came to like. Providing a framework of five major factors that led the greatest civilization to collapse, the author warns that all five factors are not only present in the modern world but eerily and recklessly ignored by the societies who based on the accumulated knowledge about the history of past should probably know better. Highly recommended.
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A Reader posted a review at 2012-01-31 02:22:35.
(Language: English)
Fantastic review of what we are doing to the planet, with parallels drawn from civilisations that have vanished due to their poor management of their environment.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-10-05 05:36:44.
(Language: English)
I highly recommend this book. Before reading GG&S and Collapse, I identified the environmental movement as a whole with the most visible, extreme factions of it. This book introduces the idea that environmentalism can be practiced in a way that makes sense for everyone involved, and the most responsible stewardship of our resources does not necessarily conflict with making good use of them. The book also details the costs and consequences of squandering natural resources. Unexpectedly, this book gives deep insight into many political but non-environmental issues. Diamond addresses the cause of corruption that sprouts in rich societies that rely on a single, easily harvested resource (such as oil). He then contrasts this with societies that have little in the way of natural resources and must find diverse ways to engage other countries in order to thrive (such as Taiwan). Diamond illuminates the impact that natural resources have on a society and its relationships with other societies without resorting to the opaque language of academia.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-13 07:56:56.
(Language: English)
It's the end of the world as we know it... and you're not going to feel fine. Diamond finds some reason to hope for some societies as we face multiple environment crises, but some are destined to, well, damnation is a good word for it. The historical sections--Easter Island, Mayan, Greenland Norse--are the most interesting, but perhaps that's because the modern societies on the road to collapse--Hati, Rwanda, possibly China--are too close.I will live to see some of it, my daughter will live to see most of it. Tre depressing.Finally, Diamond has an annoying habit of writing in term-paper-itis. "I will now examine..." It distracts from his message.
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