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Steven Hanley 
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Wed, 29 Dec 2004
Rise and fall of societies - 22:40
 
A few days ago my sister suggested I read a book by Jared Diamond called
"Guns, Germs and Steel" which attempts to explain why western societies have
come to dominate the world. I have been reading the Tim Flannery book "The
Future Eaters" which takes an even longer term view but does discuss some of
the issues about resource usage various civilisations. Today I saw a link to a
Malcom Gladwell 
review of a
new Jared Diamond book "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed"
which appears to take an even closer view on the same subject of why a society
may or may not succeed.
 
I am about half way through the Future Eaters and so far it is a good read, I
suspect these books by Diamond are also if my sister and Gladwell are an
indication. I suppose I should add more links the the post above, for now
though bed beckons once more.  
 
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