A Macat Analysis of Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive

In Collapse, Diamond identifies five factors he believes determine the success or failure of all human societies throughout history. Asking first why societies collapse, he explores various examples of failed societies, from the Norsemen of Scandinavia to the 18th century inhabitants of Easter Island. He then shows how inhabitants of Highland New Guinea and Japan overcame potentially terminal challenges to their survival thanks to variations in the same five factors. Collapse alienated many academics, especially those who objected to the emphasis on "geographic determinism." But Diamond's depth of knowledge and emphasis on lessons we can learn from the past have earned a huge readership.