Ive worked very hard in this book to keep the lines of communication open. I dont want to turn someone away from this information for partisan political reasons. – Jared Diamond
Were uncomfortable about considering history as a science. Its classified as a social science, which is considered not quite scientific. – Jared Diamond
Introspection and preserved writings give us far more insight into the ways of past humans than we have into the ways of past dinosaurs. For that reason, Im optimistic that we can eventually arrive at convincing explanations for these broadest patterns of human history. – Jared Diamond
The main thing that gives me hope is the media. We have radio, TV, magazines, and books, so we have the possibility of learning from societies that are remote from us, like Somalia. We turn on the TV and see what blew up in Iraq or we see conditions in Afghanistan. – Jared Diamond