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Quote by Jared Diamond

Work

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed: Revised Edition

This book delves into the historical and environmental factors that contribute to the collapse of societies, examining case studies from various cultures and eras. It provides a critical analysis of the interplay between human behavior, resource management, and environmental sustainability. more

Author

Jared Diamond
Jared Diamond

Jared Diamond is a renowned American scientist known for his work in ecology, biology, and geography. His book 'Guns, Germs, and Steel' explores the geographical and environmental factors that have shaped human societies, profoundly influencing global history and human civilization. more

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“The metaphor is so obvious. Easter Island isolated in the Pacific Ocean — once the island got into trouble, there was no way they could get free. There was no other people from whom they could get help. In the same way that we on Planet Earth, if we ruin our own [world], we won't be able to get help.”

“People often ask, "What is the single most important environmental population problem facing the world today?" A flip answer would be, "The single most important problem is our misguided focus on identifying the single most important problem!”

“Two types of choices seem to me to have been crucial in tipping the outcomes [of the various societies' histories] towards success or failure: long-term planning and willingness to reconsider core values. On reflection we can also recognize the crucial role of these same two choices for the outcomes of our individual lives.”

“For anyone inclined to caricature environmental history as 'environmental determinism,' the contrasting histories of the Dominican Republic and Haiti provide a useful antidote. Yes, environmental problems do constrain human societies, but the societies' responses also make a difference.”