Rating: 
Summary: Ambitious and Fascinating
Review: I am impressed by Diamond's willingness to dive into areas outside his specialialization. To me that is the great strength of this book, it's an ambitious attempt to give a general theory of human "development". The problem of course, is that specialists will find fault with the details, that is inevitible in such a work. In general I agree with Diamond's view that the "success" of Europeans in conquering the world came down mostly to geograpical luck. Yes, there is the objection that culture also plays a part, but that doesn't deny that geography was the key thing. Overall, a fascinating book, very ambitious, and readable for non-academics. Not without flaws, but with this approach, that's inevitible, and I don't feel that distracts from the book's considerable strengths.
Rating:
Summary: Seven million years of human history in 400 pages---
Review: Recorded history began about 10,000 years ago, but the human species has been around for several million years. This book covers it ALL, starting seven million years ago, when a population of African apes divided into three populations, leading respectively to gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans. In a paragraph, Diamond takes us three million years to homo erectus---full-size, walking upright, but with only a half-size brain.Homo erectus was the first pre-human to spread beyond Africa, about one or two million years ago, and fossils have been found in Europe that date to a half-million years ago. Fossils from that time indicate larger brains, and looking more like homo sapiens. About a hundred thousand years ago was the age of Neanderthals, still less than fully human. Human history at last took off about fifty thousand years ago, with the advent of Cro-Magnons, who used tools, weapons, houses, sewn clothing, jewelry, burial rites, and sophisticated art work. Diamond calls this period the "Great Leap Forward." He is not so sure whether this leap occurred in one "Garden of Eden" or many places around the world concurrently. In Europe the evidence is that Cro-Magnons displaced Neanderthals some 40,000 years ago, with no interbreeding. (Cro-Magnons are so different from Neanderthals that it strikes me as something of a mystery how they actually originated, or whether they were really descendants of Neanderthals---hmmmmm----) By 20,000 years ago there were humans throughout Europe and Asia, and by 12,000 years ago they crossed the Bering Straits to Alaska, and a thousand years later had reached much of South America. Diamond touches on many ambiguities in this scientific account of our origins. The above is a summary of twenty pages devoted to this period, which sets the stage for Diamond's subsequent attempt to answer the question of why some parts of the world developed literate industrial societies, others nonliterate farming societies, and still others remained hunter-gatherers using stone tools. Diamond takes us through the domestication of plants and animals, where and when it occurred with his explanations of why it first occurred in the Fertile Crescent starting about 11,000 years ago, thousands of years later in other places. He shows that environmental and geographic factors can fully account for the differences in how and when food production capability developed in different places, and the profound impact that had on subsequent development. We then learn how the domestication of animals led to diseases and germs, to steel and weapons, and to some peoples having the capability to conquer or even exterminate other peoples. Major factors are the geographical axis of the continents (east-west versus north-south) and differences in the natural availability of plant and animal species suitable for domestication. These factors favored the Fertile Crescent, where the agricultural revolution had it's origins as well as the later spread of agricultural technology throughout Europe and Asia, and later in the Americas. Germs and diseases developed with origins in domesticated animals that affected humans, who then developed a degree of immunity or resistance to diseases like smallpox. Populations that lagged in animal domestication were lacking this immunity. Those with a head start were then able to conquer and sometimes eliminate more primitive cultures, often through the accidental or even intentional spread of diseases. Diamond provides a compelling explanation for the differences in present day modern and primitive societies based totally on factors other than race or genetics. Some may say it is an elaborate and scholarly rationalization for a politically correct world view, or that many other important factors are neglected. Diamond discusses a few of these issues in an Epilogue. Maybe it is presumptuous to comment on such a superb, scholarly work that has won a Pulitzer Prize as well as critical acclaim and LOTS of readers---but, for what it's worth, I found it intensely interesting. The most ambitious account of the history of mankind and human societies I've encountered, and a compelling case against racist views of the differences between cultures. Highly recommended!!
Rating:
Summary: For the interested layman to enjoy
Review: I do not have a degree in history but have always been interested in discovering the past. Many "scholarly" books speak at a level that makes reading them more a chore than pleasure. Guns, Germs, and Steel sets a standard for intelligent, well composed historical prose that hits all the high points. I never felt left behind by the author and was intrigued by the expanding case for environment as the driving cause of conquest and the make up of our modern world. A joy to read, it is enlightening and well laid out. The only caveat would be Diamond's tendency to restate his case and prove already acceptable theories. The entire work is logical and I can't find an argument to dispute his conclusions.
Rating: 
Summary: Ugh
Review: Diamond's book is an example of what is now known as "reverse racism." Arguing the New Guineans have a greater intellectual capacitity than Europeans in particular is just too much to swallow. I agree that race plays no part in the rise of cultures, but I also contend that culture plays a part in the rise of races. Imagine if Diamond had lived in the realm of the founders of Western culture-- the ancient Greeks and Romans. He would have praised the pale, yet primitive Europeans to the north as somehow superior than his own swarthy people of the Mediterranean. Truly a racist ahead of his time! Yet the whiter people of northern Europe would eventually come to exert more influence on the rest of the world than the Greeks or Romans ever did, apparently losing the mantle of unbridled intellectual capacity. Apparently, Diamond hates the West. He resents its success at the expense of indigenous people throughout the world. But remember, Gauls, Iberians, and Germans were once indigenous people too. And don't think for a moment that New Guinea natives would never have hesitated to oppress white people if given the means. If Europeans developed guns, better methods of treating disease, and steel, it's because of a history of the Western notions of rational inquiry and the dissemination of knowledge. Determinists might love his book because it makes an easy argument supported by conventional wisdom. I am no determinist, nor is Diamond an historian.
Rating:
Summary: exceptional depth and scope
Review: The book is the result of an attempt to explain why some civilizations (civilization is definitely not the correct word to use here. I am using it for lack of a better term. "A region occupied by a homogeneous ethnic group" is what I believe the author is basing his arguments on) came to evolve faster than others. The book consists of three parts; the first in posing the question, the second in developing theories as of why differences in speed of advancements in different civilizations occur, and lastly in applying the author's theories to different continents. The author attributes differences in available natural resources at the time of exploitation as reasons of disparities in speed of development. A typical argument of his would evolve as such (excerpt from chap. 9): "How can we explain the concentration of the Ancient Fourteen [domesticated animals] in Eurasia? ... One reason is simple. Eurasia has the largest number of big terrestrial wild animal species, whether or not ancestral to a domesticated species. Table x.x shows that Eurasia has the most candidates ... [Table x.x contains 1) candidates and 2) percentage of candidates actually domesticated] ... But why were Eurasia's horses domesticated but not Africa's Zebras? ... Efforts at domestication went as far as hitching Zebras to carts: they were tried out as draft animals in 19C Africa, and the eccentric Lord Walter Rothschild drove through the streets of London in a carriage by zebras. Alas, zebras become impossible dangerous as they grow older. Zebras have the unpleasant habit of biting a person and not letting go. They thereby injure even more American zookeepers each year than do tigers! ..." Diamond evidently adopts a divide-and-conquer strategy in his arguments. A quick, immediately palpable reason succeeds the initial question he poses, followed by an abundance of physiological and/or physical evidence. From the evidence yet another set of questions arise, which are in turn answered with more ample evidence, often times supplemented with historical annectdotes. Diamond's evolutionary/physiological/physical approach is not without precedents. The historian Ferdiand Braudel, as well as biologist Cavalli-Sforza for example used similiar arguments in their numerous publications. However none of their publications are as thorough in evidence and at the same time as accessible as this book. It was an enjoyable, and in a sense, relaxing read. With what little knowledge I have, I gather that evolutionary theories are in (for every social phoenomenon there seems to be an associated evolutionary theoretic explanation nowadays). There will be other ways in the future to explain the very same question Diamond attempted to tackle, but till then there will be more than enough time for Diamond's "historical science" (as he puts it) to evolve.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT!!
Review: This book has totally changed the way I look at human cultures throughout the world and throughout history; it should be used as a textbook in high school world history classes. The explanations for how and why peoples around the world came to be how they are is extraordinary. At the same time, it makes one wonder "Why didn't I think of that?" It is a thought-provoking book that is definately one of my favorites!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best I've ever read
Review: I am not a historian in part because of the non-causal way in which history is often taught. This book presents a pretty cohesive story about how long-term human history was shaped by basic causes we all understand, like geography, topography, climate. The climate and location made it better to grow stuff in the Middle East, so early people did it and it worked. That led to farms and farm animals and civilization. Pretty simple story. He fills in the details pretty convincingly. Things fit together. He doesn't need some non-scientific excuse like "white people are smarter", which only serves to inflame people. It's not that this book is completely right in all it's explanations. Occasional holes in logic appear, but nothing dramatic. However, this book provides such a solid framework to allow the reader to think pretty hard and deep, if they don't already have preconceived notions about genetics as explanations.
Rating: 
Summary: Author gets points for the big picture but he left a lot out
Review: After reading this book, and many of the reviews here, I am more than ever convinced that concision is a virtue! The author presents the thesis that environmental causes were responsible for the hegemony of primarily Eurasian peoples (some Chinese) over the rest of the world. It is provocative and perhaps controversial to some. What I find missing in the book is any consideration of the role of gender in society and of religion apart from its role in nation building in more "civilized" societies. To give just two examples, many anthropologists and archeologists think that early Neolithic Cretan culture was in some respects matrifocal; it was "advanced" in terms of architecture and art but not warlike. Some scientists believe that there were a number of such cultures, yet how matrifocality and nonaggression may have played a role in Eurasian history is not touched upon here. Similarly, the author goes to great pains to show how Aboriginal Australians were prevented by environmental factors from developing agriculture. Yet he does not even mention their often breathtaking telepathic and locational abilities, unsurpassed anywhere else in the world, nor does he touch upon their highly original art or their eco-friendly religion. In sum, the book tries not to privilege Eurasian societies but it cannot help privileging normative eurasian culture.
Rating:
Summary: takes a new look at history, but intellectually limited
Review: Guns, Germs and Steel challenges the traditional historians view of the world, that world events are shaped by people and ideas, instead the author claims that some societies flourished while others stagnated due to geographic and environmental factors, vice concepts such as liberty, the rights of man, or teh pursuit of scientific inquiry. The author describes in great lengths the details of early man and how he developed in different parts of the world. European culture has come to dominate mainly because they were the first to have domesticated animals and crops. If the Africans had them first we would be living in an Afro-dominated world. While I leaned much about early history, I never convinced of the author's major argument. He completely disregarded the role of culture and ideas on societal development, and labeled anyone who stated that some societies were better at doing certain tasks than others as racist. I found this tone smothering and prevented the book from being intellectually valid.
Rating: 
Summary: Insight into civilizations and development -compelling read
Review: Professor Diamond provides a compelling theory for the differences in civilizations and development among different races, linking a wide range of factors that have not generally been considered as a part of one holistic historical record. This book is an enthralling read for the evolutionary biologist, anthropologist, social scientist and layman alike.
GUNS, GERMS, AND STEEL is a convincing discussion about the plausibility of arguments that centre around the challenging question of why population groups on different continents experienced widely divergent paths of development. Professor Jared Diamond, comes across as a firm believer in the theory of environmental determinism, presenting elegant arguments consistent with evidence provided from a wide range of disciplines, even as he skillfully evades the question of genetic diversity, including differentiated intelligence, among racial groups even though on several occasions we find Diamond subtly stating that he finds the average New Guinean more intelligent than the average Westerner. Beginning 13,000 years ago, the author illuminated the conditions or circumstances that may have facilitated development for some groups and inhibited the rise of others. Diamond argues that food production and domestication of wild species is of paramount importance in determining variable rates of development for different societies. Jared Diamond plays skillfully with the evidence at hand to present convincing arguments of how the spread of infectious diseases have decimated local communities and helped in the establishment of new societies, how the east/west orientation of continents proved to be conducive for transmigration of people, products, and technologies and how food production led to the growth of a predominantly hierarchical present day societies.
On the whole, it proves to be an illuminating piece of work on the rise and fall of civilizations and societies from several interesting perspectives. Guns, germs and steel is a book bound to appeal to a wide audience.
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