“In July 1972, I was walking along a beach in New Guinea, where I was working as an ornithologist. I had heard of a prominent politician named Yali who was visiting the area. By chance, Yali was heading in my direction that day; he caught up with me and walked alongside me for a good hour, chatting the whole time.
Yali was a charismatic, energetic man with an almost hypnotic charm. He was self-assured, asked pointed questions, and listened attentively.
[…] He then began asking about the arrival of his ancestors tens of thousands of years ago and about European colonization over the last two hundred years.
[…] It was a subject he had clearly pondered at length when he asked me, fixing me with his penetrating gaze: ‘Why do you white people have so much cargo (material goods, Editor’s note) and bring it here to New Guinea, while we black people have so little?’
It was a simple question, born of his own direct experience. Indeed, the disparities between the lifestyles of the local people and white people were—and still are—enormous, and the same holds true for many other parts of the world […]
At the time, I didn’t know what to say […] In recent years, I have deeply studied various aspects of human evolution, history, and language; now, twenty-five years later, I can attempt to answer Yali in this book.”1
As told by Jared Diamond himself, his research starts from this question: why has humanity experienced such different rates of development on the various continents?
Publisher: Einaudi, 2014 | Pages: XIV – 400
EAN: 9788806219222
Published in 1998, Guns, Germs, and Steel remains an illuminating essay addressing the central question of our history: why did Europeans and Asians come to dominate almost the entire planet, rather than Africans, Native Americans, or other peoples? Why are some societies wealthier than others? The temptation to answer by invoking human beings and their supposed inherent traits is strong. Yet, Diamond argues, the racist explanation should be rejected not merely because it is odious, but above all because it is incorrect and fails to withstand scientific scrutiny. Cultural differences are not innate; rather, they are rooted in geographical, ecological, and territorial disparities that are fundamentally a matter of chance.
By drawing on linguistics, archaeology, molecular genetics, and a myriad of other sources of knowledge, Diamond—writing at a historical and political juncture that fosters racism and suspicion of the “other”—helps the reader make sense of an increasingly complex and contentious geopolitical landscape.
We recommend this book not only for its fascinating content but also for the engaging way the author’s skill as a communicator blends personal anecdotes with dramatic narratives and explanations of complex biological theories.
If you are a member of EARTH GARDENERS APS, you can purchase this book at a 5% discount from the “Messaggerie Sarde” bookstore in Sassari (Piazza Castello 11) Italy. If you don’t have your 2026 membership card yet, you can pick it up at the bookstore when you go to make your purchase!
Credits
Author: Anna Lacci is a science communicator and expert in environmental education, sustainability, and place-based teaching. She is the author of documentaries, nature books, workbooks, interdisciplinary teaching resources, and multimedia informational materials.
Translated by Maria Antonietta Sessa
Translated into English from the Italian version
