4 ms·

Any recommendations for a book about the same subject matter, but more on the academic side?

by GuiA 9y ago

gradys 9y ago
Why the West Rules for Now - broad coverage of human history, starting with pre-human hominids. Loosely guided by looking for an account of why in 20th century so much power was concentrated in the West compared to the East, but that guiding question only comes up occasionally. It's mostly a plain history book. I've also heard Our Kind recommended for this kind of thing, but I haven't read it myself.
- markdog12 9y ago
  I read Our Kind over a decade ago, and thought it was a very good book at the time, but its central thesis, that culture dominates biology, is overstated. I haven't read Why the West Rules for Now, but just looking at its wiki page, it looks to be a complete rehash of Guns, Germs and Steel? The title made me think of The West and the Rest, excellent book: https://www.amazon.ca/Civilization-West-Rest-Niall-Ferguson/dp/0143122061 https://www.amazon.ca/Civilization-West-Rest-Niall-Ferguson/...
axplusb 9y ago
Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond offers an interesting and academically quite solid perspective.
- markdog12 9y ago
  It was an interesting book, lots of good points that contributed to the west's success. But, it's certainly not without its critics. He gives almost no credit to human agency. https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAnthropology/comments/1rzm07/what_are_some_of_the_main_anthropological/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAnthropology/comments/1rzm07/wha...
  - TeMPOraL 9y ago
    Interesting discussion there, thanks for linking! RE "He gives almost no credit to human agency", I wonder what's the current state of that discussion. My current belief (as always, subject to change) is in technological determinism - i.e. available technology level shapes the "parameter space" of social and economical structures, and individual agency is a secondary factor. This seems to match my knowledge of history and history of science, as well as observations of current social dynamics. I'm not a scholar in the area though, so I don't know what's the best criticism of that view.
MrsPeaches 9y ago
Highly recommend, Ideas: A History by Peter Watson. Has a little less about historical events and more on the ideas that shaped humanity. The part on early human development is also fascinating. https://www.amazon.com/d/Books/Ideas-History-Peter-Watson/0753820897/ https://www.amazon.com/d/Books/Ideas-History-Peter-Watson/07...

Any recommendations for a book about the same subject matter, but more on the academic side?

by GuiA 9y ago

Any recommendations for a book about the same subject matter, but more on the academic side?

Why the West Rules for Now - broad coverage of human history, starting with pre-human hominids. Loosely guided by looking for an account of why in 20th century so much power was concentrated in the West compared to the East, but that guiding question only comes up occasionally. It's mostly a plain history book. I've also heard Our Kind recommended for this kind of thing, but I haven't read it myself.

markdog12 9y ago
I read Our Kind over a decade ago, and thought it was a very good book at the time, but its central thesis, that culture dominates biology, is overstated. I haven't read Why the West Rules for Now, but just looking at its wiki page, it looks to be a complete rehash of Guns, Germs and Steel? The title made me think of The West and the Rest, excellent book: https://www.amazon.ca/Civilization-West-Rest-Niall-Ferguson/dp/0143122061 https://www.amazon.ca/Civilization-West-Rest-Niall-Ferguson/...

axplusb 9y ago

Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond offers an interesting and academically quite solid perspective.

markdog12 9y ago
It was an interesting book, lots of good points that contributed to the west's success. But, it's certainly not without its critics. He gives almost no credit to human agency. https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAnthropology/comments/1rzm07/what_are_some_of_the_main_anthropological/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAnthropology/comments/1rzm07/wha...
- TeMPOraL 9y ago
  Interesting discussion there, thanks for linking! RE "He gives almost no credit to human agency", I wonder what's the current state of that discussion. My current belief (as always, subject to change) is in technological determinism - i.e. available technology level shapes the "parameter space" of social and economical structures, and individual agency is a secondary factor. This seems to match my knowledge of history and history of science, as well as observations of current social dynamics. I'm not a scholar in the area though, so I don't know what's the best criticism of that view.

MrsPeaches 9y ago

Highly recommend, Ideas: A History by Peter Watson. Has a little less about historical events and more on the ideas that shaped humanity. The part on early human development is also fascinating. https://www.amazon.com/d/Books/Ideas-History-Peter-Watson/0753820897/ https://www.amazon.com/d/Books/Ideas-History-Peter-Watson/07...