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Collapse – Part 3

Writer's picture: Arjun PatelArjun Patel

Hey guys! Jared Diamond's Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed is a fascinating look at why some civilizations thrive while others crumble. In this blog post, I'm focusing on the book's third part, which dives into the moments when societies face collapse and the choices that lead them there. 


In Collapse, Diamond examines several societies, like the Norse in Greenland and the people of Easter Island, to show how they fell apart. What's striking is how often their downfall was due to environmental damage, bad decisions, and an inability to adapt. For example, the Norse clung to European farming methods in Greenland, which didn't work in the harsh climate, leading to their eventual collapse. Similarly, Easter Island's inhabitants cut down all their trees to build statues, which led to ecological disaster and the society's end. 


Diamond also points out that these collapses weren't just about what happened within a society—external factors like climate change or interactions with other groups often influenced them. The Maya civilization, for instance, faced a deadly combination of drought and conflict, which pushed them over the edge. 


The third part of Collapse is a wake-up call. It shows that the factors leading to societal collapse are often within our control, but we tend to ignore the warning signs. Diamond's analysis feels incredibly relevant as we face our challenges today, like climate change and resource shortages. 


This part of the book is a powerful reminder that we need to learn from history. The choices we make now could determine whether our society thrives or collapses. Diamond's work isn't just a history lesson—it's a call to action. We have the power to avoid the mistakes of the past, but only if we pay attention and act wisely. That's all I have today, but I will write more shortly. Stay tuned! 


- AnthroManTalks 

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