tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10898244.post115339953886461711..comments2024-02-03T18:13:42.370-08:00Comments on ricklibrarian: Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamondricklibrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621583568674705756noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10898244.post-21691731938140581432009-08-18T07:05:09.641-07:002009-08-18T07:05:09.641-07:00Diamonds book offers anecdotal evidence at best - ...Diamonds book offers anecdotal evidence at best - there are just as many examples of flourishing societies that occupied either the same or adjacent territory as those that failed. Instead I would recommend you look at Victor Davis Hanson's volume "Why the West Has Won: Carnage and Culture from Salamis to Vietnam". The basic idea presented is that the West's faith in democracy and personal liberty have resulted in superior military capability and thus cultural dominance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10898244.post-1154552804445207072006-08-02T14:06:00.000-07:002006-08-02T14:06:00.000-07:00Sounds like a tough but important read. Like Diamo...Sounds like a tough but important read. Like Diamond, I remain cautiously optimistic, but do so in spite of the evidence sometimes.Dan Trabuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14303597141397042669noreply@blogger.com