Reading Jared Diamond

Jared Diamond is a best-selling author on topics of world prehistory and environmental conservation. In this seminar we will read and discuss Diamond’s work alongside that of his critics. By taking parallel case studies from New Guinea, Mesoamerica, and Greenland (for example), students will learn critical thinking and analysis skills while also undertaking a survey of world cultures. The core questions facing the class are “why has the world turned out this way, and not some other?” and “what are the causes and consequences of environmental degradation?” 3 hrs. sem.