The Lessons of History

The history of human evolution and its concurrent development as a species has long intrigued me. Historians, anthropologists, and sociologists alike have compiled patterns of historical development into a number of chronological books, some being more engaging than others. One such book is Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond. This book offers a comprehensive survey of the biological, cultural, agricultural, and industrial development of the major civilizations around the world. It is extremely well researched and a pleasure to read. I first picked up my copy at the recommendation by Ray Dalio (an American investor). While I was initially surprised with how short the chapters were—on average 40 pages each—I did not realize how much information was held within them until I began reading them. Throughout the years since I first read this book over a decade ago, I have re-read it multiple times for both professional purposes and for personal interest. Although I have now read it 12 times in total, I am still finding myself learning new things from it each time! When you discover a book that you continue to learn from each time you read it, it becomes one of the most valuable books that you own.