Jared Diamond's "Upheaval: Turning Points for Nations in Crisis"

I’ve come to expect great things from Jared Diamond, and Upheaval did not disappoint. Like everything else I’ve read by him, I think this book was well-researched, thoughtful, and brilliantly written. Even his pacing is great. The book is, basically, a set of case studies (past and present) that describe how various nations dealt — or are dealing — with a crisis.

As one might expect, some countries recognized a crisis early on and addressed it forthrightly and effectively. Others denied the crisis and/or fumbled their response. Mr. Diamond discusses the implications of response quality in his usual, clear fashion.

Of course, Diamond covers the current crisis of global warming. Despite the politicized nature of public discourse, Diamond’s observations are sober and non-inflammatory. His arguments are cogent. HIs prescriptions for response make sense.

This book is well worth your time and serious attention.