Guns, Germs, and Steel

This book by Jared Diamond attempts to answer one of the biggest questions asked by historians: why did history turn out the way it did? More specifically, why did Eurasians conquer the rest of the world and not the other way around? Diamond offers much evidence to support the theory that the fates of societies are based on their environments. He explains how Eurasia had many significant advantages over the rest of the world: Eurasia had the most animals and plants capable of being domesticated as well as a landmass most favorable for diffusion of developments and ideas.

I thought this was a very interesting read because it does provide much explanation for why our world is the way it is today. It also fiercely refutes any racist theories that some humans are innately inferior to others. However, the book was a very tedious read and probably could have been shorter. Despite this, I would still recommend this book to anyone who wants a basic understanding of human societies.

~Mohammed

Adam's Tongue, How Humans Made Language, How Language Made Humans

Adam's Tongue, by Derek Bickerton, is a "must read" book. The in-depth analysis of the creation of language is astounding. He shows the reader the many theories about the origins of language and identifies what is plausible and implausible about each of them. Although he may be fairly bias in some of his opinions, the overall book is amazing.  Derek Bickerton is 84 years old and is a Professor Emeritus of Linguistics at the University of Hawaii. He graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1949. He has written many books about linguistics over the course of his life.

 Jesse James