The World Until Yesterday

What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies?

Jared Diamond

Recommended By

Book Synopsis

"The World Until Yesterday" by Jared Diamond is a thought-provoking exploration of traditional societies and their relevance to our modern world. Drawing upon his extensive fieldwork in remote areas, Diamond examines how traditional societies have adapted to challenges such as child-rearing, conflict resolution, healthcare, and dealing with aging populations. Through captivating anecdotes and rigorous analysis, Diamond shows how we can learn valuable lessons from these societies to improve our own lives.

In this enlightening book, Diamond highlights the importance of cultural diversity and the unique knowledge that traditional societies possess. He delves into the practices of hunter-gatherer communities, showcasing their efficient decision-making processes and resilient social structures. Diamond also examines the ways in which these societies handle disputes and conflicts, offering valuable insights for conflict resolution in today's world.

"The World Until Yesterday" explores the ways in which traditional societies emphasize community support and cooperation. Diamond demonstrates the advantages of communal child-rearing, demonstrating the benefits that extended families and close-knit communities provide for children's well-being and development. Additionally, he examines the elderly's roles within these societies, showcasing how they are valued for their wisdom and actively included in community life.

Diamond also delves into the health practices of traditional societies, discussing their holistic approaches to medicine and analyzing the reasons for their relatively low rates of chronic diseases. From diet and exercise to stress reduction techniques, the author presents ideas that challenge conventional wisdom in the field of healthcare.

Throughout this captivating read, Diamond draws parallels between traditional societies and our own, questioning the adequacy of our modern systems and encouraging us to reevaluate our lifestyles. By looking at the vast array of human experiences, "The World Until Yesterday" compels us to challenge our assumptions and embrace the wisdom of traditional societies to shape a more resilient and harmonious future.

Explore More Books

See All
Euclid's Elements
The Captive Mind
Fables
Flowers for Algernon
For The Love Of Physics
The Humane Economy
Memoirs
The Great Influenza
Think Like
History of the World
The Story of Civilization: Rousseau and Revolution
The Social Animal
The Worlds I See
Mission
The Dream of Reason
Children of Dune
Lateral Thinking
The World is Flat
A Bright Future
Jack
Predictably Irrational
The Art of Spirited Away
What You Do Is Who You Are
Maverick
Letters to a Young Scientist
You
Bitcoin is Venice
Being Aware of Being Aware
The Bitcoin Standard
In Praise of Slowness
Decrypting Money
Economics in One Lesson
Money Changes Everything
Decoded
The Dream Machine
Why Minsky Matters
Everything All At Once
Gay Like Me
Benjamin Franklin
Why Information Grows
The Sympathizer
Home Work
Dance to the Tune of Life
Go To
The Water Dancer
The Myth of the Strong Leader
Where Good Ideas Come From
Social Cognition
One Monster After Another
Benjamin Franklin
The Spy and The Traitor
Gang Leader for a Day
Grit
Take Back The Game
Who Am I
Shortcut
Letters of Note
Albert Einstein
The Psychology of Money
The Quest for El Cid
This Explains Everything
Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln
Nine Pints
Anything You Want
Bitcoin
Lucky Me
The Great Mental Models
Unstoppable Prosperity
A New History of Greek Mathematics
Reinventing American Health Care
Collected Fictions
The Book of Five Rings
Life Ascending
Who Is Michael Ovitz
On Intelligence
An Agricultural Testament
Letters To A Young Athlete
The End of History and the Last Man
Secrets of Power Negotiating
Little Brother
Changing Minds
Well
How to Get Lucky
Days of Rage
What Works on Wall Street
A Timeless Way of Building
Fall of Constantinople
Sit Like a Buddha
The New Jim Crow
A Universe From Nothing
New Power
Holistic Management
Born to Run
Devil's Harbor
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
The War of Art
Replay
Radical Uncertainty
How To Buy Stocks
On Grief and Grieving