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Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
by Diamond, Jared
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN 10
- 0670033375
- ISBN 13
- 9780670033379
- Seller
-
Frederick, Maryland, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Penguin Group USA Inc.. Used - Good. Good condition. Acceptable dust jacket. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains.
Synopsis
Diamond identifies five factors that contribute to collapse: climate change, hostile neighbors, collapse of essential trading partners, environmental problems, and failure to adapt to environmental issues. He also lists 12 environmental problems facing mankind today. The first eight have historically contributed to the collapse of past societies: Deforestation and habitat destruction Soil problems (erosion, salinization, and soil fertility losses) Water management problems Overhunting Overfishing Effects of introduced species on native species Overpopulation Increased per-capita impact of people Further, he says four new factors may contribute to the weakening and collapse of present and future societies: Anthropogenic climate change Buildup of toxins in the environment Energy shortages Full human utilization of the Earth’s photosynthetic capacity Diamond also writes about cultural factors, such as the apparent reluctance of the Greenland Norse to eat fish. The root problem in all but one of Diamond's factors leading to collapse is overpopulation relative to the practicable (as opposed to the ideal theoretical) carrying capacity of the environment. The one factor not related to overpopulation is the harmful effect of accidentally or intentionally introducing nonnative species to a region. Diamond also states that "it would be absurd to claim that environmental damage must be a major factor in all collapses: the collapse of the Soviet Union is a modern counter-example, and the destruction of Carthage by Rome in 146 BC is an ancient one. It's obviously true that military or economic factors alone may suffice" (p. 15). Societal collapse Wavefunction collapse Collapse (Album), an album by the American metalcore band Across Five Aprils Collapse (medical) Collapse (structural) Collapse of the Soviet Union, the collapse of Soviet federalism Cave-in is a kind of structural collapse Collapse, the action a collapsible or telescoping object does Collapse (book) by Jared M.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Wonder Book
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- H16K-00038
- Title
- Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
- Author
- Diamond, Jared
- Book Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 0670033375
- ISBN 13
- 9780670033379
- Publisher
- Penguin Group USA Inc.
- Place of Publication
- New York
- This edition first published
- December 29, 2004
Terms of Sale
Wonder Book
RETURNS are cheerfully accepted up to 30 days. We ship out within 1-2 business days and U.S. Standard Shipments usually arrive within 6-9 business days, Priority 3-6.
About the Seller
Wonder Book
Biblio member since 2003
Frederick, Maryland
About Wonder Book
With 3 stores less than 1 hour outside the DC/Metropolitan area (1 in Gaithersburg, 1 in Frederick and 1 in Hagerstown, MD), we have the largest selection of books in the tri-state area. Wonder Book and Video has been in business since 1980 and online since 1997. We have over 1 Million books for sale on our website and another 1 Million books for sale in our 3 locations. We have a very active online inventory and as such, we can receive multiple orders for the same item. We fill those orders on a first come first serve basis, but will refund promptly any items that are out of stock. Since 1980 it has always been about the books. ALL kinds of books from 95 cent children\'s paperbacks to five figure rare and collectibles. A merging of the old and new is where we started, and it is where we are today. Our retail stores have always been places where a reader can rush in looking for a title needed for a term paper that is due the next day, or where bibliophiles can get lost \"in the stacks\" for as long as they wish. In 2002 USAToday recognized us as \"1 of 10 Great Old Bookstores\", and we have been featured in numerous other newspaper and TV stories including Washington Post and CSpan.
Glossary
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- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
- Acceptable
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