Upheaval

Turning Points for Nations in Crisis

By: Jared Diamond

Narrated by: Henry Strozier

A brilliant new theory of how and why some nations recover from trauma and others don't, by the author of the landmark best sellers Guns, Germs, and Steel and Collapse.

In his earlier best sellers Guns, Germs and Steel and Collapse, Jared Diamond transformed our understanding of what makes civilizations rise and fall. Now, in the final audiobook in this monumental trilogy, he reveals how successful nations recover from crisis through selective change - a coping mechanism more commonly associated with personal trauma.

In a dazzling comparative study, Diamond shows us how seven countries have survived defining upheavals in the recent past - from US Commodore Perry's arrival in Japan to the Soviet invasion of Finland to Pinochet's regime in Chile - through a process of painful self-appraisal and adaptation, and he identifies patterns in the way that these distinct nations recovered from calamity. Looking ahead to the future, he investigates whether the US and the world are squandering their natural advantages on a path toward political conflict and decline. Or can we still learn from the lessons of the past?

Adding a psychological dimension to the awe-inspiring grasp of history, geography, economics, and anthropology that marks all Diamond's work, Upheaval reveals how both nations and individuals can become more resilient. The result is an audiobook that is epic, urgent, and groundbreaking.

©2019 Jared Diamond (P)2019 Recorded Books

Interesting history

I learned a lot of history of all the countries mentioned in the book. That's great. However, the analysis with the framework is a little bit boring, not too exciting. The epilogue is also not too interesting.

Sometimes, the quality of the sound is not smooth and equal.

Heed the warnings and lessons from others!

Like his previous books, Jared Diamond continues to probe the complexities of nations and their people giving us insight into how crisis are dealt with through his narrative lens. This book is a great addition to the others by the author, though I fear not enough readers will actively take the lessons to heart and begin their own transformations to help their nation and planet through the challenges we now face.

Highly recommended.
(Speed up the narration as it's a bit slow for my ADHD mind)

Enriching, fresh perspective!

It is very enriching to connect some moments in the history of some countries from a learning perspective to understand human behavior and our societies and be able to contribute to the common well-being.

Excellent historical analysis on several Countries

a little dry, but an excellent analysis of crisis points in history and personal lives

Prescient analysis of change

interesting case studies of countries activity to adapt and change. Accurately depicted USA reactions to events of 2020 before they happened

Grows on you...get through 1st few sections

This was a good audiobook. It started very slow and I put it down several times and almost stopped completely, but then it got very interesting. The narration, not the story was frustrating at first but if you adjust the speed to about 1.2 it makes it much more palatable.

not sure I buy the primice

The history was interesting. Not sure the physiological stuff made sense . Narrator was good

Well researched

Informative We learned a lot. Jared Diamond is a highly educated and interesting author
Well documented and well presented

Where are the charts and figures for Audible?

There are frequent references to two tables and other figures. Are these accessible to Audible listeners?

THE WISDOM OF AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE

Jared Diamond wrote this book at the ripe old age of 82. You can quibble with his names and dates here and there—forgetfulness sets in sooner or later, alas—but his erudition shines through regardless on every page. Diamond speaks more than ten languages and has lived an extraordinary life. He’s smarter than you. So quit the nitpicking, shut up, and listen to the man. I think you’ll find that he’s remarkably wise.