Watching "Guns, Germs, and Steel"

Over the weekend I watched the National Geographic documentary, Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. The documentary is based on the book by Jared Diamond, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1998. I enjoyed the documentary and thought it was beautifully put together. I just didn’t find myself being blown away. I know the book received incredible commotion and is being read in classrooms. Knowing this, I kept waiting for something revolutionary. This moment did not occur. Perhaps I’ve taken too many Anthropology courses, which cover the same material but go deeper. Or, maybe when I read the book I’ll feel differently and end up being amazed. (I plan on reading the book next.)

I was surprised that Diamond did not cover religion as a major player in shaping the fates of human societies. I know the title is, “Guns, Germs, and Steel” but I would revise it to, “Guns, Germs, Steel, and Christianity.” I don’t think you can have a fair discussion of human history without discussing religion. I know, I know, Diamond linked everything back to geography. Maybe he should have named the book, “Geographic Advantages: The Fates of Human Societies” instead.

I don’t typically watch documentaries but sometimes I do envision myself as a National Geographic reporter/photographer. Or as an anthropologist who must conduct critical fieldwork in some remote location in the world. This is where my mind drifted off to as I watched the documentary. Of course, it is very easy to have these thoughts from the comfort of one’s couch. If I really were living this life I might start to miss all that I cherish now. Clean water. Soap. Febreze. Iced lattes. Sleeping in late. How could I live the life of the investigative journalist without such luxuries?