In his earlier bestsellers Guns, Germs and Steel and Collapse, Jared Diamond transformed our understanding of what makes civilizations rise and fall. Now, in the final book 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 United States, and the world, are squandering their natural advantages, on a path towards 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 a book that is epic, urgent, and groundbreaking.
##《剧变》
评分##作者从个人应对危机的心理治疗方法中总结出12个与危机相关的因素,将其扩展到应对国家危机乃至全球危机上。本书的主题:个人、团体、企业、国家、乃至世界都有面临危机和压力的时候。危机可能来自外部,也可能来自内部。不管来自外部或内部都需要选择性地进行改变,对国家和个人来说都是如此。个人觉得本书在第八章后渐入佳境,分别讨论了日本,美国,和全球可以预见的危机问题。英文版中对中国的评价务实,中文版有删节。
评分##Interesting angles and analogies in reviewing the 7 selected countries, although no dedicated chapter to China (as it’s not one of the seven) it’s inevitably everywhere... Pleased and relieved with his unbiased attitude condemning Japan’s irresponsibility of denying its crimes in WWII. BTW another book using The Great Wave off Kanagawa🌊 as cover.
评分##作者对中国的解读不知道是停留在哪个年代,难以认同,拿出的优劣对比之处早已发生改变。尤其”the biggest single disadvantage that will prevent China from ever catching up with the U.S. in average income per person—as long as the U.S. remains democratic and China remains non-democratic.” 不论哪种体制,最终还是得看最高决策人的水平;另,感谢美帝披着外衣的『民主』,不然不会有川某上台,天天给娱乐新闻加料。期待美帝将民主进行到底!
评分##应对危机的12个建议: 承认危机 接受解决危机的责任 确定危机的边界 求助外界 借鉴榜样 自我力量/国家凝聚力 诚实地自我评估 应对危机的经验 耐心 灵活性 核心价值观 个人约束/国家地缘限制
评分##芬兰的经验是乌克兰应该汲取的 后几章没什么意思 3.5
评分##《剧变》
评分##One strong feeling is that having the form of countries as today, it seems inherent to have a world full of conflicts; ps, wish we can also have a similar self-reflection...pps, would't it be the case that emphasizing national identity may lead to nationalism?
评分##华沙一跪的Willy Brandt,出过大丑闻。他本身就有强烈的Socialist倾向,身边重要幕僚还是东德间谍,并且还陷入过性丑闻(美人计间谍)。他那一跪到底是反省NAZI还是跪舔华约,值得讨论。