Muskogee Public Library's Third Thursday Book Club discussion

Hey Guys. Here are some (very detailed) discussion questions for collapsed. So far, it's completely enthralled me... I never thought a non fiction book could do that.

Reading/Discussion Questions
Collapse by Jared Diamond

Source: http://mathcs.holycross.edu

Prologue:

1. Who was Ozymandias and how does the quote \Look on my works ye Mighty, and despair!"
from Shelley's famous poem relate to Diamond's argument? How does Shelley's poem set the
tone for the book?

2. What is the major controversy Diamond identies as pertinent to any understanding of the
ecological collapses of past civilizations? What opinions do you have regarding this contro-
versy?

3. What are the ve main factors Diamond identies as possible causes for collapse? It is useful
to keep these in mind when reading about each society.
Part One:

4. How did Montana go from being one of the richest states in the US to one of the poorest?
What environmental factors and damage helped lead to this decline? Which environmental
problems discussed by Diamond surprised you the most? Which problems angered you the
most?

5. The presumed con
ict between environmentalism and business is an important issue to un-
derstand when studying environmental problems. What do you think about the quote on the
bottom of page 37? Why does the author of the quote distinguish between accountants or
attorneys and clergy members?

6. Chapter one ends with four stories shared by current Montana residents. Did any of these
stories resonate with you? Which did you nd the most compelling and which the most
disturbing?

Part Two:

7. Concerning the complete and utterly devastating eects of deforestation on Easter Island,
what do you think Easter Islanders were thinking when the nal trees were felled? Why and
how do you think all the trees came to be destroyed?

8. What traits do the collapses of Easter Island and the Maya have in common?

9. What type of investigative technique did you nd the most impressive in Part Two?

10. Which example of a past civilization to collapse do you nd most compelling and why? Which
best ts Diamonds thesis? Which image or passage in Part Two made the most powerful
impression on you?

Part Three:

11. On page 312, Diamond distinguishes between exponential population growth and arithmetic
food production growth. What is the mathematical dierence between exponential and arith-
metic growth? Where did we see this in the course last semester? Why is this distinction so
important to Diamond's argument here?

12. On pp. 326-327, when discussing the Rwandan genocide, Diamond contrasts \explanations"
with \excuses." What do you think of this distinction? Are there any recent events that you
think this could apply to? According to Diamond, what were the main factors behind the
Rwandan genocide?

13. On page 376, Diamond writes that our world \cannot sustain China and other Third World
countries and current First World countries all operating at First World levels." Yet, can we
ethically deny Third World countries the comforts and advantages that we in the First World
enjoy? In your opinion, what should our leaders do to lessen or resolve looming con
icts over
resources between First and Third World countries?

14. Which of Diamond's examples of modern societies do you nd most compelling and why?
Which best ts Diamonds thesis? Which image or passage in Part Three made the most
powerful impression on you?
Part Four:

15. Do you agree or disagree with Diamond's environmental concerns for the world? Does he
overstate the seriousness of these issues? Do you nd him to be overly pessimistic about our
chances for solving these problems?

16. What emotions did you experience during and after reading Collapse? Did you come away
depressed, angry, inspired, cautiously hopeful, or did you have an entirely dierent reaction?

17. One of the main goals of Collapse is to draw parallels between past and present societies, in
an attempt to learn from previous mistakes and head o possible future collapses. Diamond
argues that the mistakes and blindness and bad luck that led to past collapses can and will
happen again, and that many problems in the world today arise because we don't do things
dierently. Do you agree with Diamond's basic premise that the past and present are closely
connected, or do you think there is an essential ingredient that distinguishes us (the modern
world) from previous civilizations, thereby weakening Diamond's cause for concern?

18. If the United States were to collapse, how do you think it will happen? What would it look
like? Which of Diamond's ve factors dened at the outset of the book would play a major
role in the demise of the U.S.? Are there additional factors that could be relevant? Would the
collapse occur suddenly, as with the society on Easter Island or Maya civilization, or would
it be a gradual and stable decline, such as with Great Britain after World War II? Which
ancient and/or modern societies should we look to as examples to avoid or cases to admire?
Explain.

19. Part of the mission of Holy Cross is to foster a community which engages in fundamental
questions such as \What are our obligations to one another?" and \What is our special
responsibility to the world's poor and powerless?" With that in mind, what personal obligation
or responsibility, if any, do you have to address the challenges posed in Diamond's work,
particularly those raised in the nal chapters? Are there particular strengths, experiences or
talents you possess that would be helpful in confronting some of these issues? Has this book
forced you to consider any changes in your future educational or vocational path? Do you
feel a new (or renewed) obligation to \serve" after reading this book? Are there any courses,
elds or travel you would like to pursue during your Holy Cross education related to these
issues?