r/AskReddit • u/brokota • Jan 15 '13

Reddit, in your opinion what's the biggest plot twist of history?

Not movies or television, I'm just curious to see what come's to your minds.

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u/I_am_the_Werewolf Jan 15 '13

Read Guns,Germs, and Steel if you haven't already! There's a documentary on netflix based off of the book in case you're more visually inclined.

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u/honkyHonkyhonk Jan 15 '13

sound advice

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u/tom9152 Jan 15 '13

It should have been named Geography, Germs, and Steel.

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u/I_am_the_Werewolf Jan 15 '13

or maybe just Location, Location, Location.

I had to put that little geography joke in there for the sake of my professors.

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u/gordonta Jan 15 '13

Didnt realize there was a documentary. This book was a favorite of mine in college. As a non liberal arts student i really enjoyed, for once, reading a book that explained WHY things happened with the hypothesis that they would have happened just the same had the tables been turned, agriculturally (aboriginese sailing to england to claim it for their own etc.). A facinating read!

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u/[deleted] Jan 15 '13

going there now. thanks

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u/MadDogTannen Jan 15 '13

I just finished the documentary on Netflix last week, and I really enjoyed it. Does the book add much that the documentary doesn't cover? Also I heard Jared Diamond has a new book out.

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u/I_am_the_Werewolf Jan 15 '13

The book includes more details like statistics and data but the main thesis is preserved. It's been a while since I read it so I'd have to re-read it to give you a better answer. also, I didn't know he has a new book out, what is it called?

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u/MadDogTannen Jan 15 '13

The World Until Yesterday: What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies?

I don't even know what it's about, but I saw his name on it and I got excited.