The World Until Yesterday

Diamond has created an ambitious survey of cultures throughout the world, in comparison to western civilization. Anecdotes abound as he learns, sometimes in extreme situations, how traditional societies function. (At one point his boat sinks and it's hours before he and his crew is rescued.) Topics include raising children, settling disputes in families and communities, elder care (in most cases, the lack of care, with migratory tribes leaving the elderly who would otherwise be a burden to the rest of the community) educating and disciplining the young, and food collection and distribution. Tribes in Borneo and other third world, undeveloped areas, have left to fend for themselves with no involvement of the state. Decisions are made by consensus, in most cases, among the tribal leaders. There is much to learn from this book, but how any of it can be applied to the western civilization is an unanswered question.