Jared Diamond, born in 1937, is a remarkable American scientist and writer and currently Professor of Geography and Physiology at the University of California, Los Angeles. His book Guns, Germs, and Steel, is an extraordinary exploration of the history of mankind. Through anthropology, ecology, lingistics, and epidemiology, Mr. Diamond investigates the connections between the varied histories of the continents and the present inequalities in the world. He presents a powerful rebuke of Eurocentric theories that argue the natural superiority of advanced cultures. His other books include The Third Chimpanzee and Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, as well as the most recent, Natural Elements of History.