Wednesday, April 15, 1998
Physiology professor captures Pulitzer Prize
AWARD: Diamond’s book explores environmental origins of racist
notions
By Matt Grace
Daily Bruin Contributor
On Tuesday afternoon, a journalist called Jared Diamond and
asked him to comment on winning the Pulitzer Prize.
Diamond didn’t know what he was talking about.
"I’ll be damned," Diamond finally remarked. "That’s
incredible."
A UCLA professor of physiology since 1966, Diamond won the
Pulitzer Prize for his non-fiction book, "Guns, Germs, and Steel:
The Fate of Human Society," published last year.
In his book, Diamond dismantles racially based notions of
Eurasian cultural, technological and social superiority – in
relation to the other peoples of the world – by exploring their
environmental origins.
"The book demolishes the intellectual basis for racism," Diamond
said.
"Differences in the environment caused history to turn out
differently for different people.
"The main reason that people resort to racism is that they do
not know the truth about history," Diamond said. "People have to
have some answer."
According to Diamond, the answer lies in the environmental
advantages – Eurasians had a biogeographical head-start.
In contrast to other continents like sub-Sahara Africa, the
Americas and Australia, Eurasians lived in the fertile agricultural
crescent in the Middle East, between the Tigris and Euphrates
rivers.
In addition, native wildlife and plant life in that area made
domestication much easier and profitable.
Diamond developed his background in evolutionary biology and
ecology after getting a doctorate in physiology at the University
of Cambridge in England.
Diamond has also conducted extensive research on the evolution
of birds indigenous to New Guinea and Southwest Pacific islands
In addition, he has designed several national park plans based
on his studies of nature reserves.
His interest in the evolution of birds led him to study of human
history and evolution.
In 1993, Diamond traced the evolution of human beings by
emphasizing the development of uniquely human traits in "The Third
Chimpanzee."
Diamond is currently working on yet another book.
"I’m starting work on the ecological collapse of ancient
civilizations and the lessons that holds for our times," Diamond
said.
Many civilizations failed because the people destroyed their own
environment.
"That’s where we are heading if we don’t clean up our act."