Worse, is his political message: warring tribes welcome state governments because it reduces violence. This amounts to thinking that ‘Westernised’ governments should impose themselves on tribes to stop them being savages. 1890s, anyone? Tell it to the tribes of western New Guinea, tortured and killed by the Indonesian occupiers, a fact Diamond doesn’t mention in his 500-page book, much of it about… New Guinea.

For Survival International’s critique of the book, please see: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/01/30/savaging-primitives-why-jared-diamond-s-the-world-until-yesterday-is-completely-wrong.html

For the reaction from West Papuan tribespeople, see: http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/8958