Tavis Smiley Season 7 Episode 765 Jared Diamond

Jared Diamond is the guest on the seventh season of Tavis Smiley, and the episode is all about his latest book, The World Until Yesterday. Diamond is best known for his seminal work Guns, Germs, and Steel, which explored why some societies developed faster than others. In this episode, he talks with Smiley about his latest book and the lessons we can take from traditional societies.

The World Until Yesterday is a vast exploration of how life was lived before modernity took hold. Diamond takes a deep dive into the customs, practices, and rituals of small-scale societies, examining everything from childrearing to conflict resolution. Moving beyond just documenting these practices, he posits that they hold valuable lessons for modern society, particularly in the areas of health, justice, and child development.

Diamond discusses with Smiley how he came to write the book, which draws heavily on his experience living with traditional societies for decades. He notes that he was struck by the wealth of knowledge that these societies held, and how much different they were from each other. While he acknowledges that many of their practices may seem strange to modern ears, Diamond points out how effective they can be in their cultural context.

One of the key areas Diamond explores in the book, and in his conversation with Smiley, is how traditional societies manage health. These societies have developed sophisticated knowledge of plants and remedies, and Diamond argues that modern medicine could learn a lot from their approaches. He also touches on the role of community in managing health, and how this has been lost in modern society.

Another area explored in the episode is conflict resolution. Diamond talks about the different methods that traditional societies employ, such as mediation and reconciliation. Smiley raises the issue of justice, and how many traditional societies use restorative justice rather than punitive measures. Diamond notes that restorative justice can be highly effective, particularly in small communities where everyone knows everyone else.

Childrearing is also a key area Diamond looks at in The World Until Yesterday, and one that he discusses with Smiley on the show. He observes that traditional societies have a much more communal approach to raising children, with many adults involved in the process. He contrasts this with modern society, where children are often isolated and only interact with a small circle of adults. Diamond argues that this lack of exposure to different adults can hinder emotional and social development.

Throughout the episode, Diamond and Smiley touch on a variety of other topics, such as the role of elders, the importance of language, and even the differences between traditional societies that live in the jungle versus those that live in the Arctic. Diamond's knowledge of these societies is impressive, and he brings a wealth of insights to the conversation.

Overall, Season 7 Episode 765 of Tavis Smiley is a fascinating exploration of the world until yesterday, and what we can learn from it. Diamond's latest book weaves together anthropological research, personal experience, and historical analysis to create a compelling argument for the value of traditional societies. Smiley's interview with Diamond is an excellent introduction to this work, providing viewers with insights into how traditional societies operate and what we can take from them.