I got Diamond's engrossing GG&S on my shelf, but will now have to add John Darwin and Weatherford. Never came round to move beyond the 15th century so far, got distracted first by the significance of Alexander the Great and his conquests, and then, interest piqued, moved into the Persian empire(s). Which fell off the wagon when I moved to Africa where I discovered that most of what I had learned about Africa was completely unfounded. I sort of should do China next, already half expecting that it will be the same epiphany all over again.

I still do not want to read Ferguson, even though I'll have to at some point. I'll wait for that piece of you first, and that'll be my excuse.