Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond (1997)

I think I've read this book before - the premise was certainly a familiar one; the chapters on domestication of animals was also very familiar. I vaguely remember starting the book, and then having to return it to the library because the spine was broken - and then never finishing it.

Jared Diamond is an excellent writer, very clear and precise, very readable. His treatise, premise is plainly written without hyperbole or jaw-crackery -- and he carefully and successfully avoids any pitfalls. I guess when you work in the field he does and are writing about "civilization" and "society" you learn to be very careful to remain balanced at all times so as to not come across as racist or bigoted.