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Study Questions
for
The Ends of the World as We Know Them

 

 

1. What are the five groups of interacting factors that the author thinks play a role in the collapse of historical societies?

2. Give an example for each factor discussed in question 1.

3. What has been the major difference between societies that have survived for many hundreds of years and those that have perished relatively suddenly? Give two examples.

4. The author says that we can learn two straightforward lessens from history and two deeper lessons. What are these lessons?

5. What are the “painful reappraisals” the author thinks the people of the US must face this year? Do you agree or disagree?

6. The author also states that he has much “hope” and optimism for the US to avoid an historical collapse. Why does he think so and do you agree or disagree?