Guns, Germs, and Steel
Guns, Germs, and Steel is a work of history by Jared Diamond, first published by W. W. Norton in the United States in March 1997. It argues that geography and environment, not innate differences, shaped which societies came to dominate. It won the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.
- Editions tracked
- 2
- First edition
- Norton, 1997
- First published
- W. W. Norton, 1997
- First UK edition
- Jonathan Cape, 1997
The first edition of Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond was published in New York by Norton in 1997. We track 2 editions.
Which edition do you have?
First edition
Later and other editions
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
Awards and honours
Read next
- Comes after
- Why Is Sex Fun?
In print
- Editions recorded
- 61 on Open Library, 19 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 37 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
More by Jared Diamond
Questions about Guns, Germs, and Steel
Reviews of Guns, Germs, and Steel
Read it or own it? Share what Guns, Germs, and Steel is like to read or collect.
Know what you are looking at
How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of Guns, Germs, and Steel?
The first edition of Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond was published in New York by Norton in 1997.
How many editions of Guns, Germs, and Steel are there?
We track 2 editions of Guns, Germs, and Steel, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Did Guns, Germs, and Steel win any awards?
Yes: Guns, Germs, and Steel won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction (1998), according to Wikidata.
What should I read after Guns, Germs, and Steel?
In order, it follows Why Is Sex Fun? and it is followed by Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, according to Wikidata.
Where these facts come from
- Guns, Germs, and Steel, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Guns, germs and steel (Jonathan Cape, 1997), Wellcome Collection (wellcomecollection.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 17 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.