Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond. Not that the analysis is flawless as there are many critics. The reason to read the book is to understand the how and why different societies have evolved and why there was a massive difference between Western Europe and other parts of the world. From geological impediments to the evolution of the large animals in the region (zebras are quite skittish and harder to tame/ride than horses), the environment is a major contributing factor to these civilizations development.
Phenomenal book. One of the few books I have gifted to friends over the years. Gets one to think about the randomness of situations (geography, diversity of flora, etc) that lead to critical outcomes (advancement of a society).
