Books like The collapse of complex societies

The collapse of complex societies by Joseph A. Tainter reads as analytical, cautionary. These 12 books share its genome — matched by how they actually read, not just their shelf label.

Collapse

Jared Diamond · 2005

Same nonfiction feel

43% genome match

The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight

Thom Hartmann · 1998

Both explore sustainability & resource depletion

59% genome match

A Study of History

Arnold J. Toynbee · 1900

Same nonfiction feel

41% genome match

Harvesting The Biosphere What We Have Taken From Nature

Vaclav Smil · 2012

Both explore resource depletion & sustainability

60% genome match

Countdown

Alan Weisman · 2013

Both explore sustainability & resource depletion

55% genome match

Scale

Geoffrey West · 2015

Both explore complexity & sustainability

52% genome match

Against the Grain

Richard Manning · 2004

Both explore resource depletion & sustainability

53% genome match

The plundered planet

Paul Collier · 2010

Both explore resource depletion & sustainability

53% genome match

Limits to Growth

Donella H. Meadows · 1972

Both explore sustainability

49% genome match

Science and technology in world history

James E. McClellan III · 1999

Both explore innovation

48% genome match

Environmental science

Bernard J. Nebel · 1987

Both explore sustainability

48% genome match

The Collapse of Western Civilization

Naomi Oreskes · 2014

Both explore societal collapse

50% genome match