This sweeping historical work examines the stories of seven countries that fell into crises, including how they got there, what they did to get out, and what common lessons can be learned.

If you've ever been through a tricky situation, you know that getting out takes a lot of discipline.

The solution to a crisis usually comes through what's known as selective change — identifying the problem and figuring out what needs to change and what doesn't.

And whether it comes to the crises of Chile and Indonesia in the 1970s, or Germany and Australia following WWII, we see similar problems, as well as solutions found through selective change.

Jared Diamond is an ecologist and historian known for his interdisciplinary works, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning Guns, Germs, and Steel.

In Upheaval, Diamond takes a fascinating look at seven countries facing historical crises, how each of them solved these issues, and what lessons they may hold for the problems we face today.