This book argues that the reason behind western civilization's dominance in the world right now is a "luck of a draw" as stephen colbert says :P, and is more a result of geographical location ( fertility and water ) rather than genetic superiority as some advocates of western civilisation would have us believe. Which is a theory I have always held, that and the fact that they won the second world war, so for those interested it's a recommended reading.
Here is a link to the book's website, and below is an interview with the author.
