"I decided that now is the time to start doing the things that really interest me and I find important. It was in the 10 years of the MacArthur grant that I began working on my first book... and I began putting more work into environmental history"

Jared Diamond's quote speaks with the importance of following one's enthusiasms and interests. He decided to start and start doing the things that he found important and fascinating. This choice was made during the 10 year duration of his MacArthur grant, which allowed him to concentrate on his work and pursue his interests. As a result, he had the ability to compose his first book and put more effort into environmental history. This quote functions as a motivation to others to take the effort and pursue their enthusiasms, no matter how intimidating the task may seem. It is a pointer that if you put in the effort and dedication, you can accomplish fantastic things.