[jsnathan]

It's funny you say that because the author addresses this at the start of the talk. He says that when it was suggested to him by a friend that he write a book about the Collapse, he agreed only on the condition that he could distinguish himself from previous publications on the same topic precisely by talking more about what the Late Bronze Age was actually like, and what was lost.

He also says if he had to choose any period of history to live in he would choose that period.

I don't think he should be blamed for writing what he wants to write about, but maybe the marketing of the book is a bit misleading.

[solipsism]

Not recommending the book is not the same as blaming the author.

[catalinbraescu]

Because books write themselves.

[oldmanjay]

No, because blaming the author for unnamed transgressions is not a fundamental aspect of not liking a book.