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The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves

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L.J. Ganser

13 Hours 38 Minutes

HarperAudio

May 2010

Audio Book Summary

“A delightful and fascinating book filled with insight and wit, which will make you think twice and cheer up.” — Steven Pinker

In a bold and provocative interpretation of economic history, Matt Ridley, the New York Times-bestselling author of Genome and The Red Queen, makes the case for an economics of hope, arguing that the benefits of commerce, technology, innovation, and change—what Ridley calls cultural evolution—will inevitably increase human prosperity. Fans of the works of Jared Diamond (Guns, Germs, and Steel), Niall Ferguson (The Ascent of Money), and Thomas Friedman (The World Is Flat) will find much to ponder and enjoy in The Rational Optimist.

For two hundred years the pessimists have dominated public discourse, insisting that things will soon be getting much worse. But in fact, life is getting better—and at an accelerating rate. Food availability, income, and life span are up; disease, child mortality, and violence are down all across the globe. Africa is following Asia out of poverty; the Internet, the mobile phone, and container shipping are enriching people's lives as never before.

An astute, refreshing, and revelatory work that covers the entire sweep of human history—from the Stone Age to the Internet—The Rational Optimist will change your way of thinking about the world for the better.

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Reviews

  • Jon T.

    If you like Western Civilization history and how it changed, I mean down in the details kind of stuff, over time you will love this book. This book also makes the future look very optimistic and that man will figure out/ overcome the obstacles to advance civilization.

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  • Anthony E.

    This book should be ‘required reading’ for anyone who intends to assert an opinion on the condition of the human race and/or the planet we live upon.

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  • Gerald Schweitzer

    Really an eye opener by describing the positive condition of our human development over the years. Would think otherwise by local news reporting.

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