The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves

Optimism is one thing, and there is plenty of evidence to suggest that innovation and creativity continue to accelerate, so that the problems we face are soluble. But this author ignores the plight of the poor simply because things could be worse; he makes bizarre logical leaps; he uses misleading statistics and quotations; and basically he makes a circular argument. It's a deceptively attractive argument, but he begins with a false premise and draws unsupportable conclusions.

Interesting read, it just felt way too long. I felt like each chapter could have been a few paragraphs and I would have had the same takeaways from this book.

Ridley takes the roundabout path to explaining his optimism, first enthralling the reader with many of the terrible and calamitous aspects of modern humanity, only then digressing into his evaluations and reasons for his (very well-founded) rational optimism. Along the way, one finds much that is well known, but then much more from Ridley that is not widespread or immediately obvious. His depth of knowledge about myriad topics is almost as impressive as the passion and clarity with which he [eventually] delivers the good news.

From global warming to starvation, disease and corruption, Ridley patiently, thoroughly, but quickly dispels rumors, explains facts and offers brief yet poignant analyses. Ridley's prose is not fancy, but it is simple, approachable and well-paced. It is this overall pacing and structure of the book that lead one into the mind of optimism, not because of any emotional appeal, but because Ridley's unwavering rationality and encyclopedic treatment of his subjects and preemptive addressing of notable objections inspire a confidence based on the facts presented.

Ridley's view is a long one. His exposition should be seen as a long-term counterweight to the invective and doomsayer attitudes of the daily press, constantly and irrationally trying to convince the population that tomorrow will surely be much worse than today, despite several thousand years of evidence to support the opposite conclusion. Optimism may not sell as well as fear, but Ridley does more justice to it than one could ask; his cogent volume is one for the ages.