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The Rational Optimist
How Prosperity Evolves
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Check link for latest rating. ( 13,258 ratings, 1,281 reviews)
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The Rational Optimist
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Shortlisted for the BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-fiction 2011. Life is on the up.
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Description
Shortlisted for the BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-fiction 2011.
Life is on the up.
We are wealthier, healthier, happier, kinder, cleaner, more peaceful, more equal and longer-lived than any previous generation. Thanks to the unique human habits of exchange and specialisation, our species has found innovative solutions to every obstacle it has faced so far.
In The Rational Optimist, acclaimed science writer Matt Ridley comprehensively refutes the doom-mongers of our time and reaches back into the past to give a rational explanation for why we can—and will—overcome the challenges of the future, such as climate change and the population boom.
Bold and controversial, it is a brilliantly confident assertion that the 21st century will be the best for humankind yet.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
The Rational Optimist has been praised for its compelling arguments against prevalent pessimism, offering an optimistic view of human progress. It has been described as a triumphant defence of human achievements, drawing connections between ideas of evolution and economics. The book has received accolades for its originality, cleverness, and controversial nature, with many reviewers appreciating its bold, positive outlook on history.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780007267125
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 31 March 2011
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Fourth Estate Ltd
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 29.0mm
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 330g
Pages: 464
About the Author
Matt Ridley received his BA and D Phil at Oxford researching the evolution of behaviour. He has been science editor, Washington correspondent and American editor of The Economist. He has a regular column in the Daily Telegraph. He is also the author of The Red Queen (1993), The Origins of Virtue (1996) and Genome (1999). Matt Ridley is currently the chairman of The International Centre for Life.
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