The Rational Optimist : How Prosperity Evolves

"Ridley writes with panache, wit, and humor and displays remarkable ingenuity in finding ways to present complicated materials for the lay reader." -- Los Angeles Times 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.