{"product_id":"the-rational-optimist-how-prosperity-evolves-9780061452062","title":"The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"A delightful and fascinating book filled with insight and wit, which will make you think twice and cheer up.\" -- Steven Pinker\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn a bold and provocative interpretation of economic history, Matt Ridley, the \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e-bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eGenome\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Red Queen\u003c\/em\u003e, 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 (\u003cem\u003eGuns, Germs, and Steel\u003c\/em\u003e), Niall Ferguson (\u003cem\u003eThe Ascent of Money\u003c\/em\u003e), and Thomas Friedman (\u003cem\u003eThe World Is Flat\u003c\/em\u003e) will find much to ponder and enjoy in \u003cem\u003eThe Rational Optimist.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn astute, refreshing, and revelatory work that covers the entire sweep of human history--from the Stone Age to the Internet--\u003cem\u003eThe Rational Optimist\u003c\/em\u003e will change your way of thinking about the world for the better.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cacorrectionsbookstore.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=AUTH-285936\"\u003eMatt Ridley\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Harper Perennial\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/07\/2011\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 480\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.80lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 7.90h x 5.20w x 1.20d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780061452062\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0061452068\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBISAC Categories:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cacorrectionsbookstore.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-BUS\"\u003eBusiness \u0026amp; Economics\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cacorrectionsbookstore.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-BUS023000\"\u003eEconomic History\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cacorrectionsbookstore.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-SOC\"\u003eSocial Science\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cacorrectionsbookstore.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-SOC026040\"\u003eSociology | Social Theory\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cacorrectionsbookstore.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-BUS\"\u003eBusiness \u0026amp; Economics\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cacorrectionsbookstore.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-BUS025000\"\u003eEntrepreneurship\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Harper Perennial","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44291969155211,"sku":"9780061452062","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5100\/7115\/files\/img_dca89ae1-5848-4a55-aaa7-8933f52ce7af.jpg?v=1758908199","url":"https:\/\/cacorrectionsbookstore.com\/products\/the-rational-optimist-how-prosperity-evolves-9780061452062","provider":"CA Corrections Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}