TITLE:  The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves

AUTHOR:  Matt Ridley

DATE PUBLISHED:  2011

FORMAT:  Paperback

ISBN-13:  9780007267125

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DESCRIPTION:

"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. Though the world is far from perfect, necessities and luxuries alike are getting cheaper; population growth is slowing; Africa is following Asia out of poverty; the Internet, the mobile phone, and container shipping are enriching people’s lives as never before. The pessimists who dominate public discourse insist that we will soon reach a turning point and things will start to get worse. But they have been saying this for two hundred years.

Yet Matt Ridley does more than describe how things are getting better. He explains why. Prosperity comes from everybody working for everybody else. The habit of exchange and specialization—which started more than 100,000 years ago—has created a collective brain that sets human living standards on a rising trend. The mutual dependence, trust, and sharing that result are causes for hope, not despair.

This bold book covers the entire sweep of human history, from the Stone Age to the Internet, from the stagnation of the Ming empire to the invention of the steam engine, from the population explosion to the likely consequences of climate change. It ends with a confident assertion that thanks to the ceaseless capacity of the human race for innovative change, and despite inevitable disasters along the way, the twenty-first century will see both human prosperity and natural biodiversity enhanced. Acute, refreshing, and revelatory, The Rational Optimist will change your way of thinking about the world for the better. "

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REVIEW:

The Rational Optimist takes a look at human history from the Stone Age to the present (2010) and how prosperity evolves.  This is an interesting look at how everything is not doom and gloom and that things will (probably) get better (unless government interferes too much).

PS:  Farming is not fun and idyllic - it's hard work!  And the world is definitely better with a modern functioning sewage system than without one.

I enjoyed this historical romance that I won in a bundle from Jewels of Historical Romance. I voluntarily chose to review this. I gave it a solid 4-4.5* depending on how you feel about sexual content. This is not for the under 18 readers. It was funny and awkward in parts. This Lord did not know how offensive some of his comments were and didn't understand why people were upset with him. A very nice ending.

When the Wicked Duke dares the Duke of Colehaven to find a suitor for an unmanageable ward, Cole immediately accepts. He's on a winning streak, and besides, how unmarriageable can a pretty young lady be? He appoints himself bodyguard and duenna, only to discover his own desires may be the greatest danger of all.

This was a quick read that I really enjoyed. I really liked both characters and liked following them in their story. I highly recommend. 

**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Lifelong romantic Thaddeus Middleton is on the hunt for a wife. He hopes to find a woman more attracted to him than to money. Instead, he finds himself drawn to a spitfire who isn’t interested in him at all! At least, that’s what she says when she’s not kissing him beneath the stars.

I really enjoyed this story and am really enjoying this new series. I liked both main characters a lot. I read through it rather quickly. I highly recommend.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book