Includes bibliographical references and index. Includes P.S.: insights, interviews & more.
Contents:
Prologue : when ideas have sex -- A better today : the unprecedented present -- The collective brain : exchange and specialisation after 200,000 years ago -- The manufacture of virtue : barter, trust, and rules after 50,000 years ago -- The feeding of the nine billion : farming after 10,000 years ago -- The triumph of cities : trade after 5,000 years ago -- Escaping Malthus's trap : population after 1200 -- The release of slaves : energy after 1700 -- The invention of invention : increasing returns after 1800 -- Turning points : pessimism after 1900 -- The two great pessimisms of today : Africa and climate after 2010 -- The catallaxy : rational optimism about 2100.
Summary:
The "New York Times"-bestselling author of "Genome" and "The Red Queen" offers a provocative case for an economics of hope, arguing that the benefits of commerce, technology, innovation, and change--cultural evolution--will inevitably increase human prosperity.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.