November 1, 2020
Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism and Progress
Steven Pinker
The River Road associates who read this book agree with Bill Gates; this was one of the best books we’ve ever read. We have read enough bull and bear stock arguments to understand that negative, critical bearish views typically sound “smarter.” Most of what we read about our economic outlook, our country, and our world is discouraging and relies on our ‘statistical obtuseness.’ It takes a special talent to present positive, optimistic data in a convincing package that leads to excitement for the future. The author traces the consistent improvements in global health, wealth, inequality, the environment, equal rights, and quality of life to the revolutionary thinkers that defined the Enlightenment in the late 18th century and led to their most famous product, the Declaration of Independence. The book may be a well-timed read given the vaccine news of last week.