Wray Herbert
…[Ridley] bolsters [his] argument with an impressive tour of evolutionary biology, anthropology, economics, philosophy and world history. His intellectual heroes are Charles Darwin and Adam Smith…This rich analysis shouldn't properly be reviewed until 2110, because only then will we know if Ridley's confidence in human ingenuity is warranted. Futurists don't have a great track record, but let's hope that future generations will review this rose-tinted vision favorably.
—The Washington Post
Publishers Weekly
Ridley comes to praise innovation's ability to forestall any number of doom and gloom scenarios, everything from climate change to economic catastrophe. While sounding strikingly similar to narrator Anthony Heald, L.J. Ganser keeps a steady reading pace of Ridley's prose that keeps listeners engaged through the more challenging quantified material (statistics, data, lists) and the more nuanced conceptual material. His escalation, speed, deliberation, and pauses faithfully guide listeners through the text and at times improves upon the dry prose. However, Ganser is prone to over-project, and his forceful overemphasis can wear on the listener's attention. A Harper hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 12). (June)
From the Publisher
The chapters tracing the human story from 50,000 years ago through the seventeenth century are themselves worth the price of admission, with vivid storytelling illuminating the huge role of markets and trade in material progress…Read The Rational Optimist for its fascinating history of trade and economics.” — New York Times Book Review
“A superb book…Elegant, learned, and cogent…a far-reaching synthesis of economics and ecology, a triumphant new demarche in the understanding of wealth and poverty…Inspiring.” — George Gilder, National Review
“A very good book…a rich analysis…Ridley is a cogent and erudite social critic…He bolsters his argument with an impressive tour of evolutionary biology, economics, philosophy, world history.” — Washington Post
“A fast-moving, intelligent description of why human life has so consistently improved over the course of history, and a wonderful overview of how human civilizations move forward.” — John Tierney, New York Times
“Chock-full of in-your-face challenges to conventional wisdom…Ridley is a sworn enemy of Cassandras and Chicken Littles. In The Rational Optimist, he covers 200,000 years of human history to make a compelling case that over the millennia poverty declined, disease retreated, violence atrophied, freedom grew and happiness increased.” — The Oregonian (Portland)
“A delightful and fascinating book filled with insight and wit, which will make you think twice and cheer up.” — Steven Pinker
“The Rational Optimist teems with challenging and original ideas…No other book has argued with such brilliance and historical breadth against the automatic pessimism that prevails in intellectual life.” — Ian McEwan
“Ridley eloquently weaves together economics, archeology, history, and evolutionary theory…His words effortlessly turn complicated economic and scientific concepts into entertaining, digestible nuggets.” — Barrett Sheridan, Newsweek
“Invigorating…For Mr. Ridley, the market for ideas needs to be as open as possible in order to breed ingenuity from collaboration.” — Trevor Butterworth, Wall Street Journal
“The Rational Optimist will give a reader solid reasons for believing that the human species will overcome its economic, political and environmental woes during this century.” — Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“This inspiring book, a glorious defense of our species…is a devastating rebuke to humanity’s self-haters.” — Sunday Times (London)
“Original, clever and …controversial” — The Guardian
“A dose of just the kind of glass-half-full information we need right now…A powerful antidote to gloom-n-doom-mongering.” — Washington Examiner
“A mesmerizing book.” — Los Angeles Times
“Dr. Ridley provides a grand unified theory of history from the Stone Age to the better age awaiting us in 2010. It’s an audacious task, but he has the intellectual breadth for it.” — New York Times
“Ridley’s dazzling, insightful and entertaining book on the unstoppable march of innovation is a refresher course in human history...Great ideas spring up unexpectedly from every direction, with each new one naturally coordinating with others...” — New York Post
“Without sounding like a cockeyed optimist, The Rational Optimist will give a reader solid reasons for believing that the human species will overcome its economic, political and environmental woes during this century.” — Fort Worth Star-Telegram
A fabulous new book... I was so delighted, amused and uplifted by it that I bought a couple hundred copies and sent one to all my clients. — Donald Luskin, Smart Money
Trevor Butterworth
Invigorating…For Mr. Ridley, the market for ideas needs to be as open as possible in order to breed ingenuity from collaboration.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The Rational Optimist will give a reader solid reasons for believing that the human species will overcome its economic, political and environmental woes during this century.
John Tierney
A fast-moving, intelligent description of why human life has so consistently improved over the course of history, and a wonderful overview of how human civilizations move forward.
New York Times Book Review
The chapters tracing the human story from 50,000 years ago through the seventeenth century are themselves worth the price of admission, with vivid storytelling illuminating the huge role of markets and trade in material progress…Read The Rational Optimist for its fascinating history of trade and economics.
Ian McEwan
The Rational Optimist teems with challenging and original ideas…No other book has argued with such brilliance and historical breadth against the automatic pessimism that prevails in intellectual life.
Washington Post
A very good book…a rich analysis…Ridley is a cogent and erudite social critic…He bolsters his argument with an impressive tour of evolutionary biology, economics, philosophy, world history.
Steven Pinker
A delightful and fascinating book filled with insight and wit, which will make you think twice and cheer up.
George Gilder
A superb book…Elegant, learned, and cogent…a far-reaching synthesis of economics and ecology, a triumphant new demarche in the understanding of wealth and poverty…Inspiring.
The Oregonian (Portland)
Chock-full of in-your-face challenges to conventional wisdom…Ridley is a sworn enemy of Cassandras and Chicken Littles. In The Rational Optimist, he covers 200,000 years of human history to make a compelling case that over the millennia poverty declined, disease retreated, violence atrophied, freedom grew and happiness increased.
Washington Post
A very good book…a rich analysis…Ridley is a cogent and erudite social critic…He bolsters his argument with an impressive tour of evolutionary biology, economics, philosophy, world history.
Sunday Times (London)
This inspiring book, a glorious defense of our species…is a devastating rebuke to humanity’s self-haters.
Donald Luskin
A fabulous new book... I was so delighted, amused and uplifted by it that I bought a couple hundred copies and sent one to all my clients.
|Los Angeles Times
A mesmerizing book.
New York Times
Dr. Ridley provides a grand unified theory of history from the Stone Age to the better age awaiting us in 2010. It’s an audacious task, but he has the intellectual breadth for it.
New York Post
Ridley’s dazzling, insightful and entertaining book on the unstoppable march of innovation is a refresher course in human history...Great ideas spring up unexpectedly from every direction, with each new one naturally coordinating with others...
Washington Examiner
A dose of just the kind of glass-half-full information we need right now…A powerful antidote to gloom-n-doom-mongering.
The Guardian
Original, clever and …controversial
Los Angeles Times
A mesmerizing book.
New York Post
Ridley’s dazzling, insightful and entertaining book on the unstoppable march of innovation is a refresher course in human history...Great ideas spring up unexpectedly from every direction, with each new one naturally coordinating with others...
Barrett Sheridan
Ridley eloquently weaves together economics, archeology, history, and evolutionary theory…His words effortlessly turn complicated economic and scientific concepts into entertaining, digestible nuggets.
Library Journal
If you are very concerned about genetically modified foods, global warming, and the use of nonrenewable energy sources, stop right now: this book is not for you. British science writer Ridley makes a compelling case that humanity is moving in a positive and encouraging direction and has been throughout the course of human history, and he backs up this claim with many statistics and examples. Narrator L.J. Ganser well conveys Ridley's passion and conviction, but because Ridley is a British writer and Ganser has an American accent, there is a jarring element to the reading. Very informative, though sure to be controversial; for those interested in social issues, current events, and the history of trade and business. [The Harper hc was described as "an engaging introduction for those interested in a historical view of human progress and prosperity," LJ 4/1/10.—Ed.]—J. Sara Paulk, Wythe-Grayson Regional Lib., Independence, VA
