The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves by Matt Ridley presents an optimistic and evidence-based argument about human progress and the improvement of living standards throughout history. Ridley argues that trade, specialization, cooperation, technological innovation, and the exchange of ideas have been major forces behind humanity’s increasing prosperity. Drawing on economics, history, biology, anthropology, and technology, the book traces human development from the Stone Age to the modern global economy and challenges pessimistic predictions about population growth, resource shortages, environmental problems, and the future. Ridley argues that human ingenuity and the ability to exchange goods and ideas have repeatedly enabled societies to overcome major challenges and create greater wealth, health, comfort, and opportunity.