“Ridley writes with panache, wit, and laughter and shows remarkable ingenuity in finding methods to present complicated components for the lay reader.” – LA Times

In a strong and provocative interpretation of financial history, Matt Ridley, the brand new York Times-bestselling writer of Genome and The Red Queen, makes the case for an economics of hope, arguing that the advantages of commerce, technology, innovation, and change-what Ridley calls social evolution-will inevitably increase human prosperity. Fans from the works of Jared Gemstone (Guns, Bacteria, and Metal), Niall Ferguson (The Ascent of Cash), and Thomas Friedman (The World Is Smooth) will find very much to ponder and revel in in The Rational Optimist.