A review by wintermute47
The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves by Matt Ridley

2.0

If your intent is to argue that human prosperity and well-being are bound to increase due increasing exchange of ideas and goods, you will not do yourself any favors by ignoring the most salient criticisms of your argument. For example, if you spend pages arguing that the unfettered free market is the best way to increase welfare, don't close with one sentence pointing out 'of course, this doesn't apply if big business has an undue influence on government.' Also, if your point is that society will naturally adapt to new resources and industries as the old ones become untenable, you probably ought to acknowledge that these transitions can be pretty rough--ask the makers of buggy whips how they felt about the transition to the automobile.

These shortcomings make it harder to take Ridley's arguments seriously, which is unfortunate, because a little optimism about the human future is something we could use.