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1-Page Summary of The Rational Optimist

The Rise of Collective Intelligence

Humans are the most advanced species on earth because of their ability to share knowledge and learn from each other. For example, someone has to drill for oil and make plastic before a computer mouse can be made. However, no one person could build a computer mouse from scratch. This shows that humans have more power as a group than any individual alone. In fact, an experiment was conducted where an artist tried to make a better version of a cheap toaster using his own hands; however, the finished product wasn’t as good as the original he bought at the store for only $5! The ability of humans to combine their intelligence allows them to grow steadily wealthier over time through increased division of labor (the specialization of work).

Over the past 10,000 years, life expectancy has increased and infant mortality has decreased. People are healthier now than they were in the past. They have more food options and can afford to buy everyday items that are much cheaper than they used to be. For example, it takes less time to earn money for reading light today compared with what it took before.

Despite all the technology and medications we have today, people yearn for simpler times. They imagine that life was better in the past because it was less stressful, healthier and easier than it is now. In fact, many things were worse in the past: People used to live shorter lives; they did not have access to modern amenities; they had more diseases and illnesses; there were fewer jobs available; food wasn’t as plentiful or affordable. Life has improved drastically over time—in 1800 England, life expectancy was only 40 years old! Today’s society is much safer than what it used to be a hundred years ago. Nowadays you can get almost anything you want at any time of day—foods that kings could only dream about are available on every street corner!

A Rising Tide Lifts the Poor’s Boat, Too

Although the world has become a better place, it’s not necessarily making people happier. People in developing nations are doing better than those in developed ones were 50 years ago. However, they’re still not satisfied with their lives and want more things like electronics and cars. One reason for this is that although most Americans have all of these things already, they still want more because other people have even nicer stuff than them. Happiness comes from social justice and political freedom as well as prosperity.

The Myth of Self-Sufficiency

The miracles of globalization are clear to consumers. Consumers can purchase products from all around the world, and they have access to a wide variety of goods and services. This is possible because people specialize in doing one thing well, so that they can trade their goods with others who do other things well. Most workers only make one small item or provide one service, which allows them to buy many different kinds of items made by thousands of other people. People’s lives are easier now than ever before because they don’t need to spend every hour providing for themselves; instead, they rely on the labor of others thanks to transportation and logistics. The division of labor began thousands of years ago after cooking with fire became commonplace; men hunted while women gathered food for the family.

People have always innovated. They traded goods and services to gain efficiency. For example, if two people in a fishing village each catch their own fish, they can trade with each other so that one person makes the hooks while the other catches fish. That way, both of them get food and leisure time.