The cumulative acceleration of knowledge by specialists that allows us each to consume more and more different things by each producing fewer and fewer, is I submit, the central story of humanity.
– Matt Ridley, The Rational Optimist, p. 46
Matt Ridley’s books have sold over a million copies, been translated into 31 languages and won several awards. His books include The Red Queen, The Origins of Virtue, Genome, Nature via Nurture, Francis Crick, The Rational Optimist, The Evolution of Everything, and How Innovation Works. He writes a weekly column in The Times (London) and writes regularly for the Wall Street Journal. As Viscount Ridley, he was elected to the House of Lords in February 2013. He served on the science and technology select committee 2014-2017.
Books discussed:
The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves
How Innovation Works and Why It Flourishes in Freedom
Viral: The Search for the Origin of Covid-19
The Evolution of Everything: How New Ideas Emerge
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