Steven Pinker: “Magoon has made a valuable contribution in adding to our understanding of the facts and causes of the most important development in human history.”
Tyler Cowen: “Michael Magoon’s new book… will change your thinking about progress and its relevance to your life.”
Michael Magoon is the author of the From Poverty to Progress series of books. This book series explores the origins of modern progress, and how we can ensure that all of humanity enjoys the benefits of that progress. Magoon has:
- Ph.D. in Political Science and Public Policy from Brown University
- Taught as a professor in the field
- 20+ years of work experience in the Digital Technology industry.
From Poverty to Progress: Understanding Humanity’s Greatest Achievement
In the tradition of Guns, Germs, and Steel, Enlightenment Now, and Sapiens, Michael Magoon gives us an astonishing new perspective on our history that will transform your worldview. Magoon shows us that by learning from the past, we can let go of our negative attitudes about the present, and change our world for the better.
For virtually all of history, humanity was trapped in poverty by geographical constraints. Fortunately for us, a few societies invented the Five Keys to Progress (productive agriculture, cities, decentralization of power, export industries, and fossil fuels), laying the foundations for our current progress. Spanning the topics of history, technological innovation, biology, geography, and politics, Magoon shows us when and where this progress originated, how it works, why it spread across the globe, and how it improves everyone’s lives today.
Promoting Progress: A Radical New Agenda to Create Abundance for All
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In the second book of the From Poverty to Progress series, Michael Magoon shifts from explaining the causes of modern progress to how we can use that knowledge to create a better world. Magoon argues that current government policies are gradually undermining the foundations of progress and that we must replace them with pro-progress policies.
In a decisive break from the ideological agendas of both the Left and the Right, Magoon presents a radical new agenda to create abundance for all. With innovative new thinking, he shows us how we can:
- Reform the political system to break the monopoly power of Democrats and Republicans
- Decentralize government
- Create abundant, affordable, and secure energy
- Cut global carbon emissions
- Build affordable housing
- Make college affordable
- Overhaul college admissions
- Promote technological innovation
- Rebuild merit-based institutions
- Create thriving export industries
- Make the government more effective.
Regardless of whether your political views are on the Left, the Right, or the Center, Magoon will challenge you to see the world differently.
Praise for this Book Series
“Progress is not a matter of optimism; it’s an empirical fact of history, obscured by seeing the world through headlines rather than data. And it is not a natural process but the effect of distinctive technological and political circumstances. Magoon has made a valuable contribution in adding to our understanding of the facts and causes of the most important development in human history.”
Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and the author of The Better Angels of Our Nature and “Enlightenment Now.
“The concept of progress is perhaps the most important human idea. Michael Magoon’s new book gives an excellent account of the origins of progress, its root causes, as well policies for how we can keep it going. It will change your thinking about progress and its relevance to your life.”
Tyler Cowen, author of Stubborn Attachments and The Great Stagnation; Named by The Economist in 2011 as one of the top 36 most influential economists of the decade.
“In his book, Michael Magoon documents and explains the amazing progress of our time. Magoon’s concept of the ‘Five Keys to Progress’ gives us a powerful new perspective on the historical causes of progress, how wealthy nations can keep it going and how developing nations can enjoy greater progress… A good read!”
Johan Norberg, author of Progress and Open: The Story of Human Progress, The Economist’s Book of the Year, 2021
“In an Age of Despondency, this book’s deep faith in progress is like a breath of fresh and hopeful air. May Magoon be right.”
Joel Mokyr, author of A Culture of Growth: The Origins of the Modern Economy and The Enlightened Economy: An Economic History of Britain 1700-1850
“Michael Magoon’s From Poverty to Progress is the kind of book that is increasingly rare in this age of academic hyper-specialization: a study of material progress from a perspective that is at once global, historical, and evolutionary. Bursting with a wealth of hard data and cogently argued, Magoon shows how modern technology has lifted humanity out of poverty, conquered famine, and brought longer and happier lives to hundreds of millions.
A significant contribution to the understanding of modern society.”
Richard L. Currier, author of Unbound: How Eight Technologies Made Us Human
“At a time when many people believe the world is going to hell, Michael Magoon shatters conventional wisdom. Using historical and empirical information he shows that things are actually getting better across the globe.
Magoon introduces a provocative new theory explaining why previous generations were trapped in a grinding poverty and how humanity created wide-spread progress for the masses. He shows why those interested in progress and technological innovation need to replace their narrow focus on today’s bleeding-edge technology with a broader historical perspective.
This book offers a tantalizing bit of optimism at a time when everyone needs some hope.”
Darrell West – VP Center for Technology Innovation
Brookings Institute
“This book introduces a promising new thinker in the field of history and its effects on today’s world. His emphasis on the power of diversity to drive innovation is an important addition to our understanding of why Europe rose to prominence and how it affected the rest of the world. Magoon not only shows why progress took place in Europe; he shows why it is possible in any society that lays the right foundations.”
Jack A. Goldstone, author of Why Europe?: the Rise of the West in World History 1500-1850
“This book offers a radical challenge to the current––and very pessimistic––academic interpretation of history. It stresses the importance of technology, cooperation, and competition and the primacy of Western civilization in raising the living standards of the majority of humankind. All readers, whether they agree or not, will find it a refreshingly new perspective on history.”
Daniel R. Headrick, author of Technology: A World History
“The world is a complicated place. But a handful of basic principles help make sense of it and reveal the road to progress. In this book Magoon does much to identify the wellsprings of material progress. I recommend it — especially to those who have begun to doubt the possibility of progress.”
Jan de Vries, author of First Modern Economy
“Magoon’s call for hope in the world should make us all appreciate what we have inherited from our shared human past. With that hope, we could share an even more promising future.”
Peter Bellwood, author of First Farmers and First Migrants
“We tend to forget that technological change has vastly improved our standards of living over the course of history and dwell upon the losing end of innovation. Against this background, Magoon’s rich narrative offers a compelling reminder of how societies have prospered by elevating the successful to models worthy of emulation.
Highly recommended.”
Stelios Michalopoulos, author of Ethnic Inequality
“A fascinating addition to our understanding of the connection between long-term history and economic development. Michael Magoon forcefully reminds us of the progress made by humankind. Backed by a wealth of facts and data, he delves deep into the ingredients that enabled societies to achieve this.
Highly recommended.”
Areendam Chanda, author of Early Starts, Reversals and Catchup in the Process of Economic Development.