Ridley, Matt

"Argues that we need to see innovation as an incremental, bottom-up, fortuitous process that happens as a direct result of the human habit of exchange, rather than an orderly, top-down process developing according to a plan. Innovation is crucially different from invention, because it is the turning of inventions into things of practical and affordable use to people. It speeds up in some sectors and slows down in others. It is always a collective, collaborative phenomenon, involving trial and error, not a matter of lonely genius. It happens mainly in just a few parts of the world at any one time. It still cannot be modeled properly by economists, but it can easily be discouraged by politicians. Far from there being too much innovation, we may be on the brink of an innovation famine. Ridley derives these and other lessons from the lively stories of scores of innovations, how they started and why they succeeded or failed"--Provided by publisher.

Examines evolutionary biology, anthropology, economics, and philosophy as related to world history from the Stone Age to now. Highlights the theory that we are creatures of evolution rather than being the masters of our own destinies.

Examines evolutionary biology, anthropology, economics, and philosophy as related to world history from the Stone Age to now. Highlights the theory that we are creatures of evolution rather than being the masters of our own destinies.

Chronicles the life of English biophysicist Francis Crick, tracing the course of his genetic research, discussing his discoveries about DNA, and touching on his investigations into consciousness during his last two decades.

The author examines some of the findings of the Human Genome Project, telling the story of one newly discovered gene from each of the twenty-three human chromosomes, and discussing what those genes reveal about the history of the human species.

Examines the history of the debate between heredity and environment as it relates to human behavior, discusses the impact of the discovery that the human genome contains only 30,000 genes--much fewer than had originally been thought, and looks at what science has revealed about the dependence of nature on nurture and vice versa.

Argues that, despite the view of the pessimists who dominate public discourse, the world is getting better, and at an accelerating rate, in areas such as food, income, lifespan, disease, child mortality, and violence, and examines human history through a lens of progress.

Argues that, despite the view of the pessimists who dominate public discourse, the world is getting better, and at an accelerating rate, in areas such as food, income, lifespan, disease, child mortality, and violence, and examines human history through a lens of progress.

The author examines some of the findings of the Human Genome Project, telling the story of one newly discovered gene from each of the twenty-three human chromosomes, and discussing what those genes reveal about the history of the human species.