The #1 Wall Street Journal and New York Times bestseller longlisted for the Financial Times/McKinsey Business Book of the Year. 'A hopeful book about the potential for human progress when we work off facts rather than our inherent biases' BARACK OBAMA Things aren't as bad as we think. Fact. At last, a book that puts all the bad news in perspective- and brings us surprisingly positive data that show the state of the world has in fact improved over the last 50-200 years. Acclaimed by Bill Gates and Barack Obama, named an Observer 'best brainy book of the decade' - destined to be a perennial bestseller and non-fiction classic. (let's make that a fact!) 'Wonderful . . . a passionate and erudite message that is all more moving because it comes from beyond the grave . . . His knack for presentation and delight in statistics come across on every page. Who else would choose a chart of guitars per capita as a proxy for human progress?' FINANCIAL TIMES 'One of the most important books I've ever read - an indispensable guide to thinking clearly about the world.' BILL GATES