{"product_id":"9780061992629","title":"The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves","description":"\u003cp\u003e“Ridley writes with panache, wit, and humor and displays remarkable ingenuity in finding ways to present complicated materials for the lay reader.” — \u003cem\u003eLos Angeles Times\u003c\/em\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn a bold and provocative interpretation of economic history, Matt Ridley, the \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e-bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eGenome\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Red Queen\u003c\/em\u003e, makes the case for an economics of hope, arguing that the benefits of commerce, technology, innovation, and change—what Ridley calls cultural evolution—will inevitably increase human prosperity. Fans of the works of Jared Diamond (\u003cem\u003eGuns, Germs, and Steel\u003c\/em\u003e), Niall Ferguson (\u003cem\u003eThe Ascent of Money\u003c\/em\u003e), and Thomas Friedman (\u003cem\u003eThe World Is Flat\u003c\/em\u003e) will find much to ponder and enjoy in \u003cem\u003eThe Rational Optimist.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins Publishers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47007918293232,"sku":"9780061992629","price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780061992629_p0.jpg?v=1763772946","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780061992629","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}