'A hopeful book about the potential for human progress when we work off facts rather than our inherent biases' BARACK OBAMAThings 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