Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The world is rich. The world is richer than it has ever been, and it continues to grow richer with each passing day. Extreme poverty is in rapid decline, and will be completely eradicated within our lifetime. #2 The world has grown wealthier over the last century, and more and more of it has been able to move past the edge of subsistence. This is not just because there is less absolute poverty, but because more people are able to afford the basics of life. #3 The last two centuries have seen more economic growth than the rest of human history combined. Economic growth refers to a sustained increase in economic prosperity as measured by the total goods and services produced in the economy. #4 The world economy has grown over time, and this has alleviated a vast majority of poverty worldwide. However, there were periods of economic improvement that were due to political pacification, such as the Pax Islamica over large parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and Iberian Peninsula in the centuries following the spread of Islam.