= new reply since forum marked as read
by all measures have been increasing dramatically. Conservatives don't want people to know this, of course. Unfortunately, so do a pervasive type of intellectual who fight to support negative philosophies they've built their careers on against realities increasingly evident everywhere. Increased wealth doesn't just mean more things, by the way, it makes us happier and better people.
This is one of President Obama's favorite books. It's not the last book anyone needs to read, but if what it discusses were common knowledge, we'd be genuinely glad to know that we have been part of great progress, and today's Republicans couldn't be elected dog catcher until they changed. Dramatically.
Btw, it also explains what liberalism is and what our liberal democracy and the liberal-dominated Democratic Party are about. Many DUers aren't sure and need to understand the great movement that those vague feelings make them part of. It's also a good read and will make everyone who does read it smarter and braver, more positive and aspiring about the future, more confident and proud about themselves, and probably even a bit better looking. 
Steven Pinker
https://www.amazon.com/Enlightenment-Now-Science-Humanism-Progress/dp/0241337011/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
