Science and Technology

The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves

Matt Ridley

About the Program

Matt Ridley argues that people should be optimistic about the 21st Century because it will be more prosperous than prior centuries.  He says that this advancement is due to the nature of human cultural evolution and that while pessimists about the future have always existed, they have almost always ended up being wrong.

About the Authors

Matt Ridley

Matt Ridley's many books include "The Red Queen," "The Origins of Virtue," and "Genome."  He was the science correspondent for The Economist from 1983 to 1992.  For more, visit: rationaloptimist.com. 


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Program Information

The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves

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Past Airings

  • Saturday, September 18th at 8am (ET)
  • Sunday, June 20th at 2pm (ET)
  • Sunday, June 20th at 12:05am (ET)
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