The Ratchet of Technology, a site by Michael Magoon

A Library of 280+ Book Summaries on Technology, History, Economic Growth & Progress

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Month: January 2020

January 31, 2020May 7, 2023 Michael Magoon

Book Summary: “Not by Genes Alone: How Culture Transformed Human Evolution” by Richerson and Boyd

January 30, 2020April 15, 2021 Michael Magoon

Article Summary: “Was the Wealth of Nations Determined in 1000 BC? ” by many

January 29, 2020March 17, 2021 Michael Magoon

Article Summary: “Was the Industrial Revolution Inevitable?” by Charles Jones

January 28, 2020April 15, 2021 Michael Magoon

Article Summary: “How Deep are the Roots of Economic Development?” by Spolaore and Wacziarg

January 25, 2020December 2, 2021 Michael Magoon

Book Summary: “The Dictator’s Handbook” by Mesquita and Smith

January 24, 2020November 21, 2021 Michael Magoon

Book Summary: “Why Europe?: The Medieval Origins of Its Special Path” by Michael Mitteraur

January 23, 2020April 13, 2021 Michael Magoon

Book Summary: “The Wisdom of Crowds” by James Surowiecki

January 22, 2020December 2, 2021 Michael Magoon

Book Summary: “Learning by Doing” by James Bessen

January 21, 2020December 2, 2021 Michael Magoon

Book Summary: “The Origin of Wealth” by Eric D. Beinhocker

January 16, 2020November 21, 2021 Michael Magoon

Book Summary: “The Knowledge Illusion” by Sloman and Fernback

January 15, 2020December 2, 2021 Michael Magoon

Book Summary: “Nonzero: The Logic of Human Destiny” by Robert Wright

January 13, 2020December 2, 2021 Michael Magoon

Book Summary: “Unbound: How Eight Technologies Made Us Human” by Richard L. Currier

January 10, 2020April 19, 2023 Michael Magoon

Book Summary: “The Nature of Technology” by W. Brian Arthur

January 9, 2020November 21, 2021 Michael Magoon

Book Summary: “Why Nations Fail” by Acemoglu and Robinson

January 8, 2020November 21, 2021 Michael Magoon

Book Summary: “Guns, Germs, and Steel” by Jared Diamond

January 7, 2020December 2, 2021 Michael Magoon

Book Summary: “Why Information Grows” by Cesar Hidalgo

January 6, 2020December 2, 2021 Michael Magoon

Book Summary: “Foragers, Farmers and Fossil Fuels” by Ian Morris

January 3, 2020December 7, 2021 Michael Magoon

Book Summary: “Progress” by Johan Norberg

January 2, 2020May 7, 2023 Michael Magoon

Book Summary: “The Secret of Our Success” by Joseph Henrich

January 1, 2020November 21, 2021 Michael Magoon

Book Summary: “Creating the Twentieth Century” by Vaclav Smil

January 1, 2020November 19, 2021 Michael Magoon

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  • Book Summary: “Who We Are and How We Got Here” by David Reich
  • Book Summary: “The Virtue of Nationalism” by Yoram Hazony
  • "Progress" Learning Path
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  • Book Summary: “How Rich Countries Got Rich” by Eric S. Reinert

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