I recently published my new book: “From Poverty to Progress“.

If you enjoy reading it, please leave a review.

Praise for this book

“Michael Magoon’s FROM POVERTY TO PROGRESS is the kind of book that is increasingly rare in this age of academic hyper-specialization: a study of material progress from a perspective that is at once global, historical, and evolutionary. Bursting with a wealth of hard data and cogently argued, Magoon shows how modern technology has lifted humanity out of poverty, conquered famine, and brought longer and happier lives to hundreds of millions.
A significant contribution to the understanding of modern society.”
Richard L. Currier, author of  “Unbound: How Eight Technologies Made Us Human…”

“At a time when many people believe the world is going to hell, Michael Magoon shatters conventional wisdom. Using historical and empirical information he shows that things are actually getting better across the globe.
Magoon introduces a provocative new theory explaining why previous generations were trapped in a grinding poverty and how humanity created wide-spread progress for the masses. He shows why those interested in progress and technological innovation need to replace their narrow focus on today’s bleeding-edge technology with a broader historical perspective.
This book offers a tantalizing bit of optimism at a time when everyone needs some hope.”
Darrell West – VP Center for Technology Innovation
Brookings Institute

“This book introduces a promising new thinker in the field of history and its effects on today’s world. His emphasis on the power of diversity to drive innovation is an important addition to our understanding of why Europe rose to prominence and how it affected the rest of the world.  Magoon not only shows why progress took place in Europe; he shows why it is possible in any society that lays the right foundations.”
Jack A. Goldstone, author of  “Why Europe?: the Rise of the West in World History 1500-1850”

“This book offers a radical challenge to the current––and very pessimistic––academic interpretation of history. It stresses the importance of technology, cooperation, and competition and the primacy of Western civilization in raising the living standards of the majority of humankind. All readers, whether they agree or not, will find it a refreshingly new perspective on history.”
Daniel R. Headrick, author of “Technology: A World History”

“The world is a complicated place.  But a handful of basic principles help make sense of it and reveal the road to progress.  In this book Magoon does much to identify the wellsprings of material progress.  I recommend it — especially to those who have begun to doubt the possibility of progress.”
Jan de Vries, author of  “First Modern Economy”

“Magoon’s call for hope in the world should make us all appreciate what we have inherited from our shared human past. With that hope, we could share an even more promising future.”
Peter Bellwood, author of “First Farmers” and “First Migrants”

“We tend to forget that technological change has vastly improved our standards of living over the course of history and dwell upon the losing end of innovation. Against this background, Magoon’s rich narrative offers a compelling reminder of how societies have prospered by elevating the successful to models worthy of emulation.
Highly recommended.”
Stelios Michalopoulos, author of “Ethnic Inequality”