The world is a better place than it used to be. People are wealthier and healthier. Yet the escapes from destitution by so many have left gaping inequalities between people and between nations. This book tells the story of how, some parts of the world began to experience sustained progress, and set the stage for unequal world. "A work that unravels the reasons why America is richer than ever but in a state of collapse."---Geordie Williamson, The Australian