[gcanyon]

The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker.

Not because of the actual topic, although that's important too; but because of the first 150 or so pages, where Pinker starts by saying something like: you won't believe me about how violence has declined unless I first disabuse you of the notion that the past was nice. He then describes how truly awful pretty much everyone and everything was in the past. It was an eye-opener.

Those who romanticize the past (which is most people) do themselves a grave disservice.

[mrich]

In a similar vein, Factfulness by Hans Rosling.

[gcanyon]

Yes! So much this. It's ridiculous just how much people don't realize how much better things are now than at any point in the past.

Yes, democracies are cracking under strain.

Yes, wars are happening that could spill over to larger areas and cause serious harm.

Yes, social media and lack of truthfulness is a huge issue.

Yes, global warming sucks and we need to do more.

But still, on so many measures, things are better than they ever have been, and trending in positive directions.