Enlightenment Now

Seventy-five charts arguing that life, health, wealth, safety, literacy and happiness have improved, and that the Enlightenment values that produced the improvement now need defending.

Why it’s on the list: Named in the “how the world really works” thread. The standard reference for the progress case, and therefore the standard target — worth reading with the objections to hand.

Where I saw it: In Kyle’s “Books To Read” Apple Note, recovered from the reply thread to @SpencrGreenberg asking “What non-fiction book taught you the most about how the world (or how humanity or society) really works?” (June 5, 2025). The full recovered list lives on A question for you — What non-fiction… (tweet).

Connections

• A question for you — What non-fiction… (tweet) — the thread this came out of; the full recovered list lives there.
• Steven Pinker — the author.
• Progress · Enlightenment — the argument.