this book tells a very convincing story about why modern Nations fail and why some succeed

The book relies on technical arguments while maintaining an accessible to non-experts approach. The authors make interesting and valid points but could reflect critically on some examples, such as citing Thomas Edison as a role model without even mentioning Nicola Tesla. Despite the lack of criticism towards some subjects, such as the political problems the US and the UK encounter today (actually, at the time the book was published), the book displays a good general picture about democracy and economy. Six years after the publication, it would be good to know what the authors think about the changes that occurred since the book was issued.

One of my favourites books now! highly recommend it! Such dense cintent put in a sjmple way.

l loved this book. Reading it was mind expanding. The book is full of insights on why some nations are underdeveloped. It utilizes copious examples to support its claim that extractive institutions causes poverty, suffering and pain to the masses, while few elites live in splendour.

It even proffered cogent though difficult to implement solutions. According to the authors only a broad coalition with the support of the media could lead to extractive institutions morphing into inclusive institutions, which brings much more wealth to the populace.

The book was great. There were some biases with western countries and philosophy but I don't mind I understand you guys think you are so awesome. us asians do as well. what's important is that we do these things together. I also feel that he could of have took out a chapter somewhere in the middle.

I recommend the dictator's handbook and the better angels of our nature as complementary reading to this book. and if you're feeling ambitious The Wealth of Nations.

After having read Jared Diamond's book "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive", it was enlightening to read this book which offered, in my opinion, more compelling arguments for why nations and civilizations fail than just the more geographical reasoning offered by Jared Diamond and other authors trying to explain this phenomena. The core explanation offered is rooted in different societies ability of developing inclusive political institutions and distributive economic institutions leading to economic prosperity and political stable nations versus developing exclusive political institutions and extractive economic institutions leading to poverty and authoritarian regimes. To repeat one of the other recommendations: "And their conclusion is a cheering one: the authoritarian "extractive" institutions like the one's that drive growth in China today are bound to run out of steam. Without the inclusive institutions that first evolved in the West, sustainable growth is impossible, because only a truly free society can foster genuine innovation and the creative destruction that is its corollary".

Excellent read.

The argument is a mile long and an inch deep, any expert of the subjects they deal with will see this immediately.

The book uses micro thesis, antithesis, Synthesis model in all his chapters.
Very scholastic hence predictive.
Content deserves interest though.

This book has a tremendous amount of historical examples in which the author contrasts the effects of inclusive and extractive institutions on societies throughout the ages.