Factfulness

Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World - and Why Things Are Better Than You Think

By: Hans Rosling, Anna Rosling Rönnlund, Ola Rosling

Narrated by: Richard Harries

For fans of Freakonomics and Thinking, Fast and Slow, here is a book by Hans Rosling, the scientist called "a true inspiration" by Bill Gates, that teaches us how to see the world as it truly is.

Factfulness: The stress-reducing habit of carrying only opinions for which you have strong supporting facts. When asked simple questions about global trends - what percentage of the world's population live in poverty; why the world's population is increasing; how many girls finish school - we systematically get the answers wrong. So wrong that a chimpanzee choosing answers at random will consistently outguess teachers, journalists, Nobel laureates, and investment bankers.

In Factfulness, professor of international health and global TED phenomenon Hans Rosling, together with his two longtime collaborators, Anna and Ola, offers a radical new explanation of why this happens. They reveal the ten instincts that distort our perspective - from our tendency to divide the world into two camps (usually some version of us and them) to the way we consume media (where fear rules) to how we perceive progress (believing that most things are getting worse). Our problem is that we don't know what we don't know, and even our guesses are informed by unconscious and predictable biases.

It turns out that the world, for all its imperfections, is in a much better state than we might think. That doesn't mean there aren't real concerns. But when we worry about everything all the time instead of embracing a worldview based on facts, we can lose our ability to focus on the things that threaten us most. Inspiring and revelatory, filled with lively anecdotes and moving stories, Factfulness is an urgent and essential book that will change the way you see the world and empower you to respond to the crises and opportunities of the future.

©2018 Hans Rosling (P)2018 Recorded Books

Really good, not flawless,

But what should anyone expect of anything?

I found it uplifting and inspiring in contrast to what I generally hear reading the news. The primary take-away for me is that-regardless of the constant 'world is going to hell in a handbasket' drum-beat coming from news sources, politicians and other salespeople who benefit from panicked and thoughtless decision making- the world is in fact improving dramatically for almost everybody. Toward the end of the book, the author admits to hasty decisions that he was part of that cost lives. Wow. Very tough stuff to own and share. I think the author is a good guy, maybe cheering a bit too much for America to get knocked off the top of the heap for my tastes, but what do you want? He's Swedish.

What every activist should know

I think this book is an important read for activists seeking to make the world a better place. Knowing how much progress has been made breeds hope to sustain energy in an effort that could be overwhelming.

I wish Hans could have read his own book. His humor isn't conveyed well by the reader. Watch a couple of Hans' youtube videos before reading this book to help set the tone. I recommend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZoKfap4g4w

A much needed book

Loved Rosling's approach to discussing the reasons "WHY" people believe things that are wrong, rather than "WHAT" is right and wrong. Although there are a few instances where he himself believes things that are (IMO) wrong, he does so for the very reasons he describes. Wish I were able to meet him and discuss, but sadly he has passed away. A well-worth read for anyone interested in how the world works, and clearer thinking.

A thought provoking, factful view of the world.

I found the authors treatment of the facts very interesting and my world view was brodened by the book.

Informative and practical

Full of first hand examples, this positive take on world progression enlightens the mind and opens possibility to think more accurately with global perspective . Hans Rosling is an inspiring man. see YouTube presentations to view his
passion for the subject.