Tune into the news and you'll hear stories of war, disease,
natural disasters, corruption, violence, poverty, crime, nuclear
proliferation, terrorism and political dysfunction in Washington.
Polls show many believe the American dream is fading, our children
face limited opportunities, and the country is decidedly on the
wrong track. Yet this dour perspective - one recycled 24/7 by the
national media - is a gross distortion of the world we live in
today.
As national investment expert and bestselling author Alexander
Green reveals in this engrossing and provocative new book, the
human race has never had it so good. In the West today, we work
shorter hours, have more purchasing power, enjoy goods and services
in almost limitless supply, and have more leisure time than ever
before. Living standards are the highest they have ever been. The
human life span has nearly doubled over the past hundred years.
Literacy and education levels - even I.Q.'s - are at all-time
highs. Technology and medicine are revolutionizing our lives. All
forms of pollution - with the exception of greenhouse gases - are
in decline. Access to the arts has never been greater. Crime is in
a long-term cycle of decline. And the risk of death by violence has
never been smaller for most of humanity.
By almost every measure, our lives today are wealthy beyond
measure. We are all heir to "an embarrassment of riches." Yet -
thanks in large part the drumbeat of negative media coverage - most
of us don't realize it. Green compares the average citizen to "a
lottery winner whose ticket is lost in some upstairs drawer."
The consequences of adopting the cynical but popular worldview
are many, including needless pessimism, missed investment
opportunities, and - surprisingly - even poorer health. Yet "An
Embarrassment of Riches" provides a powerful antidote.
Green begins with a robust survey of the many ways our lives are
becoming longer, easier, safer, healthier and more prosperous. He
then embarks on a wide-ranging exploration of the ideas and the
many men and women - both living and dead - that are still
enriching our lives today.
Among the many subjects explored are American exceptionalism,
the extraordinary power of economic freedom, the lifesaving role of
medicine and technology, the life-extending benefits of optimism,
the radical theology of Thomas Jefferson, the keys to civility and
greatness, the wisdom of Confucius and Aristotle, the ability of
beauty to enrich our lives, and even one artist's thought-provoking
take on "how to defeat death."
In "An Embarrassment of Riches," "New York Times" bestselling
author Alexander Green offers a holistic approach to wealth - and
offers a welcome perspective that allows us to live fuller, richer
lives.
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