Book review:

Smallpox has been eliminated and vaccines for polio, diphtheria, measles and hepatitis are saving millions of lives every year.

• Life expectancy

In 1820 life expectancy was less than 30 years. Today it is 72 years.

• Sustenance

Cereal production increased from 735 million tons in 1961 to 2980 million tons in 2017.

Global cereal yields have increased from 1.4 tons per hectare in 1961 to more than 4.0 tons per hectare in 2017.

• Environment

Between 1982 and 2016, the world's forest canopyincreased by a net 2.24 million square kilometres.

• Natural disasters

The chances of dying from earthquake, flood, drought, storm,wildfire, landslide or epidemic has declined 99% since the 1930s.

And there are lots more. The title understates the content: there are 78 trends observed.

In The Fortunate I wrote about the ideas which have created the free and affluent society we all enjoy. In Ten Global Trends Every Smart Person Should Know, Bailey and Tupy provide the evidence to show just how good life is. And how it is getting better all the time.

This beautifully presented book will provide you with easily understandable and entertaining access to surprising facts that tell you how the world is really faring.

If you wish to begin the New Year on a positive note, I can think of nothing better than to leave it on your coffee table for you and your friends to dip into at your leisure.