Power and Progress

While techno-optimists have controlled the global conversation around innovation and its effects, Acemoglu and Johnson offer a sweeping, well-researched rebuke to a number of their favorite talking points. They use historical examples to demonstrate how political, social, and economic choices fundamentally shape technological development, and at the same time illustrate why those who already have power tend to guide development towards reinforcing that power in the absence of countervailing forces. This book also shows how technological development historically doesn't often lead to better lives for the vast majority of people, with the notable blip from the 1920s to 1980. They also systematically dismantle most claimed positive effects of AI, and while I take some issue with their focus on social media that doesn't detract from an incredible book. Highly recommend