After delving into Hans Rosling’s book Factfulness, I can’t help but feel a mix of reluctant optimism and a lingering sense of impending doom. Sure, the book does a great job of showing us that the world isn’t as terrible as we might think, and that there’s data to prove humanity’s progress. But at the same time, it also highlights a rather grim reality: billions of people are striving for a lifestyle that our planet’s limited resources might never be able to sustain.

And let’s not forget our tendency to squabble over ideologies and beliefs that only serve to divide us further. In the end, while Factfulness offers a glimmer of hope, it also serves as a stark reminder of the uphill battle we face.

Still, I’d recommend giving it a read—if only to arm yourself with a bit more knowledge to navigate this complicated world.

📘 Get the book: Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World and Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling