The Evolution of Everything

How New Ideas Emerge

By: Matt Ridley

Narrated by: Steven Crossley

The New York Times best-selling author of The Rational Optimist and Genome returns with a fascinating, brilliant argument for evolution that definitively dispels a dangerous, widespread myth: that we can command and control our world.

The Evolution of Everything is about bottom-up order and its enemy, the top-down twitch - the endless fascination human beings have with design rather than evolution, with direction rather than emergence. Drawing on anecdotes from science, economics, history, politics, and philosophy, Matt Ridley's wide-ranging, highly opinionated opus demolishes conventional assumptions that major scientific and social imperatives are dictated by those on high, whether in government, business, academia, or morality. On the contrary, our most important achievements develop from the bottom up. Patterns emerge, trends evolve. Just as skeins of geese form Vs in the sky without meaning to and termites build mud cathedrals without architects, so brains take shape without brain makers, learning can happen without teaching, and morality changes without a plan.

Although we neglect, defy, and ignore them, bottom-up trends shape the world. The growth of technology, the sanitation-driven health revolution, the quadrupling of farm yields so that more land can be released for nature - these were largely emergent phenomena, as were the Internet, the mobile phone revolution, and the rise of Asia. Ridley demolishes the arguments for design and effectively makes the case for evolution in the universe, morality, genes, the economy, culture, technology, the mind, personality, population, education, history, government, God, money, and the future.

As compelling as it is controversial, authoritative as it is ambitious, Ridley's stunning perspective will revolutionize the way we think about our world and how it works.

©2015 Matt Ridley (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

Sometimes uses a broad brush

Liked the new interpretation of cause and effect. It stirred new ideas and drove me to imagine an alternate narrative. One has to be careful however to adopt a new world view based on a fast and loose explanation of much of recorded human history (i.e. religious history). Overall, this author’s identification of evolving human concepts and natural systems is fascinating.

Everyone should read this

The concepts explored in this book are challenges to our persistently flawed "conventional wisdom." I found it refreshing and empowering.

Eye opening experience

Even though I don't agree with everything, it's still very influential reading. I'm not sure whether I wasn't doing better with more blurred vision of the world and life :-)

Worth every minute.

Thoroughly researched, beautifully written, and excellently read. Though one might think the topic a dry one, the content and pace of presentation will keep your attention throughout. The theme is well stated and supported by citations, so Ridley's conclusions are reasonable. Great book.

Changed how I see the world

There is no such thing as a static system. If something has an ability to change, it will. Biological systems, organizational systems, language, and relationships all evolve. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it and it is everywhere.

Good book but a little disappointing on depth

I just finished The Evolution of Everything and it was hard to stop listening at times. I will re-listen to it. There were many good spots that I found educational and thought provoking. However, there were also several chapters that became more political commentary on current issues rather than an indepth exploration of the "evolution" of the subject. It could have been that Mr. Ridley did not want to lose his audience in the weeds of history, which I understand. Still, I would have preferred more historical perspective. Overall I found the book quite useful and informative.

Truly enlightening!

One the best, most fascinating and enlightening books I’ve ever been through! I will probably read it again! And again! And again!

must read

Loved it! For everyone believing in the power of central planning, creationism and top down approach to big project or problem

Worth the read

At its best moments the book is an optimistic and insightful thought experiment into how systems grow and evolve with time. At its worst moments it is an unabashed sales pitch for the free market, decentralization, and all other forms of libertarianism. I enjoyed many of the thoughts and insights, but there is definitely some heavy handwaving to counterpoints. However, I enjoyed the book even while disagreeing with much of it. I recommend this book but also recommend listening to The Fifth Risk immediately after.

Bland, dry, lengthy

For a book that's topic is highly provoking and refreshingly intellectual, the author is too detailed in getting to the point. Spending verbously amounts of time laboring through his supporting evidence and arguments. I wish I could say that I read the whole book, but after chapter 3, skipped ahead to the topics that most interested me and then quit. Also, the narrator has a voice that easily put me to sleep, so maybe not the best read for driving.