Heroes of Progress: 65 People Who Changed the World

by Alexander C. R. Hammond

Over the past two centuries, humanity has experienced unprecedented progress. Extreme poverty has declined, life expectancy has doubled, illiteracy has declined. While we as a species are becoming more prosperous, more educated, healthier, and more peaceful, it is useful to remind ourselves of the underlying cause of this innovation. Human innovation―whether it be new ideas, inventions, or systems―is the primary way people create wealth and escape poverty. The health and wealth of the modern world rests on the shoulders of dozens of unsung heroes whose work has saved millions, if not billions, of lives. Despite their contribution to improving humanity, few people know the names of these pioneers. Heroes of Progress takes readers on a journey through the lives of the most important people who have ever lived. From agronomists whose hybrid crops saved billions of lives and intellectuals who changed public policy for the better, to businesspeople whose innovations helped millions rise from poverty, or scientists whose medical breakthroughs eliminated diseases and ended pandemics. If it weren't for the heroes profiled in this book, we'd all be far poorer, sicker, hungrier, ignorant, and less free―if we were fortunate enough to be alive at all. Considering their impact on humanity, perhaps it's time to learn their story?

Genres: History, Biography, Science, Nonfiction

316 pages, Paperback

Published March 19, 2024

Reviews

[Bruno Baumgartner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book, couldn’t put it down! It provides a timely insight into the history of human progress.

[Paola Talavera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring to know all these amazing people’s background, their motivation to study the fields they chose or why specific problems. Made me realize that first there is 0 Latinos in it (jahahah) but that’s not bad, secondly that I don’t need much to actually create something that might change the world just the right motivation, a little of brain (maybe a lot of effort) and most importantly never give up and third that a lot of them didn’t do it all by themselves, sometimes we need extra help and that’s not bad at all! We need more innovators in my generation and I hope this book inspires thousand or even better millions!

[Linda Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Book. Easy read. Thoughtful selections. Inspiring. Reminded me of some of the wonderful biographies I read as a kid of the heroes, inventors, and world leaders. I would recommend not just reading this, but also sharing it with your kids. It's a nice reminder that there is amazing progress.

[G.A. Benoit]

Will be using this in class on Fridays to highlight a hero and a related career for my students as future change makers