World events getting you down? In despair over the future of humanity and the globe? Here’s some perspective:
For a lengthier take on the reason for the launch that Hans so effectively describes, I’d recommend William Rosen’s “The Most Powerful Idea in the World” – which, though subtitled as the story of steam, isn’t really the most powerful idea in the world. But you won’t know for sure until you get to literally the last line.
It’s an average. Averages obscure so much, like he showed when he split it into groups. Yes, globalization is bringing the world average together, yet the disparities within countries in wealth are growing, and with that so too will the disparities in health. Statistics can lie obscure the truth even when they show another truth.
And we all saw what can happen to countries during epidemics and wars. I’m guessing that was Germany that dropped like a lead ball in 1944-45. Maybe I’m right? The past is not predictive, which is why that graph doesn’t tell anything about the “future of humanity and the globe.” It won’t cure any despair grounded in knowledge, unfortunately, even though it is quite amazing what people have accomplished. Just think of what more could be done if we shared that improvement equally and sustainably?
It’s pretty and it looks cool, but there’s just so much this glosses over.
may be longer, but you could like the Hans Rosling talk at TED…much more entertaining than his BBC “over engineered” show
http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_shows_the_best_stats_you_ve_ever_seen.html
(that is link to the 2006, but click also to its 2007 presentation, and watch to the end)