By: Hans Rosling With Ola Rosling and Anna Rosling Review: Sbey Research Factfulness begins by challenging the pervasive negative outlook many people hold about the world. Rosling argues that despite global progress, people often believe that poverty is worsening, population growth is out of control, and the world is descending into chaos. This book sets out to correct those misconceptions with data-backed insights and to promote a fact-based worldview. Rosling introduces the concept of "instincts"—deep-seated cognitive biases that distort our perception of reality. These include the "gap instinct," which divides the world into rich and poor, and the "negativity instinct," which leads people to focus on bad news while overlooking positive developments. He highlights how these instincts affect how we interpret global trends, leading many to overlook the progress humanity has made in areas such as health, poverty reduction, and education. The book presents a wealth of data to support Rosling's claim that the world is improving in many significant ways. For example, global life expectancy has risen from 60 years in 1960 to over 70 years today, and extreme poverty has dropped from 50% of the world's population in 1966 to less than 10% now. These statistics, sourced from reputable organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank, challenge the belief that the world is getting worse and prove that progress is being made. While Rosling does not deny the existence of global challenges, such as climate change and inequality, he emphasizes the importance of recognizing both the progress and the remaining obstacles. He argues that by understanding the improvements we've made, we are better equipped to address current and future challenges. One of the key strengths of Factfulness is its practical advice for overcoming cognitive biases. Rosling offers strategies to combat these instincts, such as remembering that most people in the world fall somewhere between the extremes of rich and poor, and actively seeking out positive news to counter the negativity instinct. These tools help readers to develop a more accurate and balanced view of the world. In summary, Factfulness is a vital work that counters the negativity dominating much of today’s media and public discourse. By encouraging readers to adopt a fact-based perspective and challenging widespread misconceptions, Rosling's book is a call for rational optimism. Its message is clear: the world is improving, and with the right mindset, we can continue to make it better. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in global trends, public policy, and the power of data-driven insights.