Nederlands onderaan!
I read this great book a long time ago, and I think there’s probably an updated version by now, as mine is from 2018…
It’s a book that I think everyone should read to get up-to-date again! Because how some countries are portrayed in the news simply doesn’t reflect the reality anymore ❗️
What caught my eye when I found it in the bookstore was Barack Obama’s review on the cover: “A hopeful book about the potential for human progress when we work based on facts rather than our inherent biases.” And when I opened it, I immediately saw colorful pictures and graphs, which I found super fun! Much more playful than all those other books with just text! 📊
The book starts with a test—13 questions about the state of the world. It’s really fun and educational to do! 😁
My copy has quite a few little post-it notes sticking out, each referring to what Factfulness is: one points to bad news and how we never see good news, another highlights that small growth is still growth, one refers to how looking at something only from your own perspective is narrow-minded and demotivating, and I could go on like this.
A brief summary:
Factfulness by Hans Rosling is a book that helps readers view the world through a more factual and data-driven lens.
Rosling, a doctor and statistician, explores how people often have a distorted view of the world, mainly due to irrational assumptions and a lack of knowledge about global trends.
The book delves into the gap between perception and reality, showing that the world has significantly improved in many areas (such as health, poverty, and education) more than many people realize.
Rosling explains that people often believe the world is in a constant state of crisis, with increasing poverty, violence, and environmental destruction. In reality, however, there have been significant improvements. He uses facts and statistics to show that the living conditions of most people worldwide have improved over the past few decades, even though much work still remains to be done.
The book is structured around ten instincts that influence our thinking patterns, such as the tendency to see things in black-and-white (good versus bad), the drama instinct that makes us focus on exceptions, and the confirmation instinct that strengthens our biases. Rosling encourages the reader to think critically and consider facts rather than relying on emotion and misinformation.
Rosling emphasizes the importance of understanding data and developing a better worldview based on facts. He concludes that gaining knowledge and a fact-based view of the world can help us make better decisions for the future, both personally and globally.
If you live in The Netherlands;
🇳🇱 Bestel hier de Nederlandse editie! 🇳🇱
🇺🇲 Order the English edition here! 🇺🇲
