[lock-the-spock]

You might enjoy this as well, similar big picture and fascinating, but a bit more scientific and focused on the human element.

> The Weirdest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous

[WalterBright]

"The Triumph of the West" by Roberts has a similar thesis.

https://www.amazon.com/triumph-West-J-M-Roberts/dp/076070850...

It's been a long time since I read it, but as I recall the theses were that individual rights and freedoms coupled with things like the scientific method is what resulted in triumph.

[ahmadmk]

The scientific method wasn’t novel to the western world. It’s origins date back to when the Moors conquered the southern half of western europe - and by almost all historian accounts - modernized many institutions over the subsequent hundreds of years (eg, from cutlery to math and science).

I think the most relevant book on the west’s success is called complexity: a guided tour

[epivosism]

100% agree w/this recommendation. The title is pretentious and put me off, so I missed out for a few years, but the contents are amazing. He has another related book, The Secrets of our Success, which is good. I'm happy that despite everything, at least a few people are doing cross-domain research and trying to put together and test ideas for how humanity came to be.

[Vinnl]

Thank you, I've added it to my reading list!