Anatomy of Progress
Often it is helpful to start with a picture before diving into the detail. For example, anatomy books usually begin with a diagram of the body and its major organ systems. The image gives you an idea of what to expect. Each organ is a chapter in the book. If you are only interested in the heart, you can quickly find the chapter on the cardiovascular system. Breaking the body down into parts makes it easier to understand. Each organ has a discreet purpose and knowing this helps explain its design and how it works. Also, focusing on one component at a time stops you from being overwhelmed. Once you are ready, you can move on to the next.
Progress is like the human body. It has a set of parts that work together to form the whole. My book, Progress Sabotaged, is structured like an anatomy book. The first part introduces the idea of progress and how it has changed. The second part covers the components of progress, with a chapter for each. The final part explores what happens when the components work well together and what happens when they do not.
At the time of writing, I have found no other book that presents progress this way. The approach gives you several advantages. The book's layout is clear and easy to navigate. The whole subject is broken down into pieces to make it easier to understand. Once all of the parts have been introduced, the book focuses on how they work together.
Most books about progress are descriptive. They present you with a lot of historical material and analysis. Progress Sabotaged is different because it focuses on how progress works. It gives you a model of progress—the mechanics of how it works. The model helps you predict the future. You will work out which people, groups, and countries will make progress and which will not. The model also helps you to understand how to turn failure into progress. It empowers you to act.
A good theory of progress needs to explain two questions. Firstly, why was progress so slow before the 17th century? Most people did not think it even existed? And secondly, after the 18th century, why did progress become so rapid? Progress Sabotaged gives you answers to both questions. It explains how progress can emerge with no one seeking it and how it changes as we became aware of it and how it works.
Many books about progress fail to ask the critical question: Why does it often fail? Knowing the answer to this question is essential to anyone who wants to make progress. Progress Sabotaged provides a solution. It argues that the ego is the enemy of progress. This knowledge is vital. Once you understand how the ego sabotages progress, you can do something about it.
By the end of the book, you will have a mental image of progress. You will be able to visualize the parts working together and what happens when they don’t. This image will give you a new way of understanding the world around you. Hopefully, it will also encourage you to reach out and work with others to make the progress you want.