A Culture of Growth

By Joel Mokyr,

Book cover of A Culture of Growth: The Origins of the Modern Economy

Book description

Why Enlightenment culture sparked the Industrial Revolution

During the late eighteenth century, innovations in Europe triggered the Industrial Revolution and the sustained economic progress that spread across the globe. While much has been made of the details of the Industrial Revolution, what remains a mystery is why it took place…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked A Culture of Growth as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I’ve included this book to illustrate how the perspective of cultural evolution is spreading to disciplines and problems far beyond its origins in biology and anthropology. In this case the discipline is economic history and the problem is explaining why the Enlightenment, which paved the way for the rapid technological and economic transformations brought about by the subsequent Industrial Revolution, occurred when it did (1500-1700) and where it did (Western Europe). Mokyr’s answer draws on cultural evolutionary concepts to argue that a culturally transmitted mindset of innovation and progress, as well as the intense competition of ideas within a politically…

From Alex's list on cultural evolution.

Want books like A Culture of Growth?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like A Culture of Growth.

Browse books like A Culture of Growth

Book cover of The Secret of Our Success: How Culture Is Driving Human Evolution, Domesticating Our Species, and Making Us Smarter
Book cover of On the Origin of Tepees: The Evolution of Ideas (and Ourselves)
Book cover of The Meme Machine

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,331

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in economic development, economic history, and the Industrial Revolution?

Economic History 51 books