Imagine if the newspaper was only published once every fifty years. What would the major headlines be? What stories would we wake up to read?
According to Steven Pinker, author of Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism and Progress, it would be a positively delightful experience.
We would read about how extreme poverty has been halved, diseases such as polio and malaria almost entirely eradicated. It would tell us that we are living in the most peaceful time in the history of mankind and chronicle the incredible progress made in human rights for women, minorities and the LGBTQ community.
And we haven’t even touched on stories about technology – hello internet and landing on the moon.
Yet to read the daily paper is to be left with the sense that progress is rare and inconsequential.
It’s a daily diet too often high on processed foods, preservatives and fats and light on nutrients and fresh foods. The result is after digesting it, we feel disgusted instead of energized.
Reading this fifty-year paper doesn’t require rose-colored glasses, nor does it render us blind to the daily struggles and tragedies that many still face or the major challenges that confront our collective humanity.
It simply begs for perspective and asks us to question why we pay so little attention to progress.
We know, in general, that we are wired to pay more attention to the headwinds that drive us back than the tailwinds that push us forward.
Psychologists also describe the hedonic treadmill phenomenon that essentially says as we make progress, our expectations and desires rise in tandem, essentially leaving us in the same place mentally.
Then, of course, there are the business, political, journalistic and financial incentives to serve us daily doses of distress and conflict.
Some may say that we can’t bury our head in the sand to the daily reminders of work still to be done. Agreed. At the same time, when we take an ostrich like attitude to progress, we fail to learn important lessons about what works. Further, we become paralyzed instead of inspired.
Unfortunately, there is no place to subscribe to this mythical 50 Year Newspaper – yet. In the meantime, if you’re hungry for a healthy dose of progress, I suggest you pick up Pinker’s book.