Centers of Progress

40 Cities That Changed the World

By: Chelsea Follett

Narrated by: Timothy Morgan

Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Where does progress happen? The story of civilization is the story of the city. It is cities that have created and defined the modern world by acting as the sites of pivotal advances in culture, politics, science, technology, and more. There is no question that certain places, at certain times in history, have contributed disproportionately toward making the world a better place. This book tells the story of 40 of those places.

In Centers of Progress: 40 Cities That Changed the World, Chelsea Follett examines a diverse group of cities, ranging from ancient Athens to Song-era Hangzhou. But some common themes stand out: most cities reach their creative peak during periods of peace; most centers of progress also thrive during times of social, intellectual, and economic freedom, as well as openness to intercultural exchange and trade; and centers of progress tend to be highly populated. Because, in every city, it is ultimately the people who live there who drive progress forward—if given the freedom to do so.

Identifying common factors—such as relative peace, freedom, and multitudes—among the places that have produced history's greatest achievements is one way to learn what causes progress. Change is a constant, but progress is not. Understanding what makes a place fertile ground for progress may help to sow the seeds of future innovations. Moreover, their story is our story. City air provides the wind in the sails of the modern world. Come journey through these pages to some of history's greatest centers of progress.

©2023 Cato Institute (P)2023 Cato Institute

Critic reviews

"In this superb book, Chelsea Follett takes the reader on a time-travel cruise through the great flash points of human activity to catch innovations that have transformed human lives." (From the foreword by Matt Ridley, best-selling author of The Rational Optimist and The Evolution of Everything)

The Libertarian View of Historical Progress.

Overall a pretty weak project, with often references to what the Encyclopedia Britannica says about a topic. But the choice of issues within the chosen cities just oozes with Libertarian ideals of freedom from rules and the celebration of free enterprise. Coulda been good.

Highly recommend ….. for high schoolers

But it you’re seeking a deep intellectual exploration, far too reliant on quotes from encyclopedia Britannica, etc. One of the other reviewers nailed it, it kind of reads like a series of Wikipedia entries.

Several of the entries also seemed like they were pulling really hard to make the descriptions stretch over the city.

It was informative, I learned a few things, I’m going to make my kids Read it for sure. It’s just not what I expected. A great deal more depth would’ve been appreciated.

I find absolutely no fault with the performance though. It was well read.

Very Popular Level

Interesting concept and well organized. Though, each description read like a Wikipedia entry. I would have liked more depth in the analysis, or at least more engagement with other interpretations of history.

A neat summary of human history

This book gave a new perspective on human history, focusing on individual cities that changed the world. The narrator did a great job, making this a very enjoyable listen.