by Thomas Piketty is a surprisingly optimistic look at global inequality, taking a long view of history to show how trends have been shifting toward a more equal society over the past few centuries. To show this, Piketty provides a concise, illuminating history of the forces that have shaped the modern world, for better or for worse, from the rise of capitalism and imperialism to the abolition of slavery and the creation of the welfare state. To move the progress toward equality even further, Piketty, a French professor at the Paris School of Economics, presents a European view, arguing for more progressive policies to further reduce the wealth gap around the world. For those who found Piketty’s previous thousand-page doorstoppers daunting, this is an informative and approachable perspective. (Non-Fiction)