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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Open summary
The Story of Human Progress
22 mins
Brief summary
Open by Johan Norberg explores how openness has contributed to human progress, innovation, and prosperity throughout history. It argues that globalization, immigration, and free trade have brought unprecedented opportunities for individuals and societies to thrive.
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Open
Summary of 8 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 8
Cooperation is key to human progress.
There are three things that set human beings apart from other lifeforms on the planet: intelligence, language, and cooperation. This third trait was key to our evolution. Dating back about 3.2 million years ago, the Australopithecus afarensis species was a crucial evolutionary link between humans and our chimpanzee-like ancestors.
Due to dramatic environmental changes that turned rainforests into savannahs, our ancestors were forced to fend for themselves on dry ground. As a result, Australopithecus afarensis developed unique changes to its hand, wrist, shoulder, and upper arm. The reason? To enable it to throw stones.
Our early ancestors needed to cooperate in order to survive. And once they figured out that coordinated stone-throwing could take down animals far bigger and stronger than they were, there was no turning back. We were on our way to becoming human.
The key message here is: Cooperation is key to human progress.
Psychologist William von Hippel calls the advent of coordinated stone-throwing our “social leap.” Cooperation and the transfer of knowledge and skills among people would continue to be at the heart of human advancement.
Fast forward to around 45,000 years ago. In western Eurasia, the author believes that there was enough of a population build-up that ideas began to merge – and advanced tool-making began to take place. He adds that the knowledge of how to make these tools then spread to Africa and the Middle East, where they were further developed.
In fact, we can see how this spreading of ideas and social openness were deciding factors in human evolution. Around 50,000 years ago is also when the Neanderthals began to die off – or, to put it more accurately, the Neanderthals’ way of life died off, while the lineage of Neanderthals mixed with Homo sapiens.
One of the reasons for this was that Homo sapiens traveled and traded, while Neanderthals tended to stay close to home in their chilly Northern European climate. Through their travels and trading, Homo sapiens found value in the division of labor. This means that those who were great at hunting hunted, and those who were skilled at making clothes did just that. Societies began forming, and new levels of prosperity were achieved.
Neanderthals, on the other hand, never flourished like their more open-minded Homo sapiens relatives. Despite having larger brains, their preference for staying put meant they didn’t start dividing up their labor.
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What is Open about?
Open (2020) traces the progress of ancient and modern human accomplishments, and reveals that behind all of our major advancements is a policy of openness, tolerance, and free trade. You’ll see how, from the Phoenicians to the Dutch East India Trading Company, the free flow of commerce and ideas has led to wealth, innovation, and problem-solving that would have never been possible otherwise.
Open Review
Open (2017) is a thought-provoking exploration of the benefits of economic openness and globalization. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:
- Offers a compelling case for the positive impact of globalization on economic growth and human well-being.
- Examines real-life examples and statistics to support its arguments, making it a powerful and informative read.
- Provides a fresh perspective on the ongoing debates surrounding globalization, challenging common misconceptions and providing new insights.
Best quote from Open
China would only return to the world scene when its economy was once again opened up to the world in the late twentieth century.…
—Johan Norberg
Who should read Open?
- History buffs
- Those interested in the Brexit debate
- People keen to know the secrets of innovation and progress
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Open FAQs
What is the main message of Open?
The main message of Open is the importance of open societies and free markets in fostering progress and improving lives.
How long does it take to read Open?
The reading time for Open varies depending on the reader's speed. However, you can read the Blinkist summary in just 15 minutes.
Is Open a good book? Is it worth reading?
Open is definitely worth reading. It provides insights into the transformative power of openness and offers a compelling case for embracing openness in all aspects of life.
Who is the author of Open?
Open is written by Johan Norberg.
What to read after Open?
If you're wondering what to read next after Open, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Progress by Johan Norberg
- Smarter by Dan Hurley
- The 4-Hour Body by Tim Ferriss
- Extremely Hardcore by Zoë Schiffer
- How Highly Effective People Speak by Peter Andrei
- Influence by Robert B. Cialdini
- The Ethical Imperative by Andrew Cooper
- How to Stop Breaking Your Own Heart by Meggan Roxanne
- Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
- Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu