Getting Better by Charles Kenny Summary
Overview of Getting Better
In "Getting Better," Charles Kenny reveals how global development is succeeding despite common pessimism. Bill Easterly and Duncan Green praise Kenny's optimistic, evidence-based approach showing dramatic improvements in health and education worldwide. Discover why infant mortality has halved since 1960 - it's not just economic growth.
Similar books to Getting Better
Feel the book through the author's voice
Turn knowledge into engaging, example-rich insights
Capture key ideas in a flash for fast learning
Enjoy the book in a fun and engaging way
Key takeaways
A World Transformed While We Weren't Watching
What if everything you believed about global poverty was wrong? Not slightly off, but fundamentally backwards? While we obsess over income gaps and economic failures, something extraordinary has been unfolding across the planet. Children in countries with stagnant economies are surviving diseases that would have killed them decades ago. Girls whose mothers never saw a classroom are graduating from school. People in nations we label "poor" are living longer, healthier lives than the wealthy did a century ago. This isn't wishful thinking or cherry-picked data-it's the most underreported story of our time. The paradox is striking: as the income gap between rich and poor nations has exploded to 127:1, the gap in what actually matters-health, education, freedom-has been quietly closing. The numbers seem damning at first glance. In 1850, the richest countries earned 4.5 times more than the poorest. Today? That ratio has ballooned to 127:1. Economists call it "Divergence, Big Time," and it's real. Both political extremes point to this chasm as proof of their worldviews-the right dismissing poor nations as hopeless, the left blaming Western exploitation. They're both missing what's happening beneath the surface.
The Great Convergence Hidden by Income Statistics
Why Growth Remains Sticky While Progress Flows Freely
Breaking Free from History's Cruelest Trap and the Revolution Beyond Survival
Education, Freedom, and the End of Violence
The Collapsing Cost of Human Flourishing
Your Life, Determined by Lines on a Map
Quick Summary Mode - Read or listen to Getting Better Summary in 10 Minutes
Break down key ideas from Getting Better into bite-sized takeaways to understand how innovative teams create, collaborate, and grow.
Flash Card Mode - Top 10 Insights from Getting Better in a Nutshell
Distill Getting Better into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight Pixar’s principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.
Fun Mode - Getting Better Lessons Told Through 21-Min Stories
Experience Getting Better through vivid storytelling that turns Pixar’s innovation lessons into moments you’ll remember and apply.
Personalize Mode - Read or listen to Getting Better Summary in 0 Minutes
Ask anything, pick the voice, and co-create insights that truly resonate with you.
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
Get the Getting Better summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.