Bill Easterly on "Why Nations Fail"

It might have been have a mistake to read Bill Easterly's review of Acemoglu and Robinson on "Why Nations Fail" before I finished reading it myself, but Easterly is not to be set aside. I'm two-thirds of the way through the book, and enjoying it very much--but with reservations, which I'll explain later. Nonetheless I dare say I'll be agreeing with Easterly's overall assessment.

"Why Nations Fail" is a vital work for these times, directing our attention to the big picture regarding the poverty and prosperity of nations. It an eloquent and powerful statement of the long-run success of democratic capitalism at a time when it is under attack.