A vital exploration of openness and why we must defend it at all costs. Humanity's embrace of openness is the key to our success in science and culture, leading to our current age of opportunity. So why are we so intent on ruining it? Providing a new framework for understanding human history, this book examines why we're often uncomfortable with openness, but also why it is essential for progress. Why an open world with an open economy is worth fighting for more than ever.