Book Forum 

# *Heroes of Progress: 65 People Who Changed the World*

Published By Cato Institute • 2024 

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Date and Time 

March 21, 2024 12 - 1 PM EDT 

Location 

Cato Institute, 1000 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 

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##### Featuring 

[![Alexander C.R. Hammond profile picture](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2026-08/Alexander%20Hammond.jpeg?itok=bZVFADqk)](/people/alexander-hammond) 

[Alexander C.R. Hammond](/people/alexander-hammond)

Deputy Editor, Human​Progress​.org; Policy Analyst, Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity

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](https://twitter.com/AlexanderHammo) 

![Clay Routledge - cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2024-02/Clay-Routledge-cropped.jpg?itok=MdJnWRhd) 

Clay Routledge 

Vice President of Research, Archbridge Institute

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](https://twitter.com/clayroutledge) 

[![marian-tupy-crop-temp.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2022-08/marian-tupy-crop-temp.jpg?itok=zdX_3JzR)](/people/marian-l-tupy) 

[Marian L. Tupy](/people/marian-l-tupy)

Senior Fellow, Cato Institute

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](https://x.com/Marian_L_Tupy) [ 

](mailto:mtupy@cato.org) 

Over the past 200 years, humanity has become much more prosperous, educated, healthy, and peaceful. Alexander Hammond will discuss some of the heroes of progress, who saved or improved billions of lives, and the social and economic conditions that made their contributions possible. Whether it’s agronomists whose hybrid crops fed billions of people, intellectuals who changed public policy to allow for greater human flourishing, businesspeople whose innovations raised living standards, or scientists whose medical breakthroughs eliminated diseases, if it weren’t for the heroes who Hammond profiles, we’d all be far poorer, sicker, hungrier, more ignorant, and less free. Clay Routledge will speak of the individual’s role in advancing human progress and the need for a cultural movement that champions a hopeful vision of the future and the underlying psychological traits, attitudes, and aspirations that inspire people to reach their full potential and become agents of progress.

**Lunch to follow.**

![Heroes of Progress: 65 People Who Changed the World - book cover](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/promo_block_book_cover_1x/public/2024-02/heroes-of-progress-bookcover.jpg?itok=eZ96YJQk) 

##### Featured Book 

### *[Heroes of Progress: 65 People Who Changed the World](https://www.amazon.com/Heroes-Progress-People-Changed-World/dp/1952223679?tag=catoinstitute-20)*

Over the past two centuries, humanity has experienced unprecedented progress. Extreme poverty has declined, life expectancy has doubled, illiteracy has declined. While we as a species are becoming more prosperous, more educated, healthier, and more peaceful, it is useful to remind ourselves of the underlying cause of this progress: innovation. Human innovation―whether it be new ideas, inventions, or systems―is the primary way people create wealth and escape poverty.

[Purchase Book](https://www.amazon.com/Heroes-Progress-People-Changed-World/dp/1952223679?tag=catoinstitute-20) 

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